中級美國英語虛擬語氣（二）
一.本課要點及示例
在這一課里, 我們要學習用 "如果" if, i-f, if 作假設性的句子來表達跟現在的情況相反的條件和結果. 比方你的好朋友邀請你跟他一起去看電影,可是你必須念書, 不能去, 所以你就告訴他: "如果不是我得念書, 我就跟你去看電影." 這句話英文應該這么說: If I didn't have to study, I would go to the movies with you.
現在我們來聽英文老師念一段對話, 多舉幾個例子給你聽. 對話的內容是說凱特的父母搬到佛羅里達州, 凱特很想念他們,亨利想法子安慰她的情況. 請你注意聽兩位英文老師的發(fā)音和語調.
F: I miss my folks. I wish we could see them.
M: Well, if they lived closer, we would see them more often.
F: If we owned a bigger house, they could live with us.
M: You know they would never do that. They would feel that they were intruding.
F: You're right. But I wish I were with them now. Let's go visit them.
M: All the way to Florida? We could if we didn't have to work and if the kids didn't have school.
F: Maybe they will come to visit us when it gets warmer.
M: I'm sure they will. Maybe we can go there to see them this summer on vacation. Meanwhile, why don't you call them on the phone?
F: I just did. That's why I miss them so much right now.
現在老師用慢速度再把整個對話念一遍.
F: I miss my folks. I wish we could see them.
M: Well, if they lived closer, we would see them more often.
F: If we owned a bigger house, they could live with us.
M: You know they would never do that. They would feel that they were intruding.
F: You're right. But I wish I were with them now. Let's go visit them.
M: All the way to Florida? We could if we didn't have to work and if the kids didn't have school.
F: Maybe they will come to visit us when it gets warmer.
M: I'm sure they will. Maybe we can go there to see them this summer on vacation. Meanwhile, why don't you call them on the phone?
F: I just did. That's why I miss them so much right now.
現在我把對話里包含今天要學的語法的句子挑出來,請老師再念一遍給你聽.
M: If they lived closer, we would see them more often.
F: If we owned a bigger house, they could live with us.
M: If they lived with us, they would feel that they were intruding.
M: We could if we didn't have to work and if the kids didn't have school.
二.用 IF 引導跟現在事實相反的情況
聽了上面那些句子, 你可能已經注意到怎么表達跟現在事實相反的情況.在下面一組練習里你可以更仔細地把事實跟假設作個比較. 練習的作法是亨利用現在時態(tài)說一句話, 比方 "我們沒有大房子. 他們不能跟我們一起住." We don't have a big house. They cannot live with us. 接著凱特就用過去時態(tài)把句子改成:"如果我們有大房子,他們就可以跟我們一塊住." If we had a big house, they could live with us.這組練習的內容都是說到凱特的愿望.這些愿望都跟凱特的父母有關系. 練習里有些詞匯可能你不熟, 比方"照顧他們" take care of them,"照料他們自己" look after themselves, "陪伴他們" keep the company 等等.請你在聽老師念句子的時候一方面注意語法的變化, 一方面注意詞匯.
M: We don't have a big house. They cannot live with us.
F: If we had a big house, they could live with us.
M: They don't live with us. We cannot see them everyday.
F: If they lived with us. We could see them everyday.
M: We don't see them every day. We cannot take care of them.
F: If we saw them everyday, we could take care of them.
M: They are not young. They cannot look after themselves.
F: If they were young, they could look after themselves.
M: We have jobs in Seattle. We cannot move to Florida.
F: If we didn't have jobs in Seattle, we could move to Florida.
M: Long distance phone calls are expensive. We cannot talk to them everyday.
F: If long distance phone calls weren't expensive, we could talk to them everyday.
M: We are busy. We cannot go to visit them.
F: If we weren't busy, we could go to visit them.
M: Our kids have to go to school. They cannot visit the grandparents.
F: If our kids didn't have to go to school, they could visit the grandparents.
M: We cannot visit them. We cannot keep them company.
F: If we could visit them, we could keep them company.
M: We are not there with them. We cannot buy groceries for them.
F: If we were there with them, we could buy groceries for them.
M: We are not living with them. We cannot do their laundry for them.
F: If we were living with them, we could do their laundry for them.
在用過去時態(tài)表達跟目前相反的情況的時候,be動詞一律用were,w-e-r-e, were. 比方凱特不住在佛羅里達州, 所以她不能夠照顧父母. 她可以這樣說: I am not in Florida. I cannot take care of them. 要是把這句話改成: "如果我在那兒, 我就可以照顧他們." 英文就應該這樣說: I could take care of them if I were there. 下面我們作一組代換練習學學這種說法, 同時復習剛才那組練習里的一些詞匯.
現在請你注意聽凱特說一句話, 接著老師念一個詞組,請你跟凱特一起把詞組代換到前半個句子里.
F: I could take care of them if I were there.
M: look after them.
F: I could look after them if I were there.
M: keep them company
F: I could keep them company if I were there.
M: help them
F: I could help them if I were there.
M: cook for them
F: I could cook for them if I were there.
M: buy groceries for them
F: I could buy groceries for them if I were there.
