1.

　

「〜することができない」という表現を学びます。マーティンと子供たちは海へ遊びにいった帰りの車の中で話しています。息子のアランはマーティンに車の運転の仕方を教えてほしいと頼みます。

This is English USA, on the Voice of America. Now, Lesson 97, Part 1.

MARTIN:

Did you enjoy the afternoon?

ALAN:

Yes. I always like the beach.

MARTIN:

Were your friends there today?

ALAN:

Some of them.

MARTIN:

Sue, did you have a good time?

SUE:

It was OK. I wish mother had come.

MARTIN:

I do too. Maybe we can bring her next weekend.

SUE:

Let's do. May I bring Sally?

MARTIN:

We'll see.

ALAN:

May I turn on the radio?

MARTIN:

I'd rather have quiet.

SUE:

I would too.

ALAN:

You just don't like my music.

MARTIN:

That's right. Maybe later.

ALAN:

May I drive?

SUE:

You can't. You don't know how.

MARTIN:

Well, let's think about it.

SUE:

Daddy! He can't. He doesn't know how!

MARTIN:

He's unable to drive right now. Aren't you almost old enough to drive, Alan?

ALAN:

Almost. I'll be old enough in a few months. But I don't know how. Can't you teach me?

SUE:

Can't you teach me too?

ALAN:

Be serious.

MARTIN:

I am able to teach both of you. But I won't. Sue, you're definitely too young.

SUE:

I can learn without actually driving.

ALAN:

What fun is that?

MARTIN:

That's what we will have to do for a few months. You can't drive without a permit and license.

ALAN:

I'm not able to get a permit until I'm sixteen years old.

MARTIN:

Maybe it would be a good idea for me to teach you.

ALAN:

What can you teach if I can't drive?

MARTIN:

We could make a list. We can list what you can do already, what you can't do. Some of those things you can learn now. Some will have to wait until you're sixteen.

SUE:

I'll have to wait a long time.

ALAN:

I can't park.

MARTIN:

That will have to wait.

ALAN:

Can't we practice on our street?

MARTIN:

Not yet.

ALAN:

I can start the car.

MARTIN:

Tell me how you do it.

ALAN:

First, you put the car in neutral.

SUE:

I can do that.

MARTIN:

How do you put the car in neutral?

SUE:

You push that thing there.

MARTIN:

What is that thing?

ALAN:

You don't know.

SUE:

I forget.

ALAN:

It's the gear shift. You put it in neutral. It's marked "N."

MARTIN:

That's good. Then what do you do?

ALAN:

You put the key in there.

MARTIN:

What's that called?

SUE:

The starter.

ALAN:

No, it isn't.

SUE:

Do I have to know the names of everything?

MARTIN:

It's a good idea. It helps in talking about them.

2.
　

「〜することができない」と話す様子をもう一度聴いてください。いくつかの表現が出てきます。

SUE:

You can't. You don't know how.

MARTIN:

He's unable to drive right now.

ALAN:

I'm not able to get a permit until I'm sixteen years old.
I can't park.

3.

　

"I can't..." "I'm not able to..." "I'm unable to..."は「〜することができない」と言うときに使います。これからマーティンが言うことに対してこれらの表現を使って答えてください。

MARTIN:

Will you please park the car?

YOU:

[--------------------?]

MARTIN:

I like to drive.

YOU:

[--------------------?]

MARTIN:

Will you open the door?

YOU:

[--------------------?]

MARTIN:

When will you visit me?

YOU:

[--------------------?]