ACT 2-2 该付你多少钱?
【故事梗概】
Grandpa决定走加油站的工作人员告诉他的近路。在结过账之后,他继续向Pete的农场开去。
Grandpa: OK. Let me repeat it. I take the next left turn to the stop sign. Then a right across a blue bridge, and then a big red barn.
Attendant: Can’t miss it.
Grandpa: How much do I owe you?
Attendant: Well, that’ll be eighteen dollars and seventy cents. No charge for the cleanup. It’s on the house.
[Grandpa takes a twenty-dollar bill from his pocket and hands it to the attendant.]
Grandpa: Well, here’s a twenty.
Attendant: Ah. OK. That’s a dollar and thirty cents change. There we go … will make twenty. Thanks.
Grandpa: Thank you. And thanks for the directions. [He gets back into the car and drives away. He thinks aloud as he follows the attendant’s directions.] This must be Pete’s barn. Turn right to the house.
【语言点精讲】
1. OK. Let me repeat it. I take the next left turn to the stop sign. Then a right across a blue bridge, and then a big red barn.
好吧,让我来复述一下。在下一个路口向左拐弯,开到停车标志,然后向右拐弯,开过一座蓝色的桥,再后就是一座红色的大牲口棚。
Let me repeat it. : 让我来复述一下。问路后可以通过简单重述的方式来确认自己的理解是正确的。
2. Can’t miss it.
你不会找不到的。这是口语中指路时,常用到的说法。
3. How much do I owe you?
该付你多少钱?这是付款或还钱时常用的说法。
4. Well, that’ll be eighteen dollars and seventy cents.
应付18美元 70美。
that’ll be…: 费用是……,应该付……。售货员或侍者在售货或提供某项服务之后,要告诉顾客需付的费用,这时,常用这个词语。
5. No charge for the cleanup. It’s on the house.
洗车不要钱,我们白送。
no charge: 无需付钱。免费。汽车加油时附带奉送擦洗车子的服务,现在只是在乡间偶尔见之。
It’s on the house. : 本店请客。本店代为支付费用。商店或饭馆有免费奉送的服务或赠送时,常用此语。the house指“本店”。 on指由谁承担价款。个人也可以用,例如,The lunch is on me.(午饭我请客。)
6. That’s a dollar and thirty cents change. There we go… will make twenty.
找你1美元30美分。找给你……凑足20美元。
There will go… will make twenty. : 这里包含了中西文化上的一个奇特的差异。西方在找钱时,不是在脑子里算出差额,按差额找钱,而是以价格为底数,然后将找头逐步加上去直到凑足所给的大票数目为止。