as far away as possible尽可能远离

用最平的语气交代人生转折，逃离和理想搅在同一句里。

I just wanted to get as far away as possible, so ...

对朋友解释当年为何远走时用；对刚认识的人说会显得往事太重。

I wanted to put as much distance as possible between me and home. ／ I just needed to get away, so I joined up.

中性

as far away 连读，as possible 放慢，so 前稍停。

I wanted to get as far away as possible, so I took the job abroad. 我想离得越远越好，就接了那份出国的工作。

先请对方理解再陈述事实，把一段离奇往事说得像个学术前提。

You must understand, ...

向人解释背景、请求对方设身处地时用；对不耐烦的人说像在说教。

You have to understand, they were cut off from everything. ／ Bear in mind these people had no contact with the outside.

正式

must understand 稍重，isolated from 连读，句尾下沉。

You must understand, we had no budget for this at all. 你得明白，我们做这件事完全没有预算。

两句并列把师生关系说圆，语气谦虚，却暗暗在夸自己。

I was ... with them, and they were eager to ...

对同事讲带新人的经历时用；对上级说容易显得在自我表扬。

I took it slowly, and they were keen to pick it up. ／ They were quick to learn and I never rushed them.

中性

patient 和 eager 各重读，两句之间稍停顿。

I was patient with the interns, and they were eager to learn. 我对实习生很有耐心，他们也很想学。

用最朴素的转折交代关系从陌生到信任，先抑后扬都压在这一句里。

At first, they didn't know what to think of ...

回忆一段关系或合作的起点时用；对当事人说会像在强调当初的不待见。

At first they weren't sure about us. ／ They didn't know what to make of us at first.

中性

At first 稍顿，didn't know what to think 连成一串，of us 轻收。

At first they didn't know what to think of the new hire. 起初大家不知道该怎么看这个新来的。