一張圖,讓你隨口就能講出流暢英文
常常有學生問老師,英文每次講了兩三句就停住,無話可說。老師的回答很多樣,其中令人印象最深刻的是「講英文或寫英文就像開車,有時候你要繼續前行,有時候會轉彎,還有些時候得給人一些警示,有時候要停止。」前行是go,轉彎是turn,警示是caution,停止是stop。這四類行動,英文有特定的「訊號字」預示它們即將發生。
好好地用Go(行)、Stop(停)Turn(轉彎)、警示(caution)這四類「訊號字」,講英文就像行雲流水,想走就走,該停就停。怎麼用?我們一起來看實例。
(1)Go 用加法前進
找到把話講下去,基本上是加法原則,加法可以是最單純的and/in addition/also:
We have seen the movie twice, and now we want to see it again.(這部片子我們看了兩次,而現在要再看一次。)
或是直接給一個例子,舉例可以用for example/for instance,也可以是縮小範圍的specifically/in particular:
I have been to many countries. For example, I have been to Russia, Canada, Mexico, and Spain.(我去過很多國家,像俄羅斯、加拿大、墨西哥和西班牙。)
I like to travel. Specifically, I enjoy places with long history.(我喜歡旅行,特別喜歡去有歷史感的地方。)
(2)Turn 事情永遠有另一面
同樣的例句,"I like to travel.",如果用轉彎來延續話題,會變成"I like to travel, but I don’t do it often."(我喜歡旅行,但並不常去。)
「轉彎」經常是一種對比,用however/instead就會帶出訊息。
We wanted to leave at 8:00. However, Mike arrived too late.(我們八點就想走了,可是Mike很晚才到。)
Instead of making progress, my English actually seems to be going backwards.(我的英文不但,實際上更像是倒退了。)
也可能是讓步,像yet/despite。
He knows that he should do his duty, yet he never does it.(他知道自己應該盡責,但從來沒盡過責任。)
Despite May's skill at tennis, she lost the match.(儘管梅網球打得很好,她還是輸了。)
(3)Caution 然後呢?
中文的對話中也常常發生,你講了一句話,對方問你「然後呢?」於是話題繼續。英文裡有一些轉折語具有「然後呢?」功效,而這些轉折字經常用來提示,下一句話其實更重要。例如:
Tim was late. As a result, we cancelled the meeting.(Tim遲到了,於是我們取消會議。)
James is not feeling well. Therefore, he will not be here today.(James今天不舒服,所以不會來。)
The committee voted against the proposal. Thus, we must consider another idea.(委員會否決了這項提案,因此,我們必須考慮其他的計劃。)
(4)Stop 給一個收尾的暗示,見好就收
一旦你說了這些話,對方就不會期待你繼續延展話題,哪些字有這些功能呢?
Finally, I'd like to thank my readers for staying with me all these years.(最後,我要感謝一直陪伴我的讀者。)
In conclusion, I feel that she deserves a promotion.(結論是我覺得她應該升職。)
In summary, we should offer her some financial help.(總之,我們應該提供她財務支援。)
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