Visit friends 作客

Humans are social animals, and we have evolved to be in groups. It found that those who had a large network of friends outlived those with the fewest friends by 22%.

情景對(duì)話1：

瑪麗打電話找湯姆，邀請(qǐng)他參加為吉姆舉行的驚喜生日晚會(huì)。

Tom: (Answering the phone)Hello?

(接電話)喂?

Mary: Hello. May I speak to Tom please?

喂，我找湯姆。

Tom: Speaking.

請(qǐng)講。

Mary: Hi, Tom, this is Mary. I'm a friend of Jim's.

湯姆，我是瑪麗，吉姆的朋友。

Tom: Hi, Mary. Jim has told me about you. What's up?

你好，瑪麗。吉姆提起過你，有什么事嗎?

Mary: Today is Jim's birthday and we're having a party for him tonight. Do you think you could come?

今天是吉姆的生日，今晚我們想為他開個(gè)生日聚會(huì)，你能不能來?

Tom: Oh, I didn't know it was his birthday today. Sure. I'd love to come. What time and where?

哦，我還不知道今天是他生日。我當(dāng)然樂意去，時(shí)間、地點(diǎn)呢?

Mary: Well, we're all meeting at Jim's neighbor's apartment at about seven thirty. It's at 789 Peace Street, Apartment 3.

好，我們打算7點(diǎn)半左右在他的鄰居家碰面。地點(diǎn)是和平大街789號(hào)，3號(hào)公寓。

Tom: I'll be there. Do you want me to bring something?

我會(huì)去的，你想讓我?guī)c(diǎn)什么來嗎?

Mary: Bring some flowers if you can.

如果可以，帶一些花吧。

Tom: No problem. See you tonight.

沒問題，晚上見。

Notes：

Appropriate gift

和中國人一樣，在英、美、加等講英語的國家，人們?cè)诎菰L朋友或看望親人時(shí)，比較重視用禮品表示禮節(jié)但禮品不一定貴重，具有特色就行，這是一條普遍適用的原則。在這一點(diǎn)上，和中國人送禮顯然有些區(qū)別。一般來說，送鮮花、名酒、化妝品、錄音帶或唱片都是很合適的禮品，自己做的果醬、自己養(yǎng)的花、親手做的生日賀卡、親手烤制的食品也都是很好的禮品，而且更有意義。

禮品的價(jià)錢不重要，但禮品的包裝很重要。禮品一般以交給女主人為宜。接受禮品時(shí)，人們習(xí)慣當(dāng)場打開。要在打開禮品后馬上表示欣賞和感謝，否則就是不禮貌。

情景對(duì)話 2：

山姆請(qǐng)亞當(dāng)去他家吃烤肉。

Sam: Say, Adam, I'm having a barbecue at my house on December 13th. Would you like to come?

我說，亞當(dāng)，我12月13號(hào)請(qǐng)大伙兒來我家烤肉。你要不要來呀?

Adam: The 13th? Let me check. (looking at his pocket calendar) Sure, I can make it.

13號(hào)嗎?讓我看看。(看一看小記事本)沒問題，我能來。

Sam: Great! Come any time after seven o'clock.

太好了。七點(diǎn)鐘過后，什么時(shí)候都成。

Adam: Sounds great! Can I bring anything?

好極了!你要我?guī)c(diǎn)什么來嗎?

Sam: Nope. Just yourself. I'll give you directions to my house later.

不用了。你自己來就好了。我晚一點(diǎn)再告訴你怎么到我家。

Adam: Fine.

好的。

Sam: I'm glad you can come.

很高興你能來。

Adam: Thanks. I'm looking forward to it.

謝謝你的邀請(qǐng)，我正期待著那一天呢。

Sam: Well, I should be going. I'll talk to you later.

那么，我得走了。再聊。

Adam: Yeah. See you.

好的，回頭見。

Notes:

在英美等西方國家，邀請(qǐng)有書面邀請(qǐng)和口頭邀請(qǐng)兩種形式。前者指通過發(fā)送請(qǐng)柬或?qū)懶胚M(jìn)行的邀請(qǐng)，后者指打電話或當(dāng)面以口頭形式進(jìn)行的邀請(qǐng)。書面邀請(qǐng)比較正式，口頭邀請(qǐng)比較隨便。聽到別人的口頭邀請(qǐng)，千萬不要主動(dòng)去問“什么時(shí)候”或“在什么地方”，除非你確認(rèn)邀請(qǐng)方不是在應(yīng)酬你，而是真的想邀請(qǐng)你。

應(yīng)邀參加聚會(huì)或是吃飯的時(shí)候，通常應(yīng)問主人：Can I bring anything? 如果是和朋友相聚的非正式場合，主人可能會(huì)請(qǐng)客人帶一瓶葡萄酒或幾罐啤酒。

常用句型：

I'm going to play with a group of friends. Would you like to join us?

Do you want me to bring something?

Uh, are you going to be busy this evening?

Do you have time to go to...?

How about coming to...?

Thanks. That sounds like fun.

Thank you. That's very nice of you.