ACT 2-1 那么說我已經解決了你的問題了
【故事梗概】
Susan想請自己的老板John Marchetta幫忙，為Grandpa找點事做。她叫來了自己的助手Sam“商量”這個想法是否可行。
Susan: Sam, would you come in, please?
Sam: You sound like something’s bothering you, Susan. The sketches for the cover of the new doll book?
Susan: That’s not it. Please sit down.
Sam: Sure.
Susan: I need your advice on a personal matter, but it’s not about me.
Sam: You need my advice on a personal matter, and it’s not about you. OK.
Susan: It’s about my grandfather.
Sam: What’s the problem?
Susan: It won’t sound like a big deal, but it is. I had dinner with him Saturday, and he’s very unhappy about not working.
Sam: I thought he was retired and pleased to be living with the family.
Susan: He is, but there’s so much energy and talent in the man, and he doesn’t get to use it.
Sam: But what can I do? What kind of advice are you looking for?
Susan: Simply this. John Marchetta runs this company.
Sam: He founded this company.
Susan: Right. John Marchetta gave me my start here six years ago, when I first graduated from college. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.
Sam: Right. Maybe he can do the same thing for your grandfather.
Susan: Or at least give him some advice.
Sam: Right. Then I’ve solved you problem.
Susan: I can always depend on you, Sam.
Sam: I’m glad to help. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you?
Susan: No, no. I’ll do that. Thanks.
【語言點精講】
1. You sound like something’s bothering you.
聽起來好像有什么事使你心煩。這是一種關心別人，詢問別人怎么了、是不是有麻煩了的說法。bother: 使煩惱，打擾。
2. I need your advice on a personal matter, but it’s not about me.
我有一件私事需要聽你的意見，可并不是關于我自己的。Susan的話有些表面上的矛盾，這顯然讓Sam有點摸不著頭腦，所以他說“You need my advice on a personal matter, and it’s not about you.”這里Sam 重復了Susan的話。重復別人的話是確認對方意圖的一種方式。
a personal matter: 個人的事情，私事。
3. It won’t sound like a big deal, but it is.
聽起來不像是一件重要的事情，可事實上是的。
sound like: 聽起來好像…
a big deal: 指的是something very important（很重要的事情）。
4. I had dinner with him Saturday, and he’s very unhappy about not working.
我星期六和他一起吃的晚飯，他因為沒有工作很不高興。
I had dinner with him Saturday: 正式的說法應該在Saturday前面加上一個on。但是在美國英語中，這個on常被省略。
be unhappy about: 因為……而不高興。
5. Simply this.
簡單說就是這樣的。
6. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.
他給了我使用我的才能的機會，使我更有信心。
give sb. the chance to do sth.: 給某人機會做某事。
made me feel more confident: 使我更有信心。 make sb. do sth.是make加不帶to的不定式作賓補，其他類似的動詞還有feel, let, see, watch, have等。
7. Then I’ve solved you problem.
那么說我已經解決了你的問題了。
solve the problem: 解決問題。這是個常用的搭配。
8. I can always depend on you.
我總是可以信賴你的。可以用這句話來感謝對方對自己的協助，這里的“對方”應該是和自己比較熟悉的人。
depend on: 依靠；信賴。也可寫作 “depend upon”。
9. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you?
要不要我給Mr. Marchetta打電話？
表示主動為某人做某事時，如果主語是I或we時，一般用shall，例如: “Shall I/we wait for you？”。主語是you時則用would，例如: “Would you like me to help you?”。
