VOA慢速英语:What Next for Health Care Effort?

1.Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee said cutting health care costs step by step is better than the Democrats' plan.

step by step一步步地, 逐步地, 逐渐地

例句：He learnt the rules of the game step by step.
      他逐步学会了游戏的规则。

2.So our view, with all respect, is that this is a car that can't be recalled and fixed, and that we ought to start over.

ought to应该

例句：You ought to save money for a rainy day.
      你应该存钱以备急用。

3.What we do here must be relevant to their lives.

be relevant to与...有关

例句：All of the facts relevant to the accident are to be included.
      所有与这个事件有关的事实都被包括在内了。

4.At the end of the day, even President Obama admitted that differences between the two sides may be too great for compromise.

too great for双方分歧太大，难以调和，相当于too to的用法，只不过to后跟动词。

5.But they also made it clear that they are willing to act alone, if necessary, to pass a health care bill.

if necessary是if it it necessary的省略形式。

省略是一个重点语法项目，但因为省略，倒致理解起来有一定难点，这就需要充分认识到省略句的结构与特征。下面看一看省略在状语从句中的运用。

为了简洁起见，有的状语从句(如时间状语从句、条件状语从句、方式状语从句等)有时可省略从句的主语和部分谓语(尤其是当从句主语与主句主语一致，且从句谓语包括有动词be时)：

She fell asleep while (he was) doing his homework. 他在做作业时睡着了。

While (he was) doing so, he trembled a little. 他这样做时稍稍颤抖了一下。

He opened his mouth as if (he was) to speak. 他张开口，好像要说话似的。

Often she would weep when (she was) alone. 她一个人时，常常哭泣。

I’d like to see you whenever (it’s) convenient. 在你方便的时候我想来看看你。

If (you are) traveling north，you must change at Leeds. 如果你是向北行，你必须在里兹换车。

【注】有些由if构成的省略结构，已属固定短语，如if any, if necessary, if possible, if not, if so：

There are few, if any, mistakes in that book. 那本书就是有错误也不多。

If necessary, ring me at home. 如果必要，可以打电话到我家找我。

If possible, I wish to go there next summer. 如果可能，我希望明年夏天去。

He may be busy. If so, I’ll call later. If not, can I see him now? 他可能很忙，要是这样，我以后再来拜访。要是不忙，我现在可以见他吗?