We have just moved into a new house and I have been working hard all morning.
work hard 努力工作
- You're working hard, George.你干得真辛苦，乔治。
have / has been + doing 现在完成进行时
- It has been raining for three days and it is still raining.
- I have been waiting for an hour but she hasn’t come.
- He has been running after her for 8 years.
- Where have you been? I have been looking for you.
| 现在完成进行时(延续性动词) | 现在完成时 |
|---|---|
| 用来强调动作在某一段时间内一直在进行，而且动作有现在的结果。 | 表示在漫长地时间段，过去发生的, 还一定要对现在产生影响。 |
| It has been raining. (强调过程) | It has rained for half day. (强调结果) |
I have been trying to get my new room in order.
get sth. in order 使…有秩序，把…整理好
- Get/Put everything in order before you leave the room.
in order 整齐，井然有序，有秩序, 有次序
- I must put my affairs in order.我必须整理整理我的事务。
| make … tidy 把…整理干净/收拾整齐 | Please make your room tidy before going out. 出门前请把你的房间收拾整齐。 |
|---|---|
| keep order 维持秩序 | They will be trying to keep order. |
This has not been easy because I own over a thousand books.
own |
vt. 拥有 | I own over a thousand books. |
|---|---|---|
| vt.&vi. 承认 |
|
|
| adj. 自己的 |
|
To make matters worse, the room is rather small, so I have temporarily put my books on the floor.
to make matters worse 更糟糕的是…
- I lost my way in the forest, and to make matters worse, it became dark.
- Our team has lost two games. To make matters/things worse, two players have been injured.
| still worse / worse still 更糟糕的是 | It was cold, and worse still, it began to snow. 天很冷，更糟糕的是，开始下雪了。 |
|---|---|
| still better / better still 更好的是 | We can go by train, and better still, by high-speed rail. 我们可以坐火车去，更好的是，可以坐高铁。 |
rather adj. 相当的
- The leaves taste rather bitter.这些叶子尝起来相当苦。
- I did have rather spindly legs.我的腿以前细长而纤弱。
- It was a rather difficult question.这是个相当难的问题。
| what is more / what’s more 而且，此外 | He is smart. What’s more, he works hard. 他很聪明，而且学习很努力。 |
|---|---|
| besides 此外，而且 | I have no time. Besides, I don’t have enough money. 我没时间，此外，我的钱也不够。 |
| moreover 此外，而且 | The house is big. Moreover, it has a garden. 这房子很大，而且带有一个花园。 |
| furthermore 此外，再者 | The plan is practical. Furthermore, it costs little. 这个方案很可行，再者，花费很低。 |
| in addition 另外，除此之外 | He speaks French. In addition, he can speak Spanish. 他会说法语，另外他还会西班牙语。 |
| additionally 此外，另外 | The task is simple. Additionally, it won’t take long. 这项任务很简单，此外，耗时不长。 |
At the moment, they cover every inch of floor space and I actually have to walk on them to get in or out of the room.
every inch 每一英寸(夸张)
- Gold covered every inch of the ground in America. It is worth every penny of it.
actually 实际上，事实上
- I thought it was hard, but it actually was easy. 我原以为很难，但实际上很简单。
| in fact 事实上 | He looks young. In fact, he is over fifty. 他看起来年轻，事实上他已经五十多岁了。 |
|---|---|
| as a matter of fact 事实上，其实 | As a matter of fact, I met him yesterday. 事实上，我昨天见过他。 |
| in reality 现实中，实际上 | The plan sounds good, but in reality it won’t work. 这个计划听起来不错，但现实中行不通。 |
| in truth 说实话，事实上 | In truth, I did not tell her the whole story. 说实话，我并没有告诉她全部真相。 |
| in effect 实际上，实质上 | The rule is, in effect, a ban. 这条规定实质上就是一项禁令。 |
cover =take up / occupy 占据时间或空间
- The books take up / occupy too much space/room in the office.
