Y*Y
发帖数: 694 | 1 What are we doing?
---- A true story, 9/27/2011
Days ago, I received a letter from the county tax commissioner reminding me
that it's time to renew my auto registration. By the way, the letter also
reminded me that my birthday is coming. Oh well, I don't want to think about
the birthday...
Anyway, back to car registration. Today, I decided to go to the commissioner
's office and have my registration renewed. I had done this before; so I
expected everything would be smooth and easy.
Once I entered the office this afternoon, I saw a serious-looking gentleman
behind a table with a small device that would produce a number for each one
visiting the office.
As I had done many time before, I approached him and politely said "may I
take a number?" However, this gentleman looked at me and asked "what are we
doing?"
"What?" I wondered. Maybe he did not get my request properly? Maybe I did
not speak clearly or loud enough? I thought. So, raising my voice a little
bit, I repeated "may I have a number?". But the gentleman insisted: "What
are we doing?"
Now, I was totally puzzled. "What are we doing?" I asked myself. We were
doing nothing except conducting this conversation, I said to myself. But the
gentleman seemed like a sensible person; so he must have been asking a
meaningful question.
Then, suddenly, a light flashed in my mind: he was simply asking what I was
doing. Yes, that's it!
So, after gathering my thoughts, I answered: "I am here to renew my car
registration."
An almost unnoticeable relief appeared on his face. He smiled at me and said
"here is your number."
Then you know the rest. I waited until my number was called. I paid my tax
and fee and got my registration renewed for one more year. Everything was
indeed smooth and easy.
When I left the office, I said "bye" to the gentleman. Hopefully he will be
still there next year.
Next year, I will know what he means when he asks "what are we doing?"
---end of story--- | Y*Y
发帖数: 694 | 2 真实故事，就发生在今天。
鹰语没学到家，请大家包涵。 | m****6
发帖数: 8689 | 3 是这样的，这是个本地英语，意思就是你要做什么？礼貌的问法。
还有很多用法我们在国内的书上没有学到过的，比如说：you want to do sth.并不是
说你想要做什么，而是说你需要/最好做什么。
比如，你问人，我下次是打电话预约呢，还是直接来？他会回答：you want to call
first to make sure we have vacancy。就是说，你最好先打个电话来确认。
这些是美国式的英语吧，我们国内读的英式英语里没有学到过。还有很多，我一下子想
不起来了。 | A*****e
发帖数: 286 | 4 I remember that gentleman. He is nice though. It is awkward that sometimes
we cannot understand the meaning properly. It took me a while to realize
what it means by "you are all set". :)
I will go there to have mine renewed soon.
me
about
commissioner
gentleman
【在 Y*Y 的大作中提到】
: What are we doing?
: ---- A true story, 9/27/2011
: Days ago, I received a letter from the county tax commissioner reminding me
: that it's time to renew my auto registration. By the way, the letter also
: reminded me that my birthday is coming. Oh well, I don't want to think about
: the birthday...
: Anyway, back to car registration. Today, I decided to go to the commissioner
: 's office and have my registration renewed. I had done this before; so I
: expected everything would be smooth and easy.
: Once I entered the office this afternoon, I saw a serious-looking gentleman
| Y*Y
发帖数: 694 | 5 别说，真是这么回事。
【在 m****6 的大作中提到】
: 是这样的，这是个本地英语，意思就是你要做什么？礼貌的问法。
: 还有很多用法我们在国内的书上没有学到过的，比如说：you want to do sth.并不是
: 说你想要做什么，而是说你需要/最好做什么。
: 比如，你问人，我下次是打电话预约呢，还是直接来？他会回答：you want to call
: first to make sure we have vacancy。就是说，你最好先打个电话来确认。
: 这些是美国式的英语吧，我们国内读的英式英语里没有学到过。还有很多，我一下子想
: 不起来了。
| Y*Y
发帖数: 694 | 6 There are many things that can not be learned in a textbook.
【在 A*****e 的大作中提到】
: I remember that gentleman. He is nice though. It is awkward that sometimes
: we cannot understand the meaning properly. It took me a while to realize
: what it means by "you are all set". :)
: I will go there to have mine renewed soon.
:
: me
: about
: commissioner
: gentleman
|
|
