Word in Action

1.     Listed below are some of the words that you need to be very familiar with. Now work in pairs and make sentences with each of them to see if you have really mastered their usuages. You are encouraged to consult a dictionary if you are still not quite sure about their meanings and usages.

Text A

spot

create

rare

indicate

ease

inquiry

Text B

preach

seek

shallow

wrap

2.     Listed below are some of the words and expressions you've learned in this unit. Do you understand their meanings and know how to use them in the proper context?

occur        disturbing        awkward        treat        swallow

pause        scatter            release            wipe        relief

option        recall

turn out                    turn into                        take sb. by surprise

soak up                    hem/hum and haw        gather one's thoughts

keep sb. from sth.    become/ be acquainted with

run away                fight back            take care of

hang up (on)

Grammar in Context

Observe the following sentences from both TextA and Text B, paying special attention to the use of the past perfective aspect of the verb.

1)    She told me she was sad to lose her little girl but happy to see that I had turned into a beautiful young woman.  (Para. 2, Text A)

2)    I think I had known for quite a while but had not been willing to admit it to myself. (Para. 8, Text A)

3)    What I didn't know, and what she had kept from me, was that her condition wasn't improving.  (Para. 8, Text A)

4)    Looking over my son's shoulder, I saw that several young pine trees had been planted recently.   (Para. 12, Text A)

5)    All I could think about was how it would hurt you if a policeman came to your door and said I'd been killed.   (Para. 7, Text B)

Past Perfect Tense:

Can you recognize the misuse of past perfect tense in the following sentences?

He wasn't exactly a stranger — I have met him once before.

Correct sentence: 

He wasn't exactly a stranger — I had met him once before.

I explained that I have forgotten my keys.

Correct sentence: 

I explained that I had forgotten my keys.

I could see from his face that he received bad news.

Correct sentence: 

I could see from his face that he had received bad news.

Good afternoon. I had left some photos to be developed. Are they ready yet?

Correct sentence: 

Good afternoon. I left some photos to be developed. Are they ready yet?

General Cary, who had commanded a parachute regiment for many years, is now living in retirement.

Correct sentence: 

General Cary, who commanded  a parachute regiment for many years, is now living in retirement.

General rules:

1) 如果我们正在说的已经是过去的事，要说到比这再早一些时候发生的事情，就用过去完成时。例如：

He wasn't exactly a stranger — I had met him once before.

I could see from his face that he had received bad news.

I explained that I had forgotten my keys.

注意：只有存在比所说的过去还要早的情况，才能用过去完成时。谈论前不久发生的事情，不能用过去完成时。如下面两句中的一般过去时不能用过去完成时替换：

I left some photos to be developed. Are they ready yet?

General Cary, who commanded a parachute regiment for many years, is now living in retirement.

2) 过去完成时常常用在间接引语里，放在said, told, asked, explained, thought, wondered 等过去式动词的后面， 指在谈话等之前已经发生了的事情。如：

I told them that I had done enough work for one day.

She wondered who had left the door open.

I thought I'd sent the cheque a week before.

Now, do the tasks on Pages90-91 in your textbook.

Exercises for Grammar

Tranlation

Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words and expressions given in the brackets.

1、我们是好朋友，可他居然将这么大的一件事瞒着我， 实在令我吃惊。（keep sth. from; take sb. by surprise）

2、在毕业典礼（commencement）上，她感到喉头哽咽，但她仍然忍住了泪水。（a lump in one's throat; fight back）

3、汤姆昨晚和我聊天，他告诉我他的病已经得到控制，不需做手术。（chat with; under control）

4、听说她的车驶离了公路，她的父母担心得要命。（run off; be worried sick）

5、她满面愁容，不知有何心事。（on one's mind）

6、他是个害羞和安静的男孩，在走上讲台叙述自己的经历前，悄悄地坐在礼堂(auditorium)的一角整理着思绪。（gather one's thoughts）

7、在乐队干了几年后，他又做回了独立音乐人(sole musician)，于是他的事业又回到了原定。（come full circle; career）

8、自己的儿子长成了一个能干的生意人，他总算放心了。（turn into; to one's relief）