BOOK 1 · UNIT 1

Lesson 3I'm Running Late

发消息说明迟到、预计到达并调整安排

完整课文

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先完整听一遍,不看译文;第二遍再对照课文。

Lesson 3 — I'm Running Late

我可能要晚一点到

1. Before You Start

本课目标

学完本课,你能够在消息或简短通话中说明自己会晚到,并做到:

  • 先说明自己现在在哪里、出了什么情况;
  • 给出预计到达时间,而不是只说“我要迟到了”;
  • 提议调整见面时间或地点;
  • 回应对方的新安排并说明接下来怎么做;
  • 写出一条35—60词的改期消息,并完成一段60—90秒的临时应变对话。

本课的现实任务只有一个:发消息说明迟到、预计到达并调整安排。

热身

先试着用英语回答,不必追求完整:

  1. 如果你可能晚到十分钟,你通常会提前多久告诉对方?
  2. 一条有用的迟到消息,除了 Sorry,还应该包含哪些信息?

场景词汇

  • traffic 路上车辆及交通状况
  • route 路线
  • entrance 入口
  • workshop 工作坊;小型培训活动
  • be on the way 正在去某地的路上

2. Main Conversation

A change of meeting place

Daniel and his cousin Lena planned to meet at Corner Table Café at 6:15. At 6:05, Daniel sends her a message.

Part A — The delay

Lena: Are you close? We're meeting at Corner Table at 6:15, right?

Daniel: Yes, but I'm running late. I'm still on my way—I'm on the bus, but traffic isn't moving.

Lena: How far away are you?

Daniel: I should be there around 6:35. Maybe 6:40. I'm sorry.

Lena: That only gives us a few minutes. I'm helping with an evening workshop at 7:00.

Daniel: Right, I forgot. We don't have to meet at the café. Can we meet at the arts center instead?

Lena: That works for me. I can stay here. Can you get here by 6:30?

Daniel: Let me check the route and get back to you in a minute.

Part B — The new plan

Two minutes later, Daniel sends another message.

Daniel: The next stop is on Harbor Street. I'll get off there and walk. I should be at the north entrance in about twenty minutes.

Lena: Great. I'll wait here, then. Text me when you're five minutes away.

Daniel: Okay. Sorry I didn't message sooner.

Lena: Thanks for telling me. Please let me know earlier next time.

Daniel: You're right. Sorry about that.

At 6:25, Daniel sends one more message.

Daniel: Update: I'm five minutes away.

Lena: Got it. I'm heading downstairs now.

Daniel: Just to check, you mean the north entrance on Harbor Street?

Lena: Exactly—not the main entrance by the parking lot. We can talk in the lobby before my workshop starts.

Daniel: Got it. Thanks for changing the plan. See you in five.

Lena: See you soon.


3. 中文译文需要时展开

丹尼尔和表妹莉娜原计划六点十五分在 Corner Table Café 见面。六点零五分,丹尼尔给她发了一条消息。

第一部分——出现延误

莉娜: 你快到了吗?我们是六点十五分在 Corner Table 见,对吧?

丹尼尔: 对,不过我可能要晚一点到。我还在路上——人在公交车上,但路上一动不动。

莉娜: 你离这儿还有多久?

丹尼尔: 应该六点三十五分左右到,也可能要到六点四十。抱歉。

莉娜: 那样我们就只剩几分钟了。我七点要去帮忙做一个晚间工作坊。

丹尼尔: 对,我忘了。我们不一定非要在咖啡馆见。改在艺术中心见可以吗?

莉娜: 我可以。我就留在这里。你最晚六点半能到吗?

丹尼尔: 我查一下路线,一分钟后回复你。

第二部分——新的安排

两分钟后,丹尼尔又发来一条消息。

丹尼尔: 下一站就是 Harbor Street。我会在那里下车,然后走过去。大约二十分钟后,我应该能到北门。

莉娜: 好,那我就在这里等。离这儿还有五分钟时给我发消息。

丹尼尔: 好的。抱歉没有早点告诉你。

莉娜: 谢谢你现在告诉我。下次请早点告诉我。

丹尼尔: 你说得对。对不起。

六点二十五分,丹尼尔又发了一条消息。

丹尼尔: 更新一下:我还有五分钟到。

莉娜: 知道了。我现在下楼。

丹尼尔: 确认一下,你说的是 Harbor Street 上的北门,对吗?

