top of the class名列前茅

把規矩說成一句對等的承諾，客氣外殼下是「照做就沒事」的警告。

You will be treated with X if you treat others with X.

講對等規則、勸人守規矩時用；語氣正式，日常可說 If you're nice, people are nice back。

You get respect when you give respect. ／ Treat people well and they treat you well.

正式

respect 兩次重讀，if 處稍頓。

You will be helped if you help others first. 你先幫別人，別人才會幫你。

You will be heard if you listen to others. 你願意聽別人，別人才會聽你。

用 not...but 把責任釘死在行為上，一句堵死「倒霉才被抓」的藉口。

X is not that ..., but ... itself.

糾正別人找藉口、強調根本問題時用；語氣重，別在輕鬆場合說。

The problem is not that you failed, but that you never tried. ／ It's not the getting caught, it's the doing.

正式

not that 連讀，itself 重讀收尾。

The issue is not that you were late, but that you never called. 問題不在於你遲到，而在於你連電話都沒打。

把「誰做主」用 zoo 的比喻甩出來，結尾 we are 短促有力。

You are not in charge of X, we are.

宣示主導權、劃清上下級時用；語氣強硬，朋友間開玩笑別用。

You don't run this place, we do. ／ This isn't your call, it's ours.

口語

charge of 連讀，we are 重讀。

You are not in charge of the budget, she is. 預算不歸你管，歸她管。

一句反話誇詞，把犯人和「優等生」並置，羞辱得不動聲色。

Just like yourselves, they've ...

反諷式誇獎、綿裡藏針時用；正式場合別說，容易被當成挑釁。

Just like you, they passed with flying colours. ／ Same as you, they made the honour roll.

口語

Just like 連讀，top of the class 放緩。

Just like you, he finished top of the class in excuses. 跟你一樣，他找藉口也是全班第一。

把「自以為」當場拆穿，節奏短促，像一記耳光。

If you think you're X, you're not.

戳破別人自誇、潑冷水時用；半開玩笑或嚴厲都行，看關係。

If you think you're clever, you're not. ／ Thinking you're cool means you're not.

口語

you're 弱讀，not 重讀收尾。

If you think you're funny, you're not. 你要是覺得自己很幽默，那你就錯了。

用 suggest 把命令包裝成建議，客氣裡全是壓力。

I suggest you do something.

委婉下命令、給人臺階時用；對長輩或上級少用，會顯得居高臨下。

I'd advise you to keep calm. ／ My suggestion is that you follow the rules.

中性

suggest 後稍頓，rules 重讀。

I suggest you check the address before you drive. 我建議你出發前核對一下地址。

用問句收尾，其實是命令式的確認，比直說「聽懂沒有」更壓人。

Have I made myself understood?

上級確認對方聽清命令時用；語氣居高臨下，平輩間別用。

Do I make myself clear? ／ Is that understood?

正式

made myself 連讀，句尾降調。

Have I made the deadline clear to you? 截止時間我跟你說清楚了嗎？