生活英語對話 Episode 30: Career decisions

本單元是關于職業(yè)生涯的對話

Episode 30: Career decisions

Tim: Hi Alice, what are you reading?

Alice: Oh. It's about maternity and baby care. They've asked me to change wards.

Tim: But you love working in the emergency wards.

Alice: Yes, well...I want to work with Dr. Laver.

Tim: Dr. Laver?

Alice: He specialises in looking after children. He's a great doctor, really friendly with the patients.

Tim: I see. And he's not bad looking, I suppose?

Alice: Don't be ridiculous! I'm thinking about my career.

Tim: But you want your own children. Don't you think it'd be horrible looking after other people's kids?

Alice: Yeah, that's the problem. So I haven't decided whether to take the job or not.

Vocabulary (詞匯):

maternity (adj): 產婦的，孕婦的

about pregnancy and childbirth

specialise (v): 成為專家;專門研究;專攻

to study or work in depth in a particular area or subject

本單元的語言點是動詞句式，在一個句子里，有時一個動詞跟著另一個動詞。比如，I want to buy an electric car. 第一個動詞是“want”，第二個動詞是“buy”，看看下面常用的動詞句式。

Verb patterns

Sometimes in a sentence, one verb follows another. For example, I want to buy an electric car. The first verb is 'want', the second verb is 'buy'(在一個句子里，有時一個動詞跟著另一個動詞。比如，I want to buy an electric car. 第一個動詞是“want”，第二個動詞是“buy”).

In sentences like this, there are different possible patterns. For example (這類動詞有幾種可能的不同形態(tài)，比如):

(a) I want to buy an electric car.

(b) I hate driving.

In sentence A, the first verb is followed by an infinitive (在A句里，第一個動詞后面跟著一個動詞不定式 - 動詞不定式不受人稱、數(shù)、時態(tài)的限制，通常前面帶to).

In sentence B, the first verb is followed by a gerund (-ing) form (在B句里，第一個動詞后面跟著一個動名詞 - 動名詞由動詞加‘-ing’形成).

The verb patterns are dependent upon the first verb. There are several different types of pattern. When you learn a new verb, you need to learn the verb pattern. Unfortunately, some verbs have more than one possible pattern! Sometimes, if a verb has two patterns, each pattern can have a different meaning or use (動詞形態(tài)取決于第一個動詞，一般有幾種不同的形式。當學習一個新的動詞時，應該了解這個動詞的形態(tài)。然而，有些動詞不只有一種形態(tài)。一個動詞有時有兩種形態(tài)，每種形態(tài)的意思和使用方式都可以不同).

Here are examples of some of the patterns (下面，我們來看看一些不同的動詞形態(tài)):

Verb + to + verb (動詞 + to + 動詞):

These verbs all use this pattern: want, hope, decide, agree.

I want to work with Dr. Laver.

Tim hopes to leave the stockroom soon.

Helen decided to go out with Michal.

Alice might agree to change wards.

Verb + verb + ing (動詞 + 動詞 + ing):

These verbs all use this pattern: enjoy, mind, consider.

I enjoy working on the emergency ward.

Alice doesn't mind working with children.

Tim is considering changing his job.

Verb + preposition + verb +ing (動詞 + 介詞 + 動詞 + ing)：

These verbs all use this pattern: specialise, think.

He specialises in helping children.

Michal is thinking about cooking dinner.

Verb + object + verb (動詞 + 賓語 + 動詞):

These verbs all use this pattern: let, make.

Dad let me keep the cat.

She made me say sorry.

Verbs with two patterns and different meanings (有兩種形態(tài)并有不同意思的動詞):

These verbs have two possible patterns, and there is a difference in meaning between the patterns: like, hate, regret.

I like to swim every day = I think it is a good idea to do this

I like swimming every day = I enjoy the activity. It gives me pleasure

I hate to tell you this = I am sorry to tell you this

I hate flying = I do not like this activity

I regret to tell you this - I am sorry to tell you this

I regret leaving London - I left London in the past, and I am sorry that I did that