我们上大学的七十年代，英语师资很缺乏，幸好我们系挖来了王知还老师。王老师虽然没留过洋，她的英语造诣很高，无论口语、书面语以及英美文学诗歌。毕竟教会学校出身，后来又是京陵女大高材生。

下面这个小故事说的是英语口语中的语气问题。这种口语常用语中的口气上的微妙区别，很多初学者很难体会。

OK...alright... (73275)

Posted by: liwei999
Date: April 07, 2007 06:48PM

When I was at college in Class 77, we were lucky to have Miss Wang as our teacher. Most of us did not know the difference between "ok/alright" and "Yes" when answering a request. One day, Miss Wang asked Student A:

"Would you do me a favor ...?"

A replied, "Ok."

Miss Wang asked Studet B the same question and B said: "Alright".

Miss Wang lost her patience:

"Can you guys be more positive?"

We were still lost, thinking that we were all positive.

Finally, she pointed out: "can you say something like 'Yes, I will'?"