TV dinner電視快餐

表面是體面建議，實際嫌對方嘴張得難看，越客氣越扎人。

You should ... a little wider when you ...

朋友間半開玩笑地挑毛病時用；對不熟的人說會顯得刻薄，別用。

You might open your mouth a bit wider when you talk. ／ Maybe use your words a little more clearly.

中性

should 輕讀，a little wider 連讀，句尾別升調。

You should close your mouth a little more when you chew. 你嚼東西的時候，嘴最好再閉緊一點。

把「為什麼不能是我」問得像孩子的追問，一句話立住旺卡的狂想。

why can't I do it with ...?

想提出一個大膽想法、反問憑什麼不行時用；正式場合少用這種頂撞口氣。

Why shouldn't I try it with chocolate? ／ What's stopping me from doing the same?

口語

why can't I 連讀，do it with 輕輕帶過，句尾上揚。

Why can't I do it with paper instead of plastic? 我為什麼不能用紙代替塑膠來做呢？

用 shall、now 這種老派宣告句，把一次實驗說成盛大演出。

I shall now ...

鄭重又帶點做戲地宣佈接下來要做的事時用；日常閒聊裡用會顯得誇張。

I shall now demonstrate the trick. ／ Let me now send it across the room.

正式

I shall 讀得鄭重，one end ... the other 兩個重音要清楚。

I shall now perform my famous pancake flip. 接下來，我要表演我拿手的翻煎餅。

用最輕描淡寫的說法預告災難，留白比直接警告更讓人發毛。

it might have some ... results

想提前給後果打預防針、又不把話說死時用；對擔心的人說能緩和語氣。

It could get a little messy. ／ There might be side effects.

中性

might have 連讀，some messy 連貫，results 重音在後。

It might have some unexpected results if you rush it. 你要是急著來，結果可能出人意料。

用「世界第一」的孩童式炫耀，把荒唐當榮耀，正是邁克這個人。

I'm the first person in the world to ...

半開玩笑地強調自己開創某事先例時用；真在正式場合自誇會顯得自大。

I'm the first person ever to try this. ／ No one in the world has done this before me.

口語

first person in the world 一氣呵成，to be sent 輕讀。

I'm the first person in my family to run a marathon. 我是家裡第一個跑馬拉松的人。

把被縮小這種倒霉事說成人生巔峰，越真誠越好笑。

It's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me.

真心表達某事讓自己特別開心時用；想諷刺也能拿這句反著說。

It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. ／ Nothing better has ever happened to me.

中性

greatest 重音，that's ever 連讀，句尾降下來。

Getting into that school was the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. 考上那所學校，是我這輩子遇到過的最好的事。