ACT 2-1 “那么说我已经解决了你的问题了。
”【故事梗概】Susan想请自己的老板John Marchetta帮忙，为Grandpa找点事做。
她叫来了自己的助手Sam“商量”这个想法是否可行。
Susan: Sam, would you come in, please?Sam: You sound like something's bothering you, Susan. The sketches for the cover of the new doll book?Susan: That's not it. Please sit down.Sam: Sure.Susan: I need your advice on a personal matter, but it's not about me. Sam: You need my advice on a personal matter, and it's not about you. OK. Susan: It's about my grandfather.Sam: What's the problem?Susan: It won't sound like a big deal, but it is. I had dinner with him Saturday, and he's very unhappy about not working.Sam: I thought he was retired and pleased to be living with the family. Susan: He is, but there's so much energy and talent in the man, and he doesn't get to use it.Sam: But what can I do? What kind of advice are you looking for?Susan: Simply this. John Marchetta runs this company.Sam: He founded this company.Susan: Right. John Marchetta gave me my start here six years ago, when I first graduated from college. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.Sam: Right. Maybe he can do the same thing for your grandfather.Susan: Or at least give him some advice.Sam: Right. Then I’ve solved you problem.Susan: I can always depend on you, Sam.Sam: I'm glad to help. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you?Susan: No, no. I'll do that. Thanks.【语言点精讲】1. You sound like something's bothering you.听起来好像有什么事使你心烦。
这是一种关心别人，询问别人怎么了、是不是有麻烦了的说法。
bother: 使烦恼，打扰。
2. I need your advice on a personal matter, but it's not about me.我有一件私事需要听你的意见，可并不是关于我自己的。
Susan的话有些表面上的矛盾，这显然让Sam有点摸不着头脑，所以他说“You need my advice on a personal matter, and it's not about you.”这里Sam 重复了Susan的话。
重复别人的话是确认对方意图的一种方式。
a personal matter: 个人的事情，私事。
3. It won't sound like a big deal, but it is.听起来不像是一件重要的事情，可事实上是的。
sound like: 听起来好像…a big deal: 指的是something very important（很重要的事情）。
4. I had dinner with him Saturday, and he's very unhappy about not working.我星期六和他一起吃的晚饭，他因为没有工作很不高兴。
I had dinner with him Saturday: 正式的说法应该在Saturday前面加上一个on。
但是在美国英语中，这个on常被省略。
be unhappy about: 因为……而不高兴。
5. Simply this.简单说就是这样的。
6. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.他给了我使用我的才能的机会，使我更有信心。
give sb. the chance to do sth.: 给某人机会做某事。
made me feel more confident: 使我更有信心。
make sb. do sth.是make加不带to的不定式作宾补，其他类似的动词还有feel, let, see, watch, have等。
7. Then I’ve solved you p roblem.那么说我已经解决了你的问题了。
solve the problem: 解决问题。
这是个常用的搭配。
8. I can always depend on you.我总是可以信赖你的。
可以用这句话来感谢对方对自己的协助，这里的“对方”应该是和自己比较熟悉的人。
depend on: 依靠；信赖。
也可写作“depend upon”。
9. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you?要不要我给Mr. Marchetta打电话？表示主动为某人做某事时，如果主语是I或we时，一般用shall，例如: “Shall I/we wait for you？”。
主语是you时则用would，例如: “Would you like me to help you?”。
ACT 2-2 “他怎么了？”【故事梗概】Susan在自己的老板John Marchetta的办公室里，鼓足勇气请老板给Grandpa一个工作的机会。
另她有些出乎意料的是，John Marchetta先生立即就答应让Grandpa明天来面试。
Marchetta: Now, how's the Stewart family?Susan: Fine, thank you, Mr. Marchetta. Except for my grandfather. Marchetta: What's wrong, Susan? What's wrong with him?Susan: He needs to work. In fact, that is the reason why I'm here to see you. I know you're building a new factory, and I though t…maybe …my grandfather is so experienced in the construction trade, he could be so valuable. Marchetta: Tel him to come and see me at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I have an idea that may solve the problem for him and help a lot of other people. Susan: Really, Mr. Marchetta? Can I tell him that?Marchetta: Sure can. Ten o'clock in the morning. Here.Susan: Oh, thank you!【语言点精讲】1. How's the Stewart family?Stewart全家人还好吗？这里动词用单数is，因为family是集体名词，表示全家人作为一个整体。
2. Except for my grandfather.这句话是“Everyone is fine except for my grandfather.”的省略。
except for: 除……之外。
指若不计被除掉的这一点，其它方面都符合主句的断言。
3. What's wrong, Susan? What's wrong with him?怎么了，Susan？他怎么了？向对方表示关怀，询问对方遇到什么麻烦了、有什么困难，可以有多种表达方式。
如：What's wrong?What's the problem?There is something on your mind.Something's bothering you.What's the matter?Is anything/something wrong?4. In fact, that is the reason why I'm here to see you.事实上，我就是为这事来见你的。
the reason why … : …的原因，…的理由。
也可以说the reason that或者the reason for.5. My grandfather is so experienced in the construction trade, he could be so valuable.so experienced in the construction trade: 在建筑行业很有经验。
trade除“贸易，交换”以外，还有“行业，手艺”的意思，因此有the construction trade的说法。
valuable:有价值的，有用的。