口語句式

母語者常用一些固定說法來開頭或引導句子，比如 The thing is…、What I mean is…、It's worth…。它們提示聽話人接下來要說的是什麼（一個問題、一個解釋、一個請求…），也給你一點時間思考。每一個都要作為一個整體來記，連同後面接的形式一起記。

1. The thing is… / The problem is…——提出一個問題，常常是不好開口的理由

• I'd love to come. The thing is, I don't have a car.

  我很想去。問題是，我沒有車。

• The problem is, nobody knows the password.

  問題是，沒人知道密碼。

2. The point is…——把話題拉回到主要觀點

• I know it's expensive, but the point is, it will last for years.

  我知道它很貴，但關鍵是，它能用好多年。

3. What I mean is… / What I'm trying to say is…——對方沒聽懂時重新解釋

• I didn't say it was bad. What I mean is, it could be shorter.

  我沒說它不好。我的意思是，它可以再短一點。

• What I'm trying to say is, we need more time.

  我想說的是，我們需要更多時間。

4. It's not that… It's just that…——把話說得委婉些，以免讓人不高興

• It's not that I don't like your cooking. It's just that I'm not very hungry.

  不是我不喜歡你做的菜，只是我不太餓。

5. I was wondering if…——非常禮貌地詢問或請求。這裡的過去時並不表示過去，而是讓請求聽起來更委婉。後面通常接 could / would。

• I was wondering if you could help me with my CV.

  不知道你能不能幫我看看我的簡歷。

• I was wondering if you'd like to join us for dinner.

  不知道你願不願意和我們一起吃晚飯。

💡把句式當作一個流暢的整體說出來，然後在說主要內容前稍作停頓：“The thing is, | I don't have a car.” 這個停頓能吸引聽話人的注意，也給你時間思考。不過別用得太多——每句話都用句式開頭聽起來不自然。

• It's worth + -ing = 值得做，花時間不虧。不接 to + 動詞。主語是物時，句末不要重複它：The film is worth watching（不說：worth watching it）。簡短說法：It's worth it.
• There's no point (in) + -ing / It's no use + -ing = 做了也沒用。隨意的口語裡可以省略 in：There's no point arguing.
• can't / couldn't help + -ing = 忍不住。也可以說 can't help but + 動詞原形（I couldn't help but laugh），但兩種說法不要混在一起。
• look forward to + -ing / 名詞 = 期待將來的某件事。這裡的 to 是介詞（見“介詞 + -ing”一課）。I look forward to… 比較正式（用於郵件）；I'm looking forward to… 更親切。

• It's worth trying the street food here.

  這裡的街頭小吃值得一試。（不說：worth to try）

• There's no point in calling her now. She's asleep.

  現在給她打電話也沒用，她已經睡了。

• When he fell off his chair, I couldn't help laughing.

  他從椅子上摔下來的時候，我忍不住笑了。

• I'm really looking forward to seeing you at the weekend.

  我真的很期待週末見到你。

• can't wait + to + 動詞 = 非常興奮、迫不及待：I can't wait to see my family.（比較 look forward to + -ing。）
• It's time + to + 動詞 = 現在是時候了；It's time for + 人 + to + 動詞；It's (about / high) time + 主語 + 過去式 = 這件事早就該發生了——動詞形式是過去式，意思卻是現在。
• I'd rather not + 動詞原形 = 委婉地表示你不想做：I'd rather not talk about it.
• It turns out (that) + 從句 = 你發現了一件出乎意料的事；No wonder + 從句 = 難怪。

• Tet is next week, and I can't wait to see my family.

  下週就過春節了，我迫不及待想見到家人。

• It's late. It's time to go home.

  很晚了，該回家了。

• It's about time you told her the truth.

  你早該告訴她真相了。（told：過去式形式，現在的意思）

• It turns out Minh is Lan's cousin.

  原來阿明是阿蘭的表哥。

• You didn't sleep last night? No wonder you're tired.

  你昨晚沒睡？難怪你這麼累。

• To be honest, …——在坦率地發表意見之前：To be honest, I didn't enjoy the film.
• If you ask me, … / The way I see it, …——表達個人看法：If you ask me, it's too expensive.
• Having said that, … / On the other hand, …——補充另一方面：The flat is small. Having said that, it's in a great area.
• By the way, …——轉換話題：By the way, did you get my message?
• At the end of the day, …——說到底最重要的是：At the end of the day, your health is what matters.
• I'm afraid (that) … / I'm afraid so / I'm afraid not——委婉地告知壞訊息：I'm afraid I can't come.

💡一個常見的口誤是 As far as I concern。正確的說法是 As far as I'm concerned, … = 在我看來 / 就我而言。

• ✗It's worth to try the street food here.

  ✓It's worth trying the street food here.

  worth + -ing。

• ✗There's no point to argue with him.

  ✓There's no point (in) arguing with him.

  no point (in) + -ing。

• ✗I can't wait seeing you.

  ✓I can't wait to see you.

  can't wait + to + 動詞。

• ✗I look forward to hear from you.

  ✓I look forward to hearing from you.

  look forward to 裡的 to 是介詞 → -ing。

• ✗It's time we go home.

  ✓It's time to go home. / It's time we went home.

  it's time + to + 動詞，或者 + 過去時從句。

• ✗I couldn't help but laughing.

  ✓I couldn't help laughing. / I couldn't help but laugh.

  help + -ing，或者 help but + 動詞原形。