【走遍美国精讲笔记】第3课：祖父的行李箱 ACT 2 - 3

ACT 2-3 “我迫不及待想见到他们。”

【故事梗概】

在火车上，祖父Malcolm同Elsa女士谈到了各自去纽约市的原因。Elsa是要去拜访朋友，而Malcolm则要是搬去和自己的儿孙同住。Malcolm还没有决定是不是要永久住下来，他既不喜欢独自一人生活，又不想失去独立性。

Grandpa: Do you have family in New York?
Elsa: No, no. But I do have very close friends in New York City. We like to go to the theater together. You said you have family in New York.
Grandpa: Yes, indeed. A son and his wife and their three children - my grandchildren.
Elsa: You must be excited.
Grandpa: I can't wait to see them!
Elsa: Are you going to live with them?
Grandpa: Yes.
Elsa: Permanently?
Grandpa: Well…they want me to, but it's too early to know for sure. I'm pretty independent. I tried to teach my kids the importance of independence, but I'm not sure I want to be alone. Some people don't mind being alone. I do.
Elsa: I understand. But tell me. Why did you stop working?
Grandpa: I retired because …I wanted to be with my family. I didn't want to be alone anymore!

【语言点精讲】

1. But I do have very close friends in New York City.
可我确实有很亲密的朋友在纽约市。句中的 do表示强调，说话时要重读。

2. Yes,indeed.
对，没错。indeed用来强调肯定的语气。

3. You must be excited.
你现在一定很激动。
这里情态动词 must加上be，用来表示一种比较肯定的推测，“想必，一定”，而不作“必须”讲。

4. I can't wait to see them!
我迫不及待想见到他们。
"can't wait to do sth." 表示“急于做某事，迫不及待要做某事”，也可以说"can hardly wait to do sth."

5. Well…they want me to, but it's too early to know for sure.
嗯…他们要我这样，但是现在还太早，难以肯定知道。
"too...to..."的意思是“太...以至于不能...”

6. Some people don't mind being alone. I do.
有些人不在乎一个人过。我不行。
这里的"mind" 表示“介意，不喜欢，讨厌，反对”等意思，后面如接动词，要用动名词形式。这里的"I do"是"I do mind being alone"的缩略，表示“我介意，我讨厌（一个人生活）”

7. Why did you stop working?
你为什么停止工作了？
"stop doing" 表示停止做某事，即不再做下去。