口语句式

母语者常用一些固定说法来开头或引导句子，比如 The thing is…、What I mean is…、It's worth…。它们提示听话人接下来要说的是什么（一个问题、一个解释、一个请求…），也给你一点时间思考。每一个都要作为一个整体来记，连同后面接的形式一起记。

1. The thing is… / The problem is…——提出一个问题，常常是不好开口的理由

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

  我很想去。问题是，我没有车。

• The problem is, nobody knows the password.

  问题是，没人知道密码。

2. The point is…——把话题拉回到主要观点

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

  我知道它很贵，但关键是，它能用好多年。

3. What I mean is… / What I'm trying to say is…——对方没听懂时重新解释

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

  我没说它不好。我的意思是，它可以再短一点。

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

  我想说的是，我们需要更多时间。

4. It's not that… It's just that…——把话说得委婉些，以免让人不高兴

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

  不是我不喜欢你做的菜，只是我不太饿。

5. I was wondering if…——非常礼貌地询问或请求。这里的过去时并不表示过去，而是让请求听起来更委婉。后面通常接 could / would。

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

  不知道你能不能帮我看看我的简历。

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

  不知道你愿不愿意和我们一起吃晚饭。

💡把句式当作一个流畅的整体说出来，然后在说主要内容前稍作停顿：“The thing is, | I don't have a car.” 这个停顿能吸引听话人的注意，也给你时间思考。不过别用得太多——每句话都用句式开头听起来不自然。

• It's worth + -ing = 值得做，花时间不亏。不接 to + 动词。主语是物时，句末不要重复它：The film is worth watching（不说：worth watching it）。简短说法：It's worth it.
• There's no point (in) + -ing / It's no use + -ing = 做了也没用。随意的口语里可以省略 in：There's no point arguing.
• can't / couldn't help + -ing = 忍不住。也可以说 can't help but + 动词原形（I couldn't help but laugh），但两种说法不要混在一起。
• look forward to + -ing / 名词 = 期待将来的某件事。这里的 to 是介词（见“介词 + -ing”一课）。I look forward to… 比较正式（用于邮件）；I'm looking forward to… 更亲切。

• It's worth trying the street food here.

  这里的街头小吃值得一试。（不说：worth to try）

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

  现在给她打电话也没用，她已经睡了。

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

  他从椅子上摔下来的时候，我忍不住笑了。

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

  我真的很期待周末见到你。

• can't wait + to + 动词 = 非常兴奋、迫不及待：I can't wait to see my family.（比较 look forward to + -ing。）
• It's time + to + 动词 = 现在是时候了；It's time for + 人 + to + 动词；It's (about / high) time + 主语 + 过去式 = 这件事早就该发生了——动词形式是过去式，意思却是现在。
• I'd rather not + 动词原形 = 委婉地表示你不想做：I'd rather not talk about it.
• It turns out (that) + 从句 = 你发现了一件出乎意料的事；No wonder + 从句 = 难怪。

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

  下周就过春节了，我迫不及待想见到家人。

• It's late. It's time to go home.

  很晚了，该回家了。

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

  你早该告诉她真相了。（told：过去式形式，现在的意思）

• It turns out Minh is Lan's cousin.

  原来阿明是阿兰的表哥。

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

  你昨晚没睡？难怪你这么累。

• To be honest, …——在坦率地发表意见之前：To be honest, I didn't enjoy the film.
• If you ask me, … / The way I see it, …——表达个人看法：If you ask me, it's too expensive.
• Having said that, … / On the other hand, …——补充另一方面：The flat is small. Having said that, it's in a great area.
• By the way, …——转换话题：By the way, did you get my message?
• At the end of the day, …——说到底最重要的是：At the end of the day, your health is what matters.
• I'm afraid (that) … / I'm afraid so / I'm afraid not——委婉地告知坏消息：I'm afraid I can't come.

💡一个常见的口误是 As far as I concern。正确的说法是 As far as I'm concerned, … = 在我看来 / 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 + 动词。

• ✗I look forward to hear from you.

  ✓I look forward to hearing from you.

  look forward to 里的 to 是介词 → -ing。

• ✗It's time we go home.

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

  it's time + to + 动词，或者 + 过去时从句。

• ✗I couldn't help but laughing.

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

  help + -ing，或者 help but + 动词原形。