生活英语对话 Episode 84: A visit from the police

本单元是关于来自警察局的询问的对话

Police 1: You see sir, we've received a complaint from a Mr Hall about a gentleman's watch that you sold to his wife just before Christmas. It would appear that the authenticity¹ of the watch is in doubt.
Tim: Oh - Oh, I see...
Police 1: Would you mind answering a few questions for us?
Tim: Well, no, but I think you should be talking to my boss about this.
Police 2: We've already spoken to your boss sir, at some length as it happens. That's why we'd like to talk to you now. So, if you wouldn't mind answering a few questions...
Tim: What, here?
Police 2: We can always go down to the station if you think you'd be more comfortable there, sir...
Tim: No, no, that won't be necessary. Would you like to come through to the office?


Vocabulary 词汇

authenticity (n) 真实性
the quality or condition of being real, trustworthy, or genuine

in doubt 有疑问
under question, not fully² believed

at some length 相当详尽地
thoroughly³, completely or repeatedly⁴; for a long time

as it happens 实际上
this is an informal expression which means 'actually'

本单元的语言点是动词后面加动词+ing 形式，在英语中有些动词后面跟不定式，有些要跟动词+ing 形式，请看下面的解释和例句。

Verb + verb-ing

Background 背景
When a verb is followed by another verb, the second verb must be either an infinitive⁵ with 'to' such as 'to do', 'to make', 'to go' etc. or an -ing form such as 'doing', 'making', 'going'. In this episode⁶ of The Flatmates, the police officer says 'Would you mind answering a few questions...?' The form of the second verb depends on the first verb, and/or the speaker's intended meaning.

Some of the rules about verb + verb-ing are given here.

Basic verbs 基本动词
Verb-ing is used after these verbs:

Examples:
The children admitted taking the sweets.
I considered becoming a singer when I left school.
Do you fancy⁷ going to see a movie tonight?
Would you mind opening the window? It's rather hot in here.
He suggested eating out, but I had already prepared dinner at home.


Phrasal verbs 短语动词
Verb-ing is used after these phrasal verbs:

Examples:
The children carried on playing even though it had started to rain.
I gave up smoking 3 years ago.
The teacher went on talking even though some of the students weren't listening.
Why do you keep on eating fatty food when you know it's bad for you?


Negatives 否定
To make the -ing verb negative, use not:

Would you mind not making so much noise?
I like not having to get up early at weekends

Somebody 某人
It is possible to use the structure verb + somebody + verb-ing:

I can't imagine you living in a foreign country.
I don't like you telling me what to do all the time.

In the passive⁸ form, use being and the past participle:

I don't like being told what to do all the time.

1 authenticity   

n.真实性

参考例句：

• There has been some debate over the authenticity of his will. 对于他的遗嘱的真实性一直有争论。
• The museum is seeking an expert opinion on the authenticity of the painting. 博物馆在请专家鉴定那幅画的真伪。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

4 repeatedly   

adv.重复地，再三地

参考例句：

• The loudspeakers blared the speech repeatedly.扬声器里反复大声地播送那篇演讲。
• He repeatedly beat his foot upon the floor.他反复用脚敲着地板。

5 infinitive   

n.不定词；adj.不定词的

参考例句：

• The use of the split infinitive is now generally acceptable.分裂不定式的用法现在已被广泛接受。
• Modal verbs generally take the bare infinitive.情态动词通常用不带to的不定式。

6 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

7 fancy   

n.想像力，幻想；喜好，爱；adj.想像的，时髦的，华丽装饰的，奢侈的；技巧的；vt.想象，自认为，喜好

参考例句：

• He seemed to have taken quite a fancy to her.他似乎相当喜欢她。
• I have a fancy that it's going to rain.我想大概要下雨。

8 passive   

adj.被动的；消极的

参考例句：

• He has a passive expression on his face.他脸上有一种漠然的表情。
• It lands the manager in a passive position.它使经理处于被动地位。