cast your mind back回想

把「必須說真話」說得莊重，most important 一壓，壓力全落在證人身上。

It is most important that you ...

鄭重強調某件事的重要性時用；語氣正式，適合公告或訓誡。

It is most important that you stay calm. ／ What matters most is that you are honest.

正式

most important 重讀，absolute 重音在前。

It is most important that you keep this secret. 最重要的是你要守住這個秘密。

用 brought up 把「說真話」說成家教的底線，一句話立住證人的性格。

I was brought up to do something

說明自己從小養成的習慣或原則時用；較正式，帶自豪感。

I was brought up to respect teachers. ／ I was raised to work hard.

中性

brought up 連讀，truth 重讀。

I was brought up to say thank you. 我從小被教要說謝謝。

may have been 與 partly 層層留白，把自責說得猶疑又真實。

It may have partly been my fault.

承認自己有部分責任、又不想誇大時用；語氣誠懇。

It might have been partly my fault. ／ I may have played a small part.

中性

may have 弱讀，partly 重讀。

It may have partly been my fault too. 這裡面也許也有我一份錯。

一句看似無關的提問，卻是整樁誤會的起點，平靜裡藏著轉折。

I asked someone if he did something

陳述自己問過什麼時用；庭上、正式說明都常見。

I asked her if she was sure. ／ He asked me where I lived.

中性

loved his 連讀，married her 連讀。

I asked him if he had time to help. 我問他有沒有時間幫忙。

把私人念頭輕聲擺上檯面，一句就把誤會的來路交代清楚。

I was thinking of (something)

解釋自己當時的心理活動時用；語氣坦白，適合回憶和作證。

I was thinking about my own plans. ／ I had my own worries in mind.

中性

thinking of 連讀，marriage 重音在前。

I was thinking of my own deadline, not yours. 我當時想的是自己的截止日期，不是你的。