我當然認識他的英語口語情景對話

【故事梗概】

星期六上午，Robbie和Grandpa (Malcolm Stewart)在廚房裡說話。郵遞員送來了一些信。夾在一堆帳單和廣告中間的是一封Grandpa大學時的室友Pete Waters寫來的信。

Robbie: The mailman just dropped some mail in our box, Grandpa.

Grandpa: Probably a lot of advertising and bills. Why don't you write to me, Robbie, so I can get some interesting mail?

Robbie: You were right, Grandpa. Advertising, bills, bills, advertising.

Grandpa: It's just like I said, Robbie. Nothing interesting.

Robbie: You won't believe it, Grandpa, but there's a letter here addressed to you, Mr. Malcolm Stewart, and it looks like a personal letter.

Grandpa: Oh, it must be a bill.

Robbie: I don't think so. The return name and address is Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton.

Grandpa: You're joking. Pete Waters?

Robbie: Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton. You know him?

Grandpa: Do I know Pete Waters? You bet I do! He was my roommate in college. He visited with Grandma and me in Florida about five years ago.

[He opens the letter.]

【語言點精講】

1. The mailman just dropped some mail in our box, Grandpa.

爺爺，郵遞員剛在我們信箱裡投放了一些信件。

mailman: 郵遞員。近年來由於女權運動者反對含有性別區分的詞彙，因此常改稱mail carrier。

2. Probably a lot of advertising and bills.

可能是許多廣告宣傳品和帳單。

advertising: 廣告；促銷宣傳品。

bills: 這裡指的是賬單。

3. Why don't you write to me, Robbie, so I can get some interesting mail?

你為什麼不給我寫幾封信，Robbie，好讓我也能收到有趣的郵件？

so I can get some interesting mail: 這裡so是so that的省略，引導目的狀語從句。

4. You won't believe it, Grandpa, but there's a letter here addressed to you, Mr. Malcolm Stewart, and it looks like a personal letter.

你不會相信的，爺爺，真有一封信是寄給你的。Malcolm Stewart先生收，還像是一封私人信件呢。

a letter here addressed to you: 一封寄給你的信。

a personal letter: 一封私人信件。這是同廣告或商業函件相對而言的。

5. The return name and address is Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton.

寄信人的姓名地址是Pete Waters，鄉村免費遞送，切斯特頓1號。

return name and address: 回信用的姓名和地址。通常就是寄信人的姓名、地址。

RFD: rural free delivery的縮寫，指的`是（郵件的）鄉村地區免費遞送。這是一種為偏遠鄉村地區免費投遞信件、報紙的郵政服務系統。由郵遞員開汽車遞送郵件，每個郵遞員負責一條線路。在美國，這種服務開始於1896年。

6. Do I know Pete Waters?

反問句，意思是“那還用問，我當然認得他了”。其形式是把對方的問句原句重複一次，稍加重讀，有時改用降調。

7. You bet I do!

這是美國口語的用法，表示“當然”，“毫無疑問”的意思。在這裡Grandpa想要表達的意思是“我當然認識他”。意思相近的表達還有“Of course I do! ”以及“ I certainly do!”