Unit 17
Project timing
Prepositions of time
1. Listening
Listen to the telephone conversation about the timing of a construction project. As you listen, complete the key for the project planner below.
請見附圖17-1
Listening task
A: I’m phoning about the timing for the Vienna project.
B: Right, we’ve got a starting date for that haven’t we?
A: Yes, we begin a pilot study on 5 November.
B: Right, how long is that expected to last?
A: We should finish the study in three weeks.
B: Good, then what’s the next stage?
A: Well, we’ve got a meeting with the contractor scheduled for 1 December. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll sign the contract then. And work can commence at the beginning of January.
B: So what’s the first stage?
A: Well, excavation will begin in January and is due to finish by the middle of February. Now, after that we could have a problem.
B: What’s that?
A: You remember we’ve sub-contracted the German firm to do the foundations. They promised to start in the middle of February. They are now saying they can’t.
B: Right, I’ll get on to them. When are they due to finish the foundations?
A: In the contract, it says by 28 February.
B: I see, and then?
A: Construction work should begin on 5 March. We’re on a pretty tight schedule. All the work has to be done in March and April.
B: OK. I see the problem. I’ll phone you back in the afternoon at about three. Bye.
A: Goodbye.
2. Presentation
Notice how the following prepositions are used to refer to time:
請見附圖17-2
Notice also these expressions which are used when talking about timing:
is due to
The project ﹛ is expected to ﹜start on…
is scheduled to
3. Controlled practice
Complete these sentences with an appropriate preposition of time.
1. The work is due to begin ____________ the end of April.
2. We are hoping to meet the engineer _______ the weekend.
3. We expect to sign the contract sometime _______ June.
4. We arrived _____________ time to see them leave.
5. They are scheduled to finish ___________ the middle of July.
6. I arranged to meet him _______ 15.30 _______ Tuesday.
7. The plane took off precisely _______ time.
8. We are busiest __________ spring.
9. The contract must be finalised _________ the end of the month, at the latest.
10. He phoned me ____________ one o’clock _____________ night.
課文注釋及講解：
* time 安排時間
e.g. I’m phoning about the timing for the Vienna project.
我打電話號碼是為維也納項目的時間安排問題。
The promotion campaign is not well timed, for the product is already off season.
促銷活動開展得不是時候，因為產(chǎn)品已經(jīng)過季了。
* schedule 安排時間
e.g. We’ve got a meeting with the contractor scheduled for 1st December.
我們與承包商定于12月1日會面[注意：schedule后面接表示時間的詞時要用介詞for]
We are scheduled to meet our MD on Wednesday.
我們安排在星期三見總裁。
schedule 日程安排，時間表
e.g. on a tight schedule 日程緊
have a full schedule 日程排得很滿
lay out/plan/make a schedule 排出日程
* according to 按照
e.g. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll sign the contract then.
如果一切按計劃進(jìn)行，那么屆時我們將簽合同。
Buyers and sellers have to act according to the terms and conditions in their contract.
買方和賣方必須按合同條款履約。
* commence 開始，著手
commence 比begin更正式
e.g. He commenced his business yesterday.
昨天，他開張營業(yè)了。
Work can commence at the beginning of January.
可以 在1月初開始工作。
* excavation 挖土，挖掘
* do the foundations 打地基
也可以說 lay the foundations
* finalise 完成
e.g. The contract must be finalised by the end of the month, at the latest.
這個合同遲必須在本月末完成。
* 一個項目計劃[Project plan]大致包括以下內(nèi)容：
初期調(diào)研，預(yù)先調(diào)研[Preliminary study]
協(xié)商合同[Contract negotiation]
可行性研究[Feasibility study]
培訓(xùn)[Training]
Project timing
Prepositions of time
1. Listening
Listen to the telephone conversation about the timing of a construction project. As you listen, complete the key for the project planner below.
請見附圖17-1
Listening task
A: I’m phoning about the timing for the Vienna project.
B: Right, we’ve got a starting date for that haven’t we?
A: Yes, we begin a pilot study on 5 November.
B: Right, how long is that expected to last?
A: We should finish the study in three weeks.
B: Good, then what’s the next stage?
A: Well, we’ve got a meeting with the contractor scheduled for 1 December. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll sign the contract then. And work can commence at the beginning of January.
B: So what’s the first stage?
A: Well, excavation will begin in January and is due to finish by the middle of February. Now, after that we could have a problem.
B: What’s that?
A: You remember we’ve sub-contracted the German firm to do the foundations. They promised to start in the middle of February. They are now saying they can’t.
B: Right, I’ll get on to them. When are they due to finish the foundations?
A: In the contract, it says by 28 February.
B: I see, and then?
A: Construction work should begin on 5 March. We’re on a pretty tight schedule. All the work has to be done in March and April.
B: OK. I see the problem. I’ll phone you back in the afternoon at about three. Bye.
A: Goodbye.
2. Presentation
Notice how the following prepositions are used to refer to time:
請見附圖17-2
Notice also these expressions which are used when talking about timing:
is due to
The project ﹛ is expected to ﹜start on…
is scheduled to
3. Controlled practice
Complete these sentences with an appropriate preposition of time.
1. The work is due to begin ____________ the end of April.
2. We are hoping to meet the engineer _______ the weekend.
3. We expect to sign the contract sometime _______ June.
4. We arrived _____________ time to see them leave.
5. They are scheduled to finish ___________ the middle of July.
6. I arranged to meet him _______ 15.30 _______ Tuesday.
7. The plane took off precisely _______ time.
8. We are busiest __________ spring.
9. The contract must be finalised _________ the end of the month, at the latest.
10. He phoned me ____________ one o’clock _____________ night.
課文注釋及講解：
* time 安排時間
e.g. I’m phoning about the timing for the Vienna project.
我打電話號碼是為維也納項目的時間安排問題。
The promotion campaign is not well timed, for the product is already off season.
促銷活動開展得不是時候，因為產(chǎn)品已經(jīng)過季了。
* schedule 安排時間
e.g. We’ve got a meeting with the contractor scheduled for 1st December.
我們與承包商定于12月1日會面[注意：schedule后面接表示時間的詞時要用介詞for]
We are scheduled to meet our MD on Wednesday.
我們安排在星期三見總裁。
schedule 日程安排，時間表
e.g. on a tight schedule 日程緊
have a full schedule 日程排得很滿
lay out/plan/make a schedule 排出日程
* according to 按照
e.g. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll sign the contract then.
如果一切按計劃進(jìn)行，那么屆時我們將簽合同。
Buyers and sellers have to act according to the terms and conditions in their contract.
買方和賣方必須按合同條款履約。
* commence 開始，著手
commence 比begin更正式
e.g. He commenced his business yesterday.
昨天，他開張營業(yè)了。
Work can commence at the beginning of January.
可以 在1月初開始工作。
* excavation 挖土，挖掘
* do the foundations 打地基
也可以說 lay the foundations
* finalise 完成
e.g. The contract must be finalised by the end of the month, at the latest.
這個合同遲必須在本月末完成。
* 一個項目計劃[Project plan]大致包括以下內(nèi)容：
初期調(diào)研，預(yù)先調(diào)研[Preliminary study]
協(xié)商合同[Contract negotiation]
可行性研究[Feasibility study]
培訓(xùn)[Training]