當你聽到某人最近的狀況時,而你想表達你的同理心(empathy),這時候可以怎麼說?
此時,You/That must be + adjective/noun 這樣的例句就可以派上用場。
Engvid.com的講師Rebecca在網站上提出了幾個簡單的例子。
1.I worked all day.
回應:
Wow!You must be tired.
2.I just got a promotion.
回應:
You must be very happy.
3.John lost his cellphone.
回應:
Oh no! He must be upset.
4.Our meeting room is too small
回應:
That must be problematic/a problem.
5.We don’t speak English well.
回應:
That must be challenging.
當我們用主詞 + must be + adjective/noun 這樣的說法時,代表我們站在對方的立場思考,是一種比較委婉的回應。