世博常用英語:商場購物
Dialogue Script 對話原文
Clerk: May I help you, ma'am?
Anna: Yes, thank you. I'd like to buy a blouse.
Clerk: What colour are you looking for?
Anna: I need something to go with a brown skirt.
Clerk: Here's a pretty green one.
Anna: But it has long sleeves. I'd like a short-sleeved blouse with a high neck, if you have one.
Clerk: We have this one in yellow. What size do you take?
Anna: Thirty-four. Do you have that one in my size?
Clerk: Yes, here it is.
Anna: How much is it?
Clerk: It costs 8 pounds.
Anna: Oh, my. That's too expensive for me. Do you have anything like it for less?
Clerk: I'm afraid not.
Anna: Well, I think I'll look around some more. But I may come back for this one. Thank you.
Clerk: You are welcome.
講解：
1. 這段對話發生在商店的服裝部。當看到顧客時，店員一般都會主動地迎上去，熱情地爲顧客提供講解和服務。他們首先會說，May I help you? 或者 What can I do for you? 對話中的 ma'am 是對女士的禮貌稱呼。
2. blouse是寬鬆的上衣，似襯衫的上衣。I need something to go with a brown skirt. 我想買一件上衣配我的棕色裙子。go with，在這裏是"與...搭配，與...相配"的意思。
3. 當我們向別人詢問穿多大碼的衣服或鞋子時，可以說 What size do you take? 當顧客得知那件上衣要8英鎊時，覺得太貴了。於是她說 Do you have anything like it for less? 你們有沒有像這種樣式但便宜一點的？表示用多少錢買某樣東西時用介詞"for"，比如，I bought my new car for $20,000.
4. 最後，這位顧客決定再到其它地方看看，look around some more是口語中簡便的說法，我們可以理解爲look around for some more blouses. 雖然顧客沒有買商品，但店員仍應禮貌地對她的光臨表示感謝，並說You are ogue Script 對話原文
Lisa: Excuse me, I'd like to return this shirt.
Clerk: What's the problem with it?
Lisa: It's too small.
Clerk: Didn't you try it on before you bought it?
Lisa: As a matter of fact, I received it as a gift.
Clerk: Then you are sure it came from our store?
Lisa: Yes, I am pretty sure. Don't you sell this item?
Clerk: Yes, we do. I'm afraid we don't give a refund, but we can give you a credit towards another purchase in our store.
Lisa: No refunds? Well, in that case, I'll accept the credit.講解：
1. 這段對話的內容是一位顧客在商店要求退貨時的情景。儘管這位顧客確定襯衫是在那家店裏買的，但店員表示，商店的商品一經售出，概不退款。因此，最後顧客只能接受商店開出的有價憑證在該店買一樣其它的商品。
2. 這段對話的語言比較簡單。refund是"退款，償還"的意思，即可做名詞，也可做動詞，因此，表示對話中的意思，我們也可以說，I'm afraid we can't refund your purchase price. 另外，對話中的credit是商店爲顧客開出的有價憑證。
3. 在購物時，遇到麻煩不會表達就會麻煩加麻煩。比如，"這個攪拌器不好用，能給我換一下嗎？"如果說成"This blender doesn't work. Can you change?"就不對，因爲"change"這個詞後面應該跟一個賓語。所以，正確的說法是，"This blender doesn't work. Can you change it?"或者"Can I exchange this blender for another one?"不能說"Can I change for another one?"。再比如"這種電熱毯的保修期有多長？""保修期"英文是"warranty period"這句話應該說"How long is the warranty period of these electric blankets?"而不能說成"How long is the warranty period of this electric blanket?"。在這裏，"these"代表一類商品，而不能用"this"將該物品同其它同類商品分開。
4. 當我們表示大、小號服裝時，L 代表"large"，S 表示"small"，不過大家要注意，中號不能用"middle-size"，應該說"medium-size"。例如，"我想要一件中號襯衫。"就是"I'd like a medium-size blouse."另外，"這條圍巾我買下了，你以幫我包裝一下嗎？"的正確說法是"I'll take this scarf. Can you wrap it up for me?"而不要說，"I'll take this scarf. Can you pack it for me?"因爲"pack"一詞通常用在旅行前收拾行禮的時候。
