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 problem.
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?”。
