英語日常口語 Unit67:A call from Poland 波蘭打來的電話

英語日常口語 Unit67:A cAll from Poland 波蘭打來的電話

本單元是關於波蘭打來的電話的對話

Tim: Hey Helen, guess who just called?
Helen: Oh no, was it Michal?
Tim: Yes, you just missed him!
Helen: Oh, no!
Tim: He said to send you his love. Why don't you call him back?
Helen: No. He said he needed some space, so I've got to give him some space. But I wish I'd been here when he called. What else did he say?
Tim: Oh, he sounded well, he's working hard, his dad's a bit better, nothing much really.
Helen: I really miss him.
Tim: You need to get out and about you know.
Helen: I suppose so. Shall we all go and see a movie tonight?
Tim: I'd be up for it, but I think Alice has gone out with Paul, to some sort of art exhibition, I think.
Helen: Again? That's interesting. I think those two might be getting serious...

Vocabulary: 字彙

those two might be getting serious 他們兩人可能是來真的噢
when a romantic relationship gets serious, the two people feel committed to each other and begin to think about the possibility of a long-term relationship.

I'd be up for that 算我一份
I'd like to do that (especially when talking about a group arrangement)

本單元語言點是關於 'wish' 的用法，wish + past perfect 對過去的事表達惋惜 - wish 後使用過去完成式，情況請看下面的解釋和例句。

Past regrets - 'wish'

Past regrets - wish + past perfect 對過去的事表達惋惜 - wish 後使用過去完成式

Helen was out when Michal called. When she says 'I wish I'd been here when he called' she is expressing regret for a past event. She is sad about something that happened, and she is sorry that the past was not different.

To express regrets about past events, use:

subject + wish(es) + past perfect (had + past participle).

For example: last week you forgot to set your alarm. As a result, you slept late, you were late for school, you missed the start of the exam, and you failed the exam.
You can express your regret for things that happened (or didn't happen) in the past by saying:

I wish I hadn't forgotten to set my alarm.
OR I wish I had remembered to set my alarm.

I wish I hadn't slept late.

I wish I hadn't been late for school.
OR I wish I had been on time for school.

I wish I hadn't missed the start of the exam.
OR I wish I hadn't failed the exam.
OR I wish I had passed the exam.

Note: Even though the speaker is talking about a past event, the verb 'wish' is used in the present simple form, because s/he regrets it now.

I wish I had passed the exam.
You wish you had passed the exam.
S/he wishes s/he had passed the exam.
We wish we had passed the exam.
You wish you had passed the exam.
They wish they had passed the exam.