莉娜: 对——不是停车场旁边的正门。工作坊开始前,我们可以在大厅里谈。

丹尼尔: 明白了。谢谢你愿意调整安排。五分钟后见。

莉娜: 一会儿见。

翻译提示:I'm five minutes away 表示“我离目的地大约还有五分钟”,不是“我在五分钟以外”。这里的 away 描述的是到达所需的时间。


4. Read, Notice, Understand

Check the story

先不要看译文,回答下面的问题:

  1. Where and when did Daniel and Lena originally plan to meet?
  2. Why is Daniel running late?
  3. Why can't Lena wait at the café for very long?
  4. What does Daniel decide to do after he checks the route?
  5. Which entrance do they finally agree on?

5. What People Actually Say

本课负荷说明

本课全新主动掌握6项:I'm running late、I'm still on my way、I should be there around…、Can we meet at…instead、That works for me、Text me when you're…away

Let me check and get back to you 是第1课表达,本课先在有支架的新场景中复现,第4课再做无提示检索;Got it 属于容易唤醒的旧表达。Just to check, you mean…? 只作第4课“确认细节”的预览,本课先听懂和模仿,不要求自由造句。

1. I'm running late.

我可能要晚到了。用于已经发现自己无法准时到达时,语气中性,适合消息或通话。

I'm running late. The meeting ended later than expected.

2. I'm still on my way.

我还在路上。用于告诉正在等待的人:你尚未到达,但正在前往。

I'm still on my way. I'll send you an update in ten minutes.

注意不要说成 I'm in the wayin the way 通常表示“挡路、妨碍”。

3. I should be there around …

我应该会在……左右到。用于给出有依据但不能完全保证的预计时间,语气中性。

I should be there around 8:20.

这里的 should 表示“按现在的情况预计”,不是“应该做某事”的建议。

4. Can we meet at … instead?

我们能改在……见吗?用于提出替代地点,也可以把地点换成时间。

Can we meet at 7:30 instead?

5. That works for me.

这个安排我可以。用于接受对方提出的时间、地点或办法,语气自然、中性。

A: How about Friday morning?
B: That works for me.

6. Text me when you're … away.

离这里还有……时给我发消息。适合熟人之间协调到达时间。

Text me when you're ten minutes away.

较正式或不确定对方是否用短信时,可以说:

Please let me know when you're close.

7. Let me check and get back to you.

让我确认一下再回复你。这是第1课词块的近距离复现。本课先在给定情境中正确使用,第4课再练习无中文、无原句提示的主动调用。

Let me check the train times and get back to you in a minute.

8. Just to check, you mean …?

确认一下,你指的是……吗?用于在行动前核对关键细节,避免双方各自理解成不同地点或时间。

Just to check, you mean this Friday, not next Friday?

这是第4课正式学习的内容。本课先整体理解和模仿,不要求自己变换句型。

9. Got it.

知道了;明白了。适合接收简短指示或更正后回应,语气随意到中性。

The door code is 6142. — Got it.

Don't Say It That Way

容易说出的句子 更自然的说法
I will late. I'm running late.
I'm in the way. I'm on my way.
I will arrive after twenty minutes. I should be there in about twenty minutes.
Can we change a place? Can we meet at the arts center instead?
I check it and reply you. Let me check and get back to you.

6. Grammar Refresh — 正在发生、已有安排和当场决定

本课的主要语法焦点是现在进行时的两个常用功能。为了调整安排,还要把它和 will 表示“当场决定”作一个小范围对比。

A. 现在进行时:眼下正在发生

结构是:

am / is / are + 动词-ing

用它说明说话时正在发生或正在发展的情况:

Traffic isn't moving.
I'm heading downstairs now.
I'm running late.

这些情况不是固定习惯,而是眼下的临时状态或动作。

B. 现在进行时:已经谈妥的未来安排

现在进行时也可以表示已经约好、排进日程的近期安排。句子里通常有将来时间:

We are meeting at Corner Table at 6:15.
I'm helping with a workshop at 7:00.

这里并不是说活动现在已经开始,而是说安排已经存在。

C. will:说话当下作出的决定

听到新情况后,当场决定接下来怎么做,可以用:

will + 动词原形

The next stop is on Harbor Street. I'll get off there and walk.
You walk over. I'll wait here.

