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Grammar and Gossip

时间:2022-11-17 06:22:51

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(单词翻译)

Grammar and Gossip1

Imagine a time when you heard information about the personal life or behavior of another person – a friend, a neighbor, a classmate, or even a famous person.

In other words, you heard gossip.

What kinds of terms and structures do English speakers commonly use to gossip? Let's start with a few important terms and definitions2.

Definitions, verbs

Gossip is information about the personal lives and behavior of other people. The information can be either correct or incorrect.

While many people have a bad opinion of gossip (at least when they are the subject of it), the reality is that most people join in it from time to time.

English speakers commonly use a few verbs when gossiping. These verbs often connect with the senses such as hearing and seeing.

For example:

I heard that Tom got into trouble. Sally said she saw the police arrest him!

In the example, we have the past forms heard and saw. Note that the speaker is telling information about Tom's life and possible behavior. The speaker did not actually experience the events.

In our example, the speaker reported something. This is a general way that gossip spreads: one person says or tells something to another person. As a result, verbs that describe speaking – such as tell or say – are commonly used in gossip. Consider these examples:

Sally told me about Tom's troubles.

Sally said Tom has been getting into trouble.

Helping3 verbs, yes/no questions

Gossip often makes up part of a larger discussion4. As a result, speakers often bring up the subject of gossip by asking a question. The helping verbs do and have play an especially important part in these questions. This is because these helping verbs are used to create yes or no questions.

Let's explore one common structure:

do or have + subject + main verb + the rest of the sentence.

For example:

Did you hear about Tom?

Have you heard about what Tom did?

Note that the main verb in both of these examples is hear (or heard). Although the verb's exact meaning connects with the ear or the sense of hearing, it often also has a broader meaning. In other words, it can also mean to be aware of something.

For example, a person might say they "heard about a scandal5" even if they learned6 of the scandal by reading about it in a newspaper or on the internet.

Practice

Let's take some time to work on these ideas. Use the verb hear to talk about a famous actor's divorce7.

Pause the audio8 to consider your answer.

Here is one possible answer:

I heard about the actor's divorce.

Now form a question about a person named Sally. Be sure to use helping verbs such as do or have.

Pause the audio to consider your answer.

Here are two possible answers:

Did you hear about Sally?

Have you heard about Sally?

Closing thoughts

The goal of today's report was not to make you want to gossip. Rather, the goal was to get you thinking about how grammar connects with a common subject of discussion.

The next time you listen to English speakers – perhaps in a movie or show – pay careful attention to how they share information. And if you notice questions such as "Did you hear about....?" or "Have you heard about....?" then you might want to prepare yourself to listen to some gossip.

Words in This Story

gossip – n. information about the behavior and personal lives of other people

scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong


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1 gossip AeEzc     
n.流言蜚语,爱说长道短的人;vi.传播流言
参考例句:
  • She broadcast the gossip all over the town.她将这个流言传遍全镇。
  • They spread a lot of tacky gossip about his love life.关于他的爱情生活,他们散播了许多不堪的闲言闲语。
2 definitions 9fdc1f6b239f0e86ec8651552f2b0683     
定义( definition的名词复数 ); 规定; 清晰(度); 解释
参考例句:
  • Write clear definitions in order to avoid ambiguity. 释义要写清楚以免产生歧义。
  • Definitions in this dictionary are printed in roman type. 这本词典里的释义是用罗马体印刷的。
3 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
4 discussion 2PBzj     
n.讨论,谈论;论述
参考例句:
  • It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
  • After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨,和平协议渐渐有了眉目。
5 scandal pZyxt     
n.丑事,丑闻,流言蜚语,反感,愤慨
参考例句:
  • Scandal and gossip are meat and drink to him.各种丑闻和流言蜚语是他最感兴趣的事。
  • His theft from the shop caused scandal in the village.他因偷商店的东西引起全村的公愤。
6 learned m1oxn     
adj.有学问的,博学的;learn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
  • In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里,他被视为有学问的人。
7 divorce m8dyq     
n.离婚;分离;vi.离婚;vt.离婚;脱离
参考例句:
  • Did he divorce his wife or did she divorce him?是他要和妻子离婚,还是妻子要和他离婚?
  • None of us like the divorce of word and deed.我们都不喜欢言行不一。
8 audio 9yOziJ     
n./adj.音频(响)(的);声音(的),听觉(的)
参考例句:
  • Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来,供以后查阅。
  • You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。

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