now then那麼好吧

用不差一秒來誇禮物，也暗暗把感情押在時間上，溫柔又倔。

has not lost a second since ...

誇禮物、表白心意時能用；正式場合別拿它當走時準確的證明。

It has never been a minute slow. ／ It has kept perfect time since then.

中性

has not lost a second 一氣呵成，since 後放輕。

This pen has not failed me once since the day you gave it to me. 這支筆自從你送我那天起，一次都沒掉過鏈子。

偵探開場白的標準句式，先點破聽眾的疑問，再賣關子。

I expect you're wondering why ...

開會、宣佈事情時能用；正式場合別拿它當審訊口吻。

I suppose you are all asking why I called you here. ／ You must be wondering what this is about.

中性

I expect 弱讀，wondering why 連讀，句尾稍降。

I expect you're wondering why I called this meeting on a Friday. 我猜你們都在納悶，我為什麼週五還開會。

前半句立規矩，後半句直接甩鍋，主人的不耐煩全在對比裡。

We usually ... You've ...

抱怨別人打亂安排時能用；對長輩或客人別這麼直白。

We usually eat at nine, and now everything is late. ／ You have thrown off our whole evening.

口語

usually 輕讀，stopped everything 兩個重音砸下來。

We usually leave at six. You've stopped everything. 我們一般六點就走，你這一來全打亂了。

前一句把對方的誤會糾成「沒錯」，後一句立刻用 Don't dare 劃下禁區。先認領再拒絕，語氣乾脆，是很好用的「確認加警告」句式。

That is exactly what I mean. Don't dare ...

先確認對方聽懂了、緊接著下禁令時用，語氣強硬；對長輩或上級用 Don't dare 會顯得冒犯。

That is precisely my point. Don't you dare do it again. ／ Exactly right, and don't ever repeat it.

口語

exactly what 連讀，Don't dare 兩詞都重讀。

Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Don't dare touch my desk again. 對，我就是這個意思。別再碰我的桌子。