ACT 3-1  “你到底想说什么？”

【故事梗概】

Michelle和她的朋友走后， Susan 和Harry 又有了独处的时间。Harry耍了点并不高明的小聪明，借助于拼词游戏试着向Susan求婚。

Harry: There's a conversation we have to finish.
Susan: What was it about?
Harry: It was about caring.
Susan: Oh?
Harry: Yes, caring. I said that it makes me feel good that you care about Michelle.
Susan: Well, I do care about Michelle.
Harry: And it makes me feel good that you care about me.
Susan: You know I do. You're a … wonderful friend.
Harry: And it makes me feel good that you care about us.
Susan: Well… well, I do, Harry, it's only natural that if I care about Michelle and I care about you, then I care about us.
Harry: It's Ok, Susan we had this part of the conversation before Michelle and her friends arrived. Now comes the good part.
Susan: Like what?
Harry: Well, assume that if you care about Michelle and you care about me and you care about us, then we can talk about us. I mean -- you and me. Isn't that right?
Susan: What are you trying to say, Harry?
Harry: What I'm trying to say since this is so easy …. [He goes to the game stand and puts up some letters.] Here are ten letters that express my feelings … for you.
Susan: Don't be silly, Harry.
Harry: You want a hint? It's two words.
Susan: You're making the game harder.
Harry: Can't you figure it out? Seven letters … two words … that express the feelings that I feel for you in my heart.
Susan: Harry. I get it! [She rearranges the letters to spell “marry me.”]

【语言点精讲】

1. I said that it makes me feel good that you care about Michelle.
我说你关心Michelle ，我感到很高兴。
这句话主句与从句的时态不一致。that 从句中使用一般现在时，同主句I said的过去时不一致，是强调所说的内容属于现在的状态，仍然继续存在。
it: 这里的it是形式主语，真正的主语是good后面的that句。 下文中And it makes me feel good that you care about us.以及It's only natural that if I care about Michelle and I care about you都属这一用法。
care about sb.: 关心某人，在乎某人。

2. It's Ok, Susan we had this part of the conversation before Michelle and her friends arrived. Now comes the good part.
we had this part of the conversation: 这一部分我们已经谈过了。
Now comes the good part. : 现在到了最精彩的部分。Harry的意思是他将开始谈话的最精彩的部分。当谓语动词为come时，now/then/here等词可放在动词前面，而主语则放在动词后面。又如: Here comes the bus.

3. Like what?
像什么样的（精采部分）？这是很口语化的用法，意思相当于Such as…？

4. Well, assume that if you care about Michelle and you care about me and you care about us, then we can talk about us.
好，首先假设一下，如果你关心米歇尔，你关心我，你关心咱们两个人，那么我们就可以谈一谈咱们的事。
这整个句子是个不带主语的祈使句。assume: 假设，假定。

5. What are you trying to say, Harry ?
你到底想说什么，Harry？

6. Don't be silly, Harry.
别闹了，Harry。 Don't be silly在口语中表示“不要乱来，别开玩笑”。

7. Can't you figure it out?
你难道想不出答案来？
figure it out: 找到答案，想出来，弄明白。

8. I get it!
我想出来了。我知道答案了。

ACT 3-2  “你愿意嫁给我吗？”

【故事梗概】

Harry鼓足了勇气，说出了求婚的话。Susan同意接受他的求婚，但却提出了三个先决条件。

Harry: Well? Does that mean you'll marry me?
Susan: Is that a proposal, or are we just playing a game?
Harry: Sit down, Susan. There's something I have to ask you. [He takes a flower from the table and gets down on one knee.] Susan, will you marry me?
Susan: It's such an important decision. There's so many things to talk about. There are three things that have to be done first, Harry.
Harry: Three things?
Susan: First, we have to decide where to live.
Harry: Well, that’s easy. We talked about that earlier. We'll live in New York.
Susan: All right. Second, we have to talk to Michelle together about being married.
Harry: We'll do that immediately. What's the third thing?
Susan: You have to ask for my father's permission.
Harry: Absolutely! But first things first. We have to go to pick up Michelle.
Susan: Oh, I'm so happy, Harry!
Harry: Not as happy as I am.

【语言点精讲】

1. Susan, will you marry me?
Susan，你愿意嫁给我吗？句中的will是情态动词，表示“意愿，意志”。

2. It's such an important decision. There's so many things to talk about. There are three things that have to be done first, Harry.
这是一个非常重要的决定，有许多事情要谈谈。首先有三件事要做，Harry。
There's so many things …There are three things…: 口语里，在There＋ be的句式中，当在它后面并不马上出现复数名词时，习惯上be动词用单数。如这里的there's so many things和 there are three things 即可说明。

3. We have to decide where to live.
我们得决定住在哪里。
这句话中decide的宾语由where加不定式to live构成。动词不定式前面加疑问副词后作宾语，其功能相当于宾语从句。

4. Second, we have to talk to Michelle together about being married.
第二件，我们得一起同Michelle谈一下我们要结婚的事。
being married: 我们结婚的事。这个短语表示状态，更准确的说法应该是表示动作，即 getting married。

5. You have to ask for my father's permission.
你应当征得我父亲的同意。
在美国，女孩子要嫁人需征求父亲的意见是一个传统习惯。然而现在，结婚时，男方要征得女方父亲的同意的情况已不多见。这一句说明苏珊还是比较旧派的女子。
ask for sb’s permission: 征求某人的同意，征得某人的许可。也可以说ask sb. for permission

6. But first things first. We have to go to pick up Michelle.
first things first: 事有先后。
to pick up Michelle: 去接 Michelle。

7. Not as happy as I am.
没有我那么幸福。