could've sworn敢打包票說

一句老話被他拿來當搭訕，正經裡全是俏皮，還順手把兩人成了鄰居這件事說了。

If there's one thing I believe in, it's ...

半開玩笑地表明自己最看重什麼時用；對長輩或談正事時別這麼油。

If there's one thing I stand for, it's honesty. ／ If I believe in anything, it's keeping my word.

口語

there's 輕讀，believe in 連讀，it's 前稍頓再落重音。

If there's one thing I look for in a friend, it's loyalty. 我交朋友最看重的一點，就是忠誠。

半句玩笑半句自誇，花花公子的得意全寫在一句「我敢發誓」裡。

I could've sworn ...

想說「我明明記得、我敢肯定」時用；跟老闆認錯時這樣說會顯得嘴硬。

I could have sworn I locked that door. ／ I was so sure I'd seen her before.

口語

could've 縮成 could-uv，sworn 重讀，句尾別拖。

I could've sworn I left my keys on the table. 我明明記得把鑰匙放在桌上了。

先喊煩再給理由，是想起某個人卻叫不出名字時最真實的兩句話。

I know I've seen ... before

遇到熟悉卻想不起來的人和事時用；正式彙報裡別這麼情緒化。

I'm sure we've met somewhere. ／ That face is so familiar.

口語

maddening 重音在首，I know I've 連讀成 I-know-Iv。

I know I've seen that jacket before, but I can't place it. 我肯定見過那件外套，可就是想不起來。

一個字都不肯說，卻把吊胃口說成「玩得太開心」，連拒絕都變得可愛。

I'm having much too much fun

半開玩笑地拒絕交底或結束一件事時用；嚴肅場合別這樣打太極。

Not a chance. This is too much fun. ／ I'm enjoying this far too much.

口語

Positive 乾脆收住，much too much 咬清，fun 尾音上揚。

Not a word. I'm having far too much fun guessing. 一個字都不說。我猜得正起勁呢。

明知對方在吊胃口，還要再問一次，客氣的句式裡全是試探。

Are you sure you don't want to ...?

想再確認對方是不是真不願意時用；逼問隱私時這樣說會讓人有壓力。

Are you sure you won't tell me? ／ Come on, aren't you going to tell me?

中性

Are you sure 連讀，don't want to 弱讀成 don't wanna。

Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner? 你真不留下吃晚飯嗎？

一句自嘲把沒接到人的愧疚輕輕放下，也是父女重逢最暖的託詞。

wouldn't have + 過去分詞

婉轉承認自己可能出錯或做不到時用；道歉時用它別顯得推卸責任。

I wouldn't have known you either. ／ To be honest, I'd have walked right past you.

中性

wouldn't have 連讀成 wouldn-uv，recognised 重音在首。

I wouldn't have recognised you with that beard. 你留了鬍子，我肯定認不出你。