对比:

I'm meeting Lena at 6:15.
(见面安排在发消息之前已经确定。)

Traffic isn't moving. I'll text Lena now.
(看到交通情况后,现在决定发消息。)

本课只主动掌握 will 的这个用途。它以后还会用于承诺、预测等功能,后续课程会再区分。

D. 四个时间小工具

表达 意思 例句
at 6:30 在六点半这个时间点 We're meeting at 6:30.
around 6:30 六点半左右 I should be there around 6:30.
in twenty minutes 从现在起二十分钟后 I should be there in twenty minutes.
by 6:30 最晚六点半,不迟于六点半 Can you get here by 6:30?

中文的“二十分钟后到”在这种更新消息中通常说 I'll be there in twenty minutes,不要逐字套成 after twenty minutes


7. Sound Natural — 听清 I'm 和 I'll

本课页面已提供完整自然对话、可调语速的逐句跟读和单句循环。先完整听懂故事,再使用跟读模式模仿重音、节奏和语调。

I'mI'll 都以 I 开头,但句尾不同:

  • I'm 结尾是 /m/:I'm waiting outside.
  • I'll 结尾是 /l/:I'll wait outside.

两句都可以谈“等”,但意思不同:

I'm waiting outside.
我现在正在外面等。

I'll wait outside.
好,那我就在外面等。(现在作出的决定)

朗读与录音

先慢读,确保句尾清楚,再以正常速度各读三遍:

  1. I'm taking the bus. / I'll take the bus.
  2. I'm waiting by the entrance. / I'll wait by the entrance.
  3. I'm sending Lena an update. / I'll send Lena an update.

回听时只检查一件事:不看文字,你能否分辨自己说的是 I'm 还是 I'll?不需要刻意模仿某一种口音。


8. Practice

A. 理解检查

判断正误。正确写 T,错误写 F

  1. Daniel sends his first message after 6:15.
  2. Daniel is on a bus when he tells Lena he will be late.
  3. Lena decides to wait for Daniel at Corner Table Café.
  4. Daniel decides to get off the bus on Harbor Street and walk.
  5. Daniel checks which entrance Lena means.

B. 调用合适的词块

从方框中选择最合适的表达完成句子。必要时补充时间或地点。

I'm running late · I'm still on my way · I should be there around · Can we meet at … instead? · That works for me · Text me when you're … away · get back to you

  1. Your train has stopped, and you can't arrive on time: “Sorry, __________.”
  2. Someone asks whether you have arrived, but you are still traveling: “No, __________.”
  3. You expect to arrive close to 9:10: “__________ 9:10.”
  4. The original café is closing, so you suggest the station entrance: “__________”
  5. Your friend suggests meeting on Saturday morning, and you accept: “__________.”
  6. You need to check the route before answering: “Let me check and __________ in a minute.”
  7. You want your friend to send an update five minutes before arriving: “__________.”

C. 现在进行时还是 will?

用括号中动词的正确形式完成句子。

  1. We arranged it yesterday. We __________ (meet) outside the library at 7:00 tonight.
  2. The phone is ringing. I __________ (get) it.
  3. I can't look at the map right now. I __________ (drive).
  4. The bus is late. I __________ (send) Maya a message now.
  5. Marta has an appointment tomorrow. She __________ (see) the dentist at 4:00.
  6. Look—Ben __________ (come) down the stairs now.

D. at、around、in还是by?

每个空格填入 at、around、in、by 中最合适的一项。

  1. The train leaves exactly __________ 8:10.
  2. I don't know the exact time, but I should arrive __________ 6:35.
  3. It is 5:00 now. I'll call you __________ twenty minutes.
  4. The doors close at 7:00, so please be here __________ 6:50.
  5. My taxi is close. It should be here __________ five minutes.

