When You Agree or Disagree

Conversation 1(after school)
Mary: Wow! Did you see Sarah’s new haircut? I’ve never seen her with short hair
before. It looks great!
Jane: I couldn’t agree more! She looks so sophisticated

. Seeing her
makes me want to get my hair cut, too.
Mary: Me, too! Let’s experiment with a comb and mirror to see which length looks best.
Then, we can make appointments for cuts at the beauty parlor on Saturday.
會話一
(放學後)
瑪麗：哇！你看到莎拉的新髮型了嗎？我以前從來沒看過她留短頭髮，實在很好看！
珍　：我非常贊成！她看起來好成熟。看著她讓我也想去剪短頭髮呢！
瑪麗：我也是！我們來用梳子和鏡子試試，看哪個長度最適合，然後我們就和美容院約
個星期六去剪頭髮。
At times a person may not be ready to agree, yet hesitates to disagree strongly. In this situation, using an indirect approach is more effective. It usually results in the positive exchange of information and avoids conflict. It is also more polite than a direct approach. Sometimes more formal expressions are called for, such as in disagreements with a supervisor. Close friends can more easily use informal words without damaging their relationship.
有的時候，別人可能不很贊同，卻又猶豫不願意強烈地反對。在這種情況之下，採用間接
的方式會比較有效。如此通常會帶來一種正面的意見交換，而又避免衝突。它也比直接的
方式更有禮貌。有的時候正式的表達是需要的，例如，和你的上司持相反意見時。好朋友
間則較容易用不拘小節的字眼，而不傷害彼此的關係。
Here are some useful phrases to use when you don’t agree.
(Formal) I’m not sure I agree. Are you absolutely sure? I may be wrong, but . . .(Informal) Oh, I don’t know . . .Yes, but . . .Really?
這裡有一些很實用的句子來表達反對。
(正式用語) 我不確定我贊成。你真的那麼確定嗎？我可能不對，但是...
(非正式用語) 嗯，我不知道耶...對啊，但是...真的嗎？
Conversation 2
Hank: I’m really looking forward to the movie on Saturday. It will be great to see
Mel Gibson again. He was so cool in Sleepless in Seattle!
Sharon: Are you sure Mel Gibson was in that one? I thought it was Tom Hanks.
Joan: Me, too. I may be wrong, but wasn’t Mel Gibson the lead in Braveheart?
Hank: Well, maybe you’re right. I have the Sleepless in Seattle video at home. I’ll check.
會話二
漢克：我真的很期待星期六要去看的那部電影。再看到梅爾．吉柏遜一定很棒！
他在「西雅圖夜未眠」裡好酷喔！
雪倫：你確定梅爾．吉柏遜有演那部電影嗎？我以為是湯姆．漢克斯。
瓊　：我也這麼想。我可能錯了，不過梅爾．吉柏遜不是那個主演「英雄本色」的嗎？
漢克：嗯，可能你們說的對。我家裡有「西雅圖夜未眠」的錄影帶，我會再確定一下。
Sometimes you may have strong feelings against an idea or opinion. Although it is difficult,
you can disagree directly if you handle it in the proper way. Try phrases from the following
list to help. It’s usually best to include a reason for opposing what the other
person has said.
(Formal) I’m sorry, but I have to disagree. I strongly disagree. I refuse to believe that . . .
(Informal) No, that’s wrong. You’re dead wrong. Nope!
有時你可能很強烈地反對一個主張或意見。雖然直接提出反對意見很困難，但
是如果處理得當，仍然可行。試試看下面的句子。通常，不贊成時最好能提出不贊
成對方所說的理由。
(正式用語) 我很抱歉，但我必須反對。我非常不贊成。我不願意相信...
(非正式用語) 不，那是錯的。你大錯特錯了。不對！
Conversation 3
Tom: Hey! Look! Someone dropped their wallet. It has some money. We can share it
and get a snack at McDonald’s!
George: No way! That would be like stealing. Let’s look to see if the owner’s name
and address are inside. We should return it.
Tom: Are you crazy? We found it. We should keep it.
George: I disagree. Maybe the owner will be so glad to have it back he will give us a
reward. Then we will know we’ve done the right thing, and we’ll have money for a snack.
Tom: Well, OK. Maybe your plan is better.
會話三
湯姆： 嘿！你看！有人掉了皮夾，裡面還有一些錢。我們可以把它分了，去麥當勞買點心吃。
喬治： 不可以！那就像偷竊啦！我們來看看失主的名字和地址有沒有在裡面。
我們應該歸還它。
湯姆： 你瘋了嗎？是我們發現它的，我們應該可以留下它。
喬治： 我不同意。也許這位失主會因為找回皮夾很高興，而給我們獎賞。那我們就
知道這件事作對了，而且我們也會有錢吃點心。
湯姆：唉，好吧，或許你的計畫比較好。
ActivitiesWith a friend, practice agreeing and disagreeing in the following situations:
1. You and a friend have just come from the art museum. Both of you agree that the paintings by a new artist are the best you’ve ever seen.
2. You and a friend are going across town to a movie. You want to go by bus, but your friend insists that a taxi is best.
3. You are planning a vacation with your husband (or wife). You want to go to the beach, but your spouse wants to go to the mountains.
練習:
和朋友練習在下列情況下，表達相同或不同的意見：
1. 你和一位朋友剛從美術館裡出來。你們都認為一位新出道畫家的畫，是你們看過最好的作品。
2. 你和一位朋友要到城的另一頭看電影。你想搭公車，可是你的朋友堅持搭計程車。
3. 你正計畫和先生(或太太)共度假期。你想要去海邊，可是你的配偶想去山上。


⊙Word Banksophisticated (adj) 成熟的；老練的
beauty parlor (n phr) 美容院
hesitate (v) 猶豫；躊躇
approach (n) 方法；步驟
conflict (n) 爭執；意見抵觸
absolutely (adv) 完全地；肯定地

oppose (v) 反對
insist (v) 堅持
spouse (n) 配偶

@The Day's Phrase
Our dance teacher laid it on thick before the recital, because she wanted us to do our best.
我們的舞蹈老師在表演會前對我們要求嚴苛，因為她希望我們竭盡所能來表現。
Could you lend me an ear, dad? I have a problem.爸爸，你可以注意聽我一下嗎？我有個難題。
Amy knows her poem by heart. She recited it without even glancing at her notes.
艾美把她的詩背下來了。她甚至連小抄都沒看就把它朗誦出來。

I'll butter up our landlord and he won't mind if our rent is a few days late.
我來向房東奉承一番，那麼他就不會介意我們的房租是否遲交了幾天。

Lauren cheered up Casandra by giving her a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
羅倫送給卡珊德拉一束美麗的花，讓她高興。
Skiing is right up Curt's alley, so he moved to Colorado to be a ski instructor.
滑雪正好是柯特的專長，所以他搬到科羅拉多州當滑雪教練去了。