听播客学英语 185 如何到达

 　　Today we will learn something about the word “arrive”. I will tell you when to say “arrive at” and when to say “arrive in”. And I will also tell you that you must never say “arrive to”!

　　Kevin and Joanne are going to visit their friend Amy, who lives in Glasgow , the largest city in Scotland. They arrange when they will come, but then need to decide how to travel. Kevin does not want to drive. It is a long way, and there are roadworks on the M6 motorway¹ which will cause delay, frustration² and bad temper. (There are always roadworks on the M6 – it is part of the traditional British way of life).

　　So they decide to take the train. Now, in Britain train fares are often very expensive unless you buy your tickets at least a week before you travel. Kevin is lucky – he finds some cheap tickets on the internet.

　　On Friday, Kevin and Joanne set off; they take a bus and arrive at the railway station. Miraculously³ their train is on time. Four hours later they arrive in Glasgow. They take a taxi and arrive at Amy’s flat at about 4pm.

　　On the way home they are not so lucky. When they arrive at Glasgow Central station, they find that their train is late. Moreover, one of the carriages is missing, so the train is overcrowded and some passengers have to stand for their journey. The train arrives in Birmingham, at New Street Station, about an hour late.

　　The rule with “arrive” is this. If we are talking about a big place – a country or a town for instance – then we say arrive in. For example:

　　Kevin and Joanne arrive in Scotland

　　They arrive in Glasgow

　　They arrive back in Birmingham

　　But when we are talking about a small place, an individual house or building, for example, we say arrive at. For example:

　　Kevin and Joanne arrive at the railway station

　　They arrive at Amy’s flat

　　They arrive at the airport

　　Kevin arrives at work

　　The children arrive at school

　　Some English learners say “arrive to”. For example, “I arrive to Paris tomorrow”. This is wrong. You should say “I arrive in Paris tomorrow” (“Arrive in” because Paris is a big place).

　　You will sometimes hear people say “I arrived at Birmingham at 3pm” or “I arrive at Paris in the afternoon”. Is this OK? Surely they should say “in Birmingham” and “in Paris”? Well, it is OK if they are saying “Birmingham” to mean “Birmingham railway station” or “Paris” to mean “Paris airport”.

　　I know that this is complicated. But do not despair. Remember that you can use get to instead of “arrive in / at”. Kevin and Joanne get to the railway station, they get to Glasgow, they get to Amy’s flat, they get to the airport, Kevin gets to work, the children get to school. It is always “get to”. Easy. English people use expressions with “get” all the time, so it is a good idea to practice using them.

　　Trains in Britain are often overcrowded, but not generally as overcrowded as the one in the picture above.

1 motorway   

n.高速公路，快车道

参考例句：

• Our car had a breakdown on the motorway.我们的汽车在高速公路上抛锚了。
• A maniac driver sped 35 miles along the wrong side of a motorway at 110 mph.一个疯狂的司机以每小时110英里的速度在高速公路上逆行飙车35英里。

2 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

3 miraculously   

ad.奇迹般地

参考例句：

• He had been miraculously saved from almost certain death. 他奇迹般地从死亡线上获救。
• A schoolboy miraculously survived a 25 000-volt electric shock. 一名男学生在遭受2.5 万伏的电击后奇迹般地活了下来。