New Concept Volume 2 Lesson 38 Text

Lesson 38 Everything except the weather

My old friend, Harrison, had lived in the Mediterranean for many years before. He returned to England. He had often dreamed of retiring in England and had planned to settle down in the country. He had no sooner returned than he bought a fine house and went to live there. Almost immediately he began to complain about the weather, for even though it was still summer, it rained continually and it was often bitterly cold. After so many years of sunshine, Harrison got a shock. He acted as if he had never lived in England before. In the end, it was more than he could bear. He had hardly had time to settle down when he sold the house and left the country. The dream he had had for so many years ended there. Harrison had thought of everything except the weather.

Text explanation

dream of: think, dream (dream)

think of: think (thinking activity), consider

settle down: settle

no sooner. ..than: (related word) as soon as, the moment, on doing

had no sooner done...than simple past tense, fixed usage (tense structure: perfect tense + than + simple past tense)

he had no sooner arrived than he called me up.

no sooner is placed at the beginning of the sentence About to flip: No sooner had he arrived than he called me up (flip)

Almost immediately: almost immediately, quickly (quick in time, often used in writing)

< p>for: (conjunction) means because (explanation, additional) = because (must be said)

even though--the conjunction of the clause, "even" (concession adverbial clause)

p>

even though I came here, my mind was absent even though I came here, my mind was absent

for+combining sentence, main sentence

so many years: so many years

after + ...

after it rained for days = after so many days of rain

after seven years of hard work, he was successful

after ten years of staying abroad, he decided to return and settle down

get a shock : startled, startled

as if + sentence: seems, as if

Past perfect tense, subjunctive mood, contrary to the fact, the following condition is false

He acted as if he was poor. (Whether true or false after as if should be seen according to the context)

my leg hurts as if it was broken.

even though--even if

as if-- as though

in the end, it was more than he could bear (common colloquial expression)

It was more than I could understand.

p>

I can't affard it ＝ it was more than I can affard.

hardly...when...: Before it's too late...just...; the usage is the same as no sooner ... than

hardly had sb done (hardly is at the beginning of the sentence, invert it)

have time to do sth: have time to do something

I have no time to talk with you. I have no time to talk to you.

I have time enough to have coffee. I have enough time to drink coffee.

knock out: knock out , knock out

he had hardly opened his eyes when he was knocked out.

The dream he had had for so many years ended there. Sentence stem: the dream ended

He had had the dream for so many years. (the dream is the object, the antecedent)

except: except..., minus sign relationship

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