Zina: Do you think what I did to Elvin was 1) out of line?

　　吉娜： 你觉得我对艾文太过火了吗?

　　Dave: You could have tried to explain to him about the new programmers.

　　戴夫： 你本可以试着跟他解释，会有新的程序设计师进来。

　　Zina: Elvin doesn't want any programming help. He wants all the 2) glory for himself.

　　吉娜： 艾文才不想要有人来帮忙写程序。他想功劳一手抓。

　　Dave: You might be right. He does 3) think pretty highly of himself.

　　戴夫： 你或许没说错。他自视甚高。

　　Zina: Did you hear the names he was calling me?

　　吉娜： 你听到他怎么骂我吗?

　　Dave: I heard. But did you have to tear out his nose ring?

　　戴夫： 我听到了。但你有必要扯掉他的鼻环吗?

　　--------------------------------------------------------

　　语言详解

　　A: Can you explain your relationship to John?

　　你能解释你跟约翰的关系吗?

　　B: No. It's too complicated.

　　不能。 这太复杂了。

　　【could have tried 本可以试着】

　　“could+现在完成式”的句型用于说明先前的某一动作有改进的余地，有时表示含蓄的不满或指责。例如：

　　You could have finished it earlier.

　　你本该早一点把这事做完。

　　She could have done better.

　　她做得不够好。

　　A: I could have arrived much earlier. But I was caught in the traffic.

　　我原可以早早就到了。但是我受阻于路上交通拥塞。

　　B: That I can understand. But you could have called us and let us know.

　　这一点我可以了解。但是你本可以打个电话通知我们。

　　1) be out of line 过分的

　　2) glory (n.) 荣耀

　　3) think highly of... 对……评价很高。若后接反身代名词，则是指“自视甚高”。

(实习编辑：高奕飞)