could've sworn敢打包票说

一句老话被他拿来当搭讪，正经里全是俏皮，还顺手把两人成了邻居这件事说了。

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

半开玩笑地表明自己最看重什么时用；对长辈或谈正事时别这么油。

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

口语

there's 轻读，believe in 连读，it's 前稍顿再落重音。

If there's one thing I look for in a friend, it's loyalty. 我交朋友最看重的一点，就是忠诚。

半句玩笑半句自夸，花花公子的得意全写在一句「我敢发誓」里。

I could've sworn ...

想说「我明明记得、我敢肯定」时用；跟老板认错时这样说会显得嘴硬。

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

口语

could've 缩成 could-uv，sworn 重读，句尾别拖。

I could've sworn I left my keys on the table. 我明明记得把钥匙放在桌上了。

先喊烦再给理由，是想起某个人却叫不出名字时最真实的两句话。

I know I've seen ... before

遇到熟悉却想不起来的人和事时用；正式汇报里别这么情绪化。

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

口语

maddening 重音在首，I know I've 连读成 I-know-Iv。

I know I've seen that jacket before, but I can't place it. 我肯定见过那件外套，可就是想不起来。

一个字都不肯说，却把吊胃口说成「玩得太开心」，连拒绝都变得可爱。

I'm having much too much fun

半开玩笑地拒绝交底或结束一件事时用；严肃场合别这样打太极。

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

口语

Positive 干脆收住，much too much 咬清，fun 尾音上扬。

Not a word. I'm having far too much fun guessing. 一个字都不说。我猜得正起劲呢。

明知对方在吊胃口，还要再问一次，客气的句式里全是试探。

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

想再确认对方是不是真不愿意时用；逼问隐私时这样说会让人有压力。

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

中性

Are you sure 连读，don't want to 弱读成 don't wanna。

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

一句自嘲把没接到人的愧疚轻轻放下，也是父女重逢最暖的托词。

wouldn't have + 过去分词

婉转承认自己可能出错或做不到时用；道歉时用它别显得推卸责任。

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

中性

wouldn't have 连读成 wouldn-uv，recognised 重音在首。

I wouldn't have recognised you with that beard. 你留了胡子，我肯定认不出你。