EnglishCafe
 


previous page EnglishCafe Top following page





Page 24


-On Friday evening. A cat sat on the fountain. There were a few students.-

"Hello, Sherry,"when I turned around, a cat with a fine white fur was sitting there.
"...。" I didn't know what to say.
"Why don't you greet me?"
"Well, long time no see, Pina,"I said finally.
"I heard you bumped against a bicycle and hit your leg and hip. Are you all right now?"
"How did you know so much about it?"
"Bronx told me."
"Ah, Bronx. I'm getting better. I'm okay."

I hadn't met her for a few days. It made me feel like I haven't seen you for a long time.





Today's points


-The point 1-

I didn't know what to say.

"What to say" means what shall I say? and "what to do" means what should I do?

(1)
I listened to the news. The earthquake occurred in the district.
Yes. The earthquake occurred at midnight. I didn't know what to do.


I think this sandwich is delicious. How about you, Rickey?
I think so too. It is delicious.
By the way, is everything going well with Mary?
Hm….
Did you go anywhere with her? You often talk to her.
I haven't asked her yet. I don't know what to say.

By the way, the interrogatives of what or how etc. after "know" are called the indirect question. It is seen as the interrogative sentence is put in one sentence.
See the following example.

(2)
I don't know who he is.

In the above, "who is he?" is put after "I don't know." But when it is put after "know", the word order is changed.
Moreover, other than "know", "tell me" and "remember" are also used.


Libre, can you tell me what Fiona said.
Okay, Pina. I don't remember what I said, but I do remember what she said.
Were you nervous?
Of course. I don't know what to do.
What do you mean?
She said"I'm going to move out next week. I couldn't answer."

When "do" is used, it is taken.
For example, "what time does the train leave?" is as follows.

Do you know what time the train leaves?

Moreover, when "does" is taken. "leave" is changed into "leaves."




When the interrogatives are not used, and "do", "is" or "can" etc. are used instead, we can use "if."
For example, in the case of "Is he a university student?", "if" is put and the word order of "is" and "he" is changed. And in "Does the train leave at 7:20?", after "does" is taken, "if" is put.
These sentences are as follows.

(3)
I don't know if he is a university student.

Tell me if the train leaves at 7:20.


Are you awake, Buttered?
Hello, Sherry. I'm thinking of Libre.
Yesterday, he was disappointed.
Yeah. It is not clear if she likes him.
Maybe … she likes him. But she moves away soon.


Hello, Sherry.
Hello, Libre.
I want to go with her. But I want to stay here too. I like you.
We like you. We want you to stay here. But you must leave with her. Tell me clearly if you are going to leave here.

"To + the verb" can be used with "how." It means the way.

Do you know how to make a cake?






-The point 2-

How did you know so much about it?

"How did you know …" is used as we want to hear the way you can know. We can use it if the hearer has already known before we do not speak anything.

(4)
Where did you go last summer vacation?
Well, I went sightseeing in Hokkaido.
Oh, that's great. Did you eat crab?
Yes, I ate crab. How did you know?
Talking of Hokkaido, so I assured.


Hello, Sherry.
Hello, Pina.
What's the matter? You look sad.
Nothing.
Nothing?
… I met Libre.
He said he will leave here?
How did you know?
The look on your face told me about him.

"Talking of" of "Talking of Hokkaido, I associate it." means like "about something." It is used to make a topic happy or we can talk more.






-The point 3-

I'm getting better.

"Better" is good. "I'm getting" means the progress. If "better" is put after it, it means we recover more and more.

(5)
What's the matter? You look pale.
I have a hangover. But I'm getting better.

"Worse" means bad. It is used as the above, it means something makes us worse more and more.

I'm getting worse.






-The point 4-

It made me feel like I haven't seen you for a long time.

"Feel like …" means we have the feeling to do something or we want to do something.

(5)
I feel like something to drink.
Would you like a coffee?


I don't feel like walking today.
I know how you are feeling, Sherry. Libre is your close friend.











previous page EnglishCafe Top following page


Copyright (c) EnglishCafe : Unapproved printing of the text and figure in this site is forbidden.