生活英语对话 Episode 46: A day at the beach

本单元是关于海滩一天的对话

Michal: I'm so glad we decided¹ to come to Brighton!
Helen: Yeah, so much better than going to the poxy World Cup in Germany.
Michal: Let's sit here on the beach. What a perfect spot for an ice-cream!
Helen: Oh, look at that guy over there. He looks nice ...tall and handsome.
Michal: Ahem, I thought you were here with me!
Man: Excuse me?
Helen: Oh, hello can we help you?
Man: I wonder if you could tell me where Brighton Pier² is?
Michal: It's right over there!
Man: Oh, course it is, silly me. Thanks, bye.
Michal: Helen, how about that ice cream now?
Helen: Oh no! I can't find my purse!
Michal: It must have been that man!
Helen: Oi you! Stop!
Michal: I'll get him!


Vocabulary:（字汇）

a pier :（码头）
a large platform which sticks out into the sea and which people can walk along

poxy (informal):（非正式用语，毫无价值的）
rubbish, not good

a spot:（地点，场所）
a place

本单元的语言点是直接引语和间接引语，在英语中有两种问句的句型 - 直接问句和间接问句。两种句型意义相同，但是间接问句比较客气, 正式 或比较没有 质问的口气。 可以使用直接问句 - Where is Brighton Pier? 也可以使用比较正式和比较客气的间接问句 - I wonder if you could tell me where Brighton Pier is?

Indirect questions

There are two main ways of asking questions - directly and indirectly³. Both have the same meaning but we use indirect questions when we want to be more polite, more formal or less confrontational⁴.


We can ask a direct question - Where is Brighton Pier? Or to be more formal or polite, we can ask an indirect question - I wonder if you could tell me where Brighton Pier is?



Word order（字的顺序）

When we create indirect questions, the question (What time is it?) becomes part of a longer sentence or questions (Do you know?) and the word order changes from the order of a direct question. For example:

Direct: What time is it?
Indirect: Do you know what time it is?

Direct: Why was he late?
Indirect: Can you tell me why he was late?

Direct: What is that?
Indirect: Would you mind telling me what that is?


Using 'do'（'do'的使用）

When there is no auxiliary⁵ verb (be, do have, can, will etc) in a sentence, we need to put in do, does or did when we create a direct question. When we make this into an indirect question however, we don't use the verb 'do'. For example:

Direct: When does the lesson end?
Indirect: Could you tell me when the lesson ends?

Direct: What car does she drive?
Indirect: Can you tell me what car she drives?

Direct: How did you make that cake?
Indirect: Would you mind telling me how you made that cake?


Using 'if' or 'whether':（'if' 或 'whether'的使用）

If there is no question word (who, what, when, why, how) in a direct question, we need to use if or whether in the indirect question. For example:

Direct: Did she make it on time?
Indirect: Can you tell me if she made it on time?
or
Can you tell me whether she made it on time?

Direct: Is this the right bus for Oxford⁶ Street?
Indirect: Do you have any idea if this is the right bus for Oxford Street ?

Direct: Is she French?
Indirect: Do you know whether she is French (or not)?

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

3 indirectly   

adv.间接地，不直接了当地

参考例句：

• I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
• They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人，他们进行了间接接触。

4 confrontational   

adj.挑衅的；对抗的

参考例句：

• Fans love rappers partly because they strike such a confrontational pose. 乐迷热爱这些饶舌艺人一定程度上是因为他们所采取的那种战斗姿态。 来自互联网
• You prefer a non confrontational approach when it comes to resolving disputes. 面对争端，你不喜欢采用对抗性的手段来解决。 来自互联网

5 auxiliary   

adj.辅助的，备用的

参考例句：

• I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
• The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。

6 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。