E. 把意思说得自然

根据中文情境写出自然英文。答案不必逐字对应。

  1. “我可能要晚一点到。我还在路上。”
  2. “我应该六点四十分左右到。”
  3. “我们能改在北门见吗?”
  4. “这个安排我可以。”
  5. “我查一下路线,一分钟后回复你。”

F. 写一条完整的改期消息

阅读下面的新情境,写35—60词。不要照抄主对话。

你原定18:30在 Riverside Library 见 Priya。现在是18:20,你仍在火车上,预计18:45到;Priya在18:40前必须离开图书馆。请说明情况、给出预计时间,并提议19:15视频通话。

消息必须包含:

  • 现在的情况;
  • 预计到达时间;
  • 一个调整后的方案。

9. Make It Yours

第一步:写你真正可能发送的消息

想一个你现实中可能遇到的迟到情况,写35—60词。可以是见朋友、去上课、赴约或参加普通工作会面。写清:

  1. 原定安排;
  2. 你现在的情况;
  3. 预计到达时间;
  4. 你建议怎样调整;
  5. 你希望对方怎样回复。

第二步:录制60—90秒应变对话

独自扮演双方,或请学习伙伴配合。不要背主对话。至少使用:

  • 一个现在正在发生的动作;
  • 一个已经确定的未来安排;
  • 一个用 will 表示的当场决定;
  • 一个准确的时间表达;
  • get back to you

录音两次。第二次只看“现状—预计时间—新方案—回应”四个关键词。

第三步:随机互动迁移

把下面这段指令交给真人学习伙伴或语音助手:

你扮演正在等我的人。不要提前告诉我你的具体回应。先问我 Where are you?。等我说明迟到后,从“可以等”“不能等但可以换地点”“希望我在快到时更新”中随机选择一种回应,并至少追问一个细节。不要替我造句。

你需要在没有完整脚本的情况下:

  1. 说明自己当前的位置或问题;
  2. 给出预计到达时间;
  3. 根据对方的随机回应调整方案;
  4. 最后接受新方案,并说明自己下一次什么时候更新。

如果你只能重复准备好的消息,还不能算完成互动迁移。

48小时后的间隔复习

合上本课,看到下面的情境后,在45秒内开始说:

你五点半和朋友见面。现在五点二十分,公交车堵在路上,你预计晚十五分钟。朋友六点前必须离开。

说出一条完整更新,并在需要查另一个时间时主动调用 Let me check and get back to you。录音后再回来看本课表达;不要先读原对话。


10. Answer Key点击展开

Check the story

  1. At Corner Table Café at 6:15.
  2. He is still on the bus, and traffic is not moving.
  3. She is helping with an evening workshop at 7:00.
  4. He decides to get off at the next stop on Harbor Street and walk.
  5. The north entrance on Harbor Street, not the main entrance by the parking lot.

A. 理解检查

  1. F
  2. T
  3. F
  4. T
  5. T

B. 调用合适的词块

  1. I'm running late
  2. I'm still on my way
  3. I should be there around
  4. Can we meet at the station entrance instead?
  5. That works for me
  6. get back to you
  7. Text me when you're five minutes away

第4题中的具体地点可以有其他合理说法。

C. 现在进行时还是 will?

  1. are meeting
  2. 'll get / will get
  3. am driving
  4. 'll send / will send
  5. is seeing
  6. is coming

D. at、around、in还是by?

  1. at
  2. around
  3. in
  4. by
  5. in

E. 参考表达

  1. I'm running late. I'm still on my way.
  2. I should be there around 6:40.
  3. Can we meet at the north entrance instead?
  4. That works for me.
  5. Let me check the route and get back to you in a minute.

F. 参考消息

Hi Priya, I'm running late. I'm still on the train, and it isn't moving. I should be at the library around 6:45, but I know you have to leave by 6:40. Can we have a video call at 7:15 instead? Sorry about the change.

开放题可以有其他自然说法,不需要和参考答案完全一致。重点是让对方迅速知道:你现在的情况、预计时间和新的可行方案。


11. Self-check

为每一项选择:能做到/还不稳定/需要重学

  • 我能在消息开头直接说明自己会晚到,而不是只道歉。
  • 我能说明自己现在在哪里或正在做什么。
  • 我能用现在进行时表达已经谈妥的近期安排。
  • 我能用 will 表达说话当下作出的决定。
  • 我能区分 at、around、in、by 的时间意义。
  • 我能不看中文提示调用 get back to you
  • 对方临时改变时间或地点时,我能继续回应并说明下一步。

如果有两项以上选择“需要重学”,先重做第7部分C、D,再完成48小时后的间隔复习。