Small talk 最容易問錯的問題
很多人覺得自己不太會用英文和別人聊天。聊天最基本的型式其實是「問」與「答」,所以會不會聊天就是兩個關鍵,第一個關鍵是「會不會問問題」,第二個是「會不會回答問題」。今天一起來看看Small talk常見的錯誤問句,這些問句裡的錯誤是介系詞容易被遺漏。
需要什麼幫忙嗎?
- (X)What can I help you?
- (O)What can I help you with?
到華人的商店,我們最常聽到的「你好」,但到英語系國家的商店,最常聽到的就是這句,打開Siri英文版聽到的也是這句。其中的with很容易被忽略。來看看為什麼用”What can I help you?” 文法上是錯的。
同樣類似錯誤還有:
1. 你剛剛和誰說話?
- (X)Who were you speaking?
- (O)Who were you speaking to?
2. 我們該在哪家餐廳吃飯呢?
- (X)Which restaurant should we eat?
- (O)Which restaurant should we eat at?
上句會變成「我們該吃哪一家餐廳」了。
3. 那裡的天氣如何?
- (X)What is the weather there?
- (O)What is the weather like there?
和國外的同事溝通,進入正題之前多半會先寒暄一下,問天氣是最常見的話題,因為簡單又表達了關心。
這其中的like也是一不小心就忘了用。如果直接用”What is the weather?” 就變成「天氣是什麼?」不合邏輯。這句話也可以簡單地用"How is the weather?”
如果不想問這麼平常的問題,同樣的句型,也可以問:
What is the economy like in the US? 美國現在經濟如何?
4. 你是哪一所學校畢業的?
- (X)What school did you study?
- (X)What university did you graduate?
- (O)What school did you go to?
問別人讀哪一所學校,也可以是很好的聊天話題。但前兩句都有文法錯誤,"What school did you study?"是你以前研究哪所學校?"
第二句加上from,” What university did you graduate from?”文法上雖然對了,但老外重隱私,有些人讀了大學不見得有畢業,用"What school did you go to?”更合適一些。