- Housework takes up / occupies all my spare time.
At present 目前；= now 现在(强调某一时期的当前情况)
- At present, we are unable to provide further information.（目前，我们无法提供更多信息。）
| At the moment 此刻；目前 (强调了一个瞬间或者短暂的时间段) |
At the moment, I'm studying for my exams.（此刻，我正在为我的考试复习。） |
|---|---|
| Meanwhile 与此同时 (两个事件同时发生时，用于转换话题，引出另一个情况) |
I'm going to the store. Meanwhile, you can start preparing dinner. （我要去商店了。与此同时，你可以开始准备晚餐。） |
| Now 现在 （强调了在当前时刻正在发生的事情） |
Now, let's focus on finishing this project. （现在，让我们集中精力完成这个项目。） |
| Right now 此刻；现在（当前时间点） | I'm too busy right now to talk. （我现在太忙了，没时间谈。） |
A short while ago, my sister helped me to carry one of my old bookcases up the stairs.
a short / little while ago 不久后
- He left a little while ago. 他不久前离开了。
- I saw her a short time ago in the hallway. 我不久前在走廊看见她了。
- Not long ago, we visited that old town. 不久前，我们游览了那座古镇。
| after a little/short time 过了一小段时间之后 | After a short time, the rain stopped. 过了一小段时间，雨停了。 |
|---|---|
| after a little/short while 没过一会儿 | After a little while, she came back. 没过一会儿，她回来了。 |
| a little later 稍后，过一会儿 | I will call you a little later. 我稍后给你打电话。 |
| before long 不久之后，很快 | Before long, we will meet again. 不久之后我们会再次相见。 |
| a few minutes later 几分钟之后 | A few minutes later, the bell rang. 几分钟之后，铃响了。 |
| shortly afterwards 不久之后，紧接着 | He arrived, and shortly afterwards his sister turned up. 他到了，紧接着他妹妹也来了。 |
help sb. (to) do sth. 帮某人做某事(to 可省略)
- He helps me to learn English.
- Can you help me (to) get/put the books in order?
- Can you help me with my homework?
| help sb. with sth. 帮某人做某事 | She helped me with my English. |
|---|---|
| with one’s help 在某人的帮助下 | With your help I made great progress. |
'This is the prettiest carpet I have ever seen,' she said.定语从句
“I have ever seen” 做定语从句出现, 是最高级的标志
- It is one of the ugliest faces I have ever seen.
- Casablanca is the best movie I’ve ever seen.
- He is the funniest person I’ve ever met.
- It is the most shocking news I’ve ever heard.
She gazed at it for some time then added, 'You don't need bookcases at all.
gaze at 盯住；凝视;对…向往, 羡慕
- Gaze at Me in silent adoration.在安静的敬拜中凝视我。
- If you gaze at these ripples for a while.你要是一直盯着这些水纹。
- They are learning to gaze at pictures and study them.他们正学着注视那些图画，并学习。
added adj.额外的;v.补充说道
- 'And don't be late,' she added. “还有别迟到。”她补充说道。
- 'Let me explain!' he added helpfully.“让我来说明一下！”他热心地补充道。
- She added a PS asking me to water the plants.她加了一句附言，要我浇花。
not … at all 一点也不...
- He isn’t honest at all.
- He is in no way / by no means honest.
| in no way 绝不，一点也不 | This is in no way your fault. 这绝不是你的错。 |
|---|---|
| by no means 绝不，一点也不 | He is by no means stupid. 他绝不是愚蠢的。 |
You can sit here in your spare time and read the carpet!'
in one’s spare time 某人空闲的时候
- I like to read in my spare time.
- Have you got a spare moment? 你（现在）有空吗？
- I read books in my spare time. 我在业余时间看书。
| free time 业余时间 | What do you do in your free time? 你业余时间做什么？ |
|---|---|
| leisure time 业余时间 | She listens to music in her leisure time. 她在业余时间听音乐。 |