If you're not too busy, come with us to have a bite to eat.
如果妳不忙的話,就過來跟我們吃點東西吧。
If she's not too busy, she can come with us to the park to have a picnic.
如果她不忙的話,可以跟我們到公園野餐。
If John's not too busy, he can come with us to have Thanksgiving dinner.
如果約翰不忙的話,他可以跟我們一起享用感恩節大餐。
If they're not too busy, they can come with us to have a look at our new house.
如果他們不忙的話,可以跟我們到我們的新家看看。
★延伸應用..........................
Come with us to the theme park if you're not too busy.
如果你不忙的話,就跟我們去主題樂園吧。
If you're not too busy, can you come with me to help me open a new bank account?
如果你不忙的話,可不可以跟我到銀行,幫我開新帳戶?
★你知道嗎?.........................
各地的待客之道(hospitality)不同,尤其是東西方更大異其趣。如果你到日本人家家裡作客,主人會殷勤地招待你,但在美國的待客之道是讓客人覺得就像在自己家裡一樣,因此主人可能會遞上電視遙控器給你,告訴你冰箱的東西請自取等等。在美國南方,客人離開時主人還會說:Ya'll come back here real soon, you hear? 意思就是「歡迎再度光臨,把這裡當作是自個兒家。」
.....................................
此為同意對方的說法,對於別人的意見我們不只聽到了而且認同時,就可以這麼說。
A: This is the best Mexican food I've ever had.
這是我吃過最好吃的墨西哥食物了。
B: I hear you. I'm really impressed.
我同意。我也覺得很棒。
★你還可以這麼說.......................
I agree.
我同意。
I'm with you.
我也是。
I feel the same way.
我也這麼覺得。
I hear ya.
我瞭。
Amen to that.
我同意。
A: There's so much I want to do.
有好多事我都很想做。
B: I hear ya. There's not enough time in a day.
我瞭。一天的時間是不夠的。
A: Mr. Brown is the hardest teacher at the school.
布朗老師是學校裡最嚴格的老師。
B: Amen to that, brother. I had him last semester and almost failed.
我同意,老兄。上學期我修了他的課還差點被當。
★你知道嗎?.........................
amen 即是禱告中會聽見的「阿門」。這個詞源自希伯來文,amen 除了有「同意、贊同」的意思之外,還有「是的、的確如此」之意,所以 amen to that 引申就有「我同意你說的;我贊成」的意思。