Live互動英語雜誌  
 
  每月新書限時優惠
 
2014 年 05 月 09日 (No.666)
 
   
   
 
  ★這麼用．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．
  用於表示遺憾要告知對方可能令其不悅的事，此為較正式的用法。
   
Well, James, I'm sorry to inform you of some bad news.
  嗯，詹姆斯，抱歉要通知你一些壞消息。
   
We're sorry to inform you that your credit card application has been denied.
  很抱歉要通知您，您的信用卡申請遭到拒絕了。
   
He's sorry to inform you he'll be out of the office for the rest of the week.
  他很抱歉要跟你說，這禮拜接下來幾天他都不會進公司。
   
Mike is sorry to inform you that he can't attend the party.
  麥克要跟你說很抱歉，他無法參加派對。
   
  ★延伸應用．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．
   
We're sorry to inform you visiting hours at the hospital are now over.
  很抱歉要通知您，現在醫院的會客時間結束了。
   
We're sorry to inform you that the temple is closed.
  很抱歉要告知你寺廟目前不對外開放。
   
  ★你知道嗎？．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．
  inform 常用於正式通知，其他搭配用法為 regret to inform：
• Agatha, I regret to inform you that you failed the test.
艾格莎，很遺憾通知妳未通過測驗。
• I wish I didn't have to tell you that you aren't allowed to be here.
真希望我不用告訴你你不能在這裡。
   
 
 
．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．  
 
   
 
 

用來描述事情沒有想像中困難，此句雖然是問句的型態，但通常並不需要對方答覆。
   
See? You got it on your first try. It wasn't that difficult, was it?
  看到沒，你第一次試就成功了，這沒有很難嘛。
   
A: That was easier than it looked.
  那比看起來簡單。
   
B: What did I tell you? It wasn't difficult, was it?
  我不是跟你說了？這並沒有很難嘛。
   
  ★你還可以這麼說．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．
That's not so hard.
  那沒有很難。
   
It's easier than it looks.
  比看起來簡單。
   
Nothing to it.
  小事一件。
   
What was so hard about that?
  那有什麼難的？
   
A: I just asked Kim out and she said yes!
  我剛約了金而且她答應我的邀約了！
   
B: And you were so nervous about it. What was so hard about that?
  你還很緊張呢。那有什麼難的？
   
  ★你知道嗎？．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．
 

nothing to it 也可以說成 there's nothing to it。這個誇飾的用法始於一九三四年，至今已經七十多年囉！
   
   
 
 
．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．  
 
   
 
  ★大師開講．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．
  act、ag、ig 都含有「行動；驅使；充當；起作用」的意思。act 到了十五、六世紀開始用在劇場和議院中，分別表示「表演」、「法令」的意思。
   
  ★必學應用字彙．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．．
   
  activate　v.　啟動；使活動；使活躍
The bomb was activated by a cell phone.
 
那枚炸彈是經由手機引爆的。
   
  exact　 v.　強索；要求　adj.　 精確的；正確無誤的
I plan to exact payment from the person who broke my car window.
 
我打算要跟那個打破我車窗玻璃的人索賠。
   
  navigate　 v.　航行；導航；駕駛（船隻；飛機）
The pilot navigated the ship into the busy harbor.
  船長把船開進繁忙的港口。
   
  react　 v.　反應；回應；起化學反應
The scientist experimented with different chemicals to see how the metal reacted to them.
  科學家用不同化學物質做實驗來看這塊金屬的反應。
   
  transaction　 n.　辦理；處理；交易
Bankbooks are used to let bank customers keep track of their transactions.
 
銀行存摺讓銀行客戶能追蹤交易情況。