代名詞與先行詞的一致性

今天的課是上代名詞跟先行詞的一致性，印象中代名詞好像是國中的課程，不過，今天的題目錯的還不少，例如 The number of ...與 A number of ...的差別還有 neither of... 以及 Every/Each，還有一些名詞雖然句尾有 s ，但實際上指的是Group，這時候也不能用複數代名詞，還有 a few 雖然是 a 開題，但指的也是複數。

The number of... 與 a number of...

• The number of -- singlar

The number of books is placed on the table.

• A number of -- plural

A number of people are watching the concert.
Neither/Either of 指的也是單數，如： Neither of the children will do her work.
而連接詞 neither, either, or 則是要看靠近動詞的先行詞為複數或單數，來決定是否為複數或單數代名詞：
Captain Parker or his men were rescued on their fourth day at sea.
Neither the attendants nor pilot the gave his opinion about the mishap.
Every/Each 指的是單數，如：Every cat, dog, and rabbit had received its vaccine.
Some of... 並不一定指的就是複數，要依後面的名詞而定，若 of 後面接的是不可數名詞，則需用單數代名詞，如：Some of the sugar fell out of its bag. 不只是 some，還有 any, none, all, most 都適用此規則：Some indefinite pronouns that are modified by a prepositional phrase may be either singular or plural.
A few 的使用：Many people saw the show, but only a few reported their reactions to it.

實用英語句型

Would/Do you know of
當我們到我們不熟悉的地方時，想請問別人有什麼地方好去或好吃時，我們可以用…
Would/Do you know of a place ...

• Would you know of a place we can get a lunch?
• Do you know of a place nearby to eat?
• Would you know of a place we can get

Would/Do you know of ... 我覺得是一個很實用的句型，例如說：

• Would you know of any airline ...
• Would you know of any decent deli ...
• Would you know of any website we can ...

In that case
In that case 的用法：In that case 中文翻譯是「那樣的話」，在書本上看到這一個 phrase 的時候，應該可以把這一個 phrase 用在很多地方，譬如說當對方在表達對方的想法或意見的時候我們可以回答：

• In that case, why don't we eat at night market.
• In that case, I'll book other meeting for topic.

I'm afraid
I'm afraid (that) + 子句 ... 這一種句型我們常常見到，有表「恐怕」的意思，例如說：

• I'm afraid I am busy at the afternoon.
• I'm afraid their decision is final.

除了接子句之外，也常常接介系詞 of，表對某事感到恐懼：

• I'm afraid of ghost.
• I'm afraid of my mother.

也可以簡單的來表示「恐怕不行」、「恐怕是這樣」

• I'm afraid not. 恐怕不行。
• I'm afraid so. 恐怕是這樣。

尋求建議與提供建議

在中文來說，我們常常問「你覺得我這樣做如何？」、「你有沒有什麼好的建議？」、「你覺得我該怎麼辦」，我們英文可以這樣子說：

• Have you got any ideas about ... 你對於…有什麼樣的想法嗎？
• I'm thinking of ... What do you think? 我考慮…你覺得如何？
• Can I ask your opinion about ... 關於…我可以問你的意見嗎？
• I need some advice ... 我需要一些關於…建議

當然除了尋求建議之外，我們有時候也會被問，或是提供建議，例如說，「如果我是你，我就會…」、「最好的辦法就是…」、「我有一個不錯的小妙方」、「你可能要考慮一下…」這個時候英文要怎麼說呢？我們可以這樣說：

• I suggest you ... 我建議你…
• Here's a good tip. 我有一個好辦法
• It seems to me ... 在我看來…
• What you need is ... 你所需要的是…
• Why don't you ... 你為什麼不…
• What I would do is ... 是我的話我就會…
• If I were you, ... 如果我是你…
• The best thing to do ... 最好的辦法是…
• You might want to think ... 你或許該考慮…

當然，有時候別人給的建議可能不是很好，那我們也應該要很客氣的回答，免得潑對方冷水，我們會常說「你的建意是不錯，但是我覺得不是好很耶」或是說「你確定是這樣嗎 ？」，在英文中我們也應該要客氣的回答哦：

• That’s a good idea, but ... 這是一個好的建議，但是…
• Good suggestion, but I ... 這辦法，但是…
• I am not really sure about that. 我對這樣不是很確定耶
• Do you think so? 你真的是這樣想嗎？
  

會議結束時的用法

在還沒有學習這一個章節之前，要結束會議我可能會說「Thank you for join this meeting」，這種用法經由書籍來看，似乎不是一個很好的用法。
事實上，要結束一個會議 biz 在 2/2 中的教材建議可以使用下面例句 (1 ~ 4)：

1. Why don't we call it a day. 今天就到此為止吧。
2. If there are not other comments, we'll wrap this meeting up ( or wrap up this meeting). 如果沒有其它意見，我們就結束會議吧。
3. Let's bring this to a close for today. 今天就到這兒吧。
4. The meeting is finished; we'll meet again next Wednesday. 會議結束；下週三我們再開會
5. I guess that will be all for today.

例句中的 wrap this meeting up，實際上是利用 wrap up 「結束」這一個片語來說明此會議結束，所以我們也可以說：

• Anybody got anything else that they desperately want to raise before we wrap up?
• It's time to wrap up. 該結束會議了
• If no one has anything else to add, then I think we'll wrap this up.

開會的時間快結束了，已經沒有太多的時間可以討論了，我們可以說：

• It looks like we've run out of time, so I guess we'll finish here.

而在結束前，也可以問問其它人有沒有其它的意見，如下：

• Okay - any other business? 還有其它事情嗎？
• Right, I think that's probably about it. 好了，我想就大概是這些吧。

而主席 ( chairperson) 在問有沒有其它問題時，你也可以說：

• I would like to say something...

因為會議的時間不夠，須得再安排其它會議時間，我們可以說：

• We'll meet again on the first of next month.

當然在會議結束後，也提醒與會者別忘了簽名：

• Oh, before you leave, please make sure to sign the attendance sheet.

等一下下，離開前也別忘了投下您神聖的一票哦！

• Don't forget to put your ballot in the box on your way out.

什麼！這個會議有人提供餐點，這個時候可別忘了謝謝提供餐點的人

• Before I let you go let's all give a big thank you (everyone claps) to Thomas for baking these delicious cookies.

會議裡的椅子請歸還到其它會議室，我會非常的感謝的！還有，記得垃圾別忘了帶走

• If you could all return your chair to Room 7 that would be appreciated.
• Please take all of your papers with you and throw out any garbage on your way out.

最後，當然是要感謝大家的參與啦~~~

• Thank You's and Congratulations
• Again, I want to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here today.

更多英文會議內容，可參考 BBC或是這裡