I'd sooner我寧可

一句把思鄉說得又靜又深，海浪聲裡全是回不去的故鄉。

I've not done something since I left ...

說起離開某地後的遺憾時用；在剛認識的人面前說會顯得沉重。

I haven't slept to the sound of the sea since I left home. ／ Not once since Ireland have I slept with the waves.

中性

not slept 重讀，sound of the sea 連讀，since 後稍頓。

I've not eaten that dish since I left my hometown. 自從離開家鄉，我就再沒吃過那道菜。

把一件瑣碎家務說成一門學問，輕巧又有生活氣。

You learn the oddest things when you ...

聊愛好裡的小發現時用；正經講道理時這樣說會顯得隨意。

You pick up the strangest things when you garden. ／ Gardening teaches you the oddest little facts.

中性

oddest 重讀，when you garden 收輕，句尾放平。

You learn the oddest things when you cook for yourself. 自己做飯的時候，你會學到最稀奇古怪的事。

把換床墊說成拿鑄鐵來換，一本正經的荒唐，特別好笑。

Do you have any ... I can swap for ...?

半開玩笑地提要求時用；對不熟的人這樣說會顯得怪。

Have you got anything I can swap for this old mattress? ／ Any chance of a trade for this mattress?

口語

cast iron 重讀，swap for 連讀，問句尾音上揚。

Do you have any old maps I can swap for these books? 你有沒有舊地圖，讓我拿來換這些書？

一句關於天氣的隨口提醒，藏著夜訪者沒說出口的關心。

It turns cold in the night here sometimes.

提醒對方夜裡加衣時用；日常寒暄裡很自然，正式場合顯得隨意。

It gets cold here at night sometimes. ／ The nights here can turn cold.

中性

turns cold 重讀，in the night 連讀，sometimes 收尾。

It turns cold in the night here sometimes, so take a jacket. 這裡夜裡有時會變冷，帶件外套吧。