M: do their laundry
F: I could do their laundry if I were there.
M: take them shopping
F: I could take them shopping if I were there.
下面我們再作一組代換練習, 一方面學習今天教的語法,一方面復習形容詞比較級.練習的內容是說如果凱特的父母跟女兒, 女婿一塊住會有什么好處. 請你跟著凱特把第一個句子重復一遍, 然后跟凱特一起把老師提出的詞匯代換到后半個句子里.
F: If they lived with us, it would be more economical for them.
M: less expensive
F: If they lived with us, it would be less expensive for them.
M: more convenient
F: If they lived with us, it would be more convenient for them.
M: less troublesome
F: If they lived with us, it would be less troublesome for them.
M: easier
F: If they lived with us, it would be easier for them.
M: less difficult
F: If they lived with us, it would be less difficult for them.
下面我們再作一組練習, 學學怎么表達跟目前相反的情況. 練習的內容都是說到在美國六十五歲以上的老人,也就是所謂的 senior citizens 能得到什么好處.在這組練習里你可以學到許多有用的詞匯, 比方 "福利" benefit, "退休金"retirement pension,"義務" obligation,"無憂無慮"care-free. "志愿工作" volunteer work 等等.現在請你先注意老師用現在時態(tài)說明目前的情況; 然后請你用過去時態(tài)否定句說明跟目前相反的情況. 下面就是一個例子:
M: We are senior citizens. We are able to enjoy senior citizen benefits.
F: If we weren't senior citizens, we wouldn't be able to enjoy senior citizen benefits.
現在我們開始作練習. 每作完一句就請你聽老師把正確答案念一遍.
M: We are senior citizens. We are able to enjoy senior citizen benefits.
F: If we weren't senior citizens, we wouldn't be able to enjoy senior citizen benefits.
M: We don't have to work full time. We have time to enjoy our hobbies.
F: If we had to work full time, we wouldn't have time to enjoy our hobbies.
M: We don't have many obligations. We are carefree.
F: If we had many obligations, we wouldn't be carefree.
M: We don't need to work full time. We are free to do volunteer work.
F: If we needed to work full time, we wouldn't be free to do volunteer work.
M: We do volunteer work. We have a lot of new experiences.
F: If we didn't do volunteer work, we wouldn't have a lot of new experiences.
下面我們再作一組練習. 這組練習的作法是由老師念一些句子說明美國老年人目前的生活情況, 比方 "我們從事志愿工作以免與社會脫節(jié)." We do volunteer work so that we don't lose contact with the society. 請你用might 把句子改成:If we didn't do volunteer work, we might lose contact with the society.在這組練習里, 除了復習今天教的語法你還可以學習一些有用的詞匯, 比方"跟什么什么失去聯系" lose contact with."跟某某人交往" associate with, "團結" united, "為了要" in order to 等等. 請你在作練習的時候特別注意. 每作完一句老師就會念出正確答案讓你作個比較, 看你作對了沒有.
M: We do volunteer work so that we don't lose contact with the society.
F: If we didn't do volunteer work, we might lose contact with the society.
M: We are active so that we can enjoy life.
F: If we weren't active, we might not enjoy life.
M: We associate with fellow senior citizens to be able to share our interests.
F: If we didn't associate with fellow senior citizens, we might not be able to share our interests.
M: We are united in order to have social influence.
F: If we weren't united, we might not have social influence.
三.聽短文回答問題
今天我們要聽一篇談美國老年人生活的文章. 請你注意聽. 等一會兒我們要依照慣例根據文章問你三個問題.
People over the age of 65 in the U.S. are called senior citizens. Life for these people is different than for younger Americans. Most senior citizens retire, or no longer work full time. Also it is unusual for people of this age to live with their children and grandchildren. Grandparents tend to live in their own houses or apartments away from their families. For many senior citizens, the years after 65 are not enjoyable. They feel unproductive when they no longer work. Their lives lose meaning. In addition, they may feel lonely being away from their families and the contacts they had in their work. Moreover, they become more concerned with their health as they grow older. If they live in big cities, they often worry about their safety. Other senior citizens enjoy their lives. They feel free to do things they were not able to do when they were working and raising families. They now have time to enjoy hobbies and sports and travel. They associate with their fellow senior citizens who have common interests and equal free time. Many senior citizens move to retirement communities located in warm climates. Some senior citizens continue to work beyond retirement age. Many find new careers and professional opportunities after they retire. The number of senior citizens in the U.S. is increasing rapidly because people are living longer than before. The average life span for Americans is now more than 74 years. Because of their larger numbers and more active life styles, senior citizens are gaining social influence in the country, both politically and economically. Their concerns are receiving a wider audience than ever before. The time may come when all Americans will look forward to becoming senior citizens.
現在請你回答三個問題. 每回答一個問題, 老師就會念出正確答案給你聽.
第一個問題是:
M: Who are senior citizens?
F: Senior citizens are people over 65 years of age.
第二個問題是:
M: What are some of the problems for senior citizens?
F: Some of them feel unproductive, lonely and unsafe.
第三個問題是:
M: Why are senior citizens gaining social influence?
F: It is because the number of senior citizens is growing and because senior citizens are more active.
