AEE 2706: 英语中何时使用“that”

这里是All Ears English播客，第2706集，关于英语中什么时候用that。

This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2706, When to Use That in English.

欢迎收听All Ears English播客，下载量已超过两亿次。

Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times.

你是不是觉得英语学习卡住了？

Are you feeling stuck with your English?

我们会教你如何变得无畏且流利，专注于连接而不是完美，由你的美国主持人Aubrey Carter，雅思专家，和Lindsay McMahon，英语冒险家，从美国亚利桑那州和科罗拉多州为你带来。

We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection not perfection, with your American host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS Wiz, and Lindsay McMahon, the English Adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, USA.

想要每周通过邮件收到文字稿，请访问allearsenglish.com/subscribe。

And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com/subscribe.

你是不是经常听到母语者用that，然后又不用that？

Do you often hear native speakers using the word that, and then not using the word that?

这是怎么回事？

What gives?

今天，我们来搞清楚什么时候可以省略，以及如何做出选择。

Today, find out when it's optional and how to make the choice.

流利不是说要说得很完美。

Fluency is not about speaking perfectly.

而是说能舒服地交流，能毫无压力地分享你的想法，在对话中自然反应，并且用英语表达你的个性。

It's about communicating comfortably, being able to share your ideas without stress, react naturally in conversations, and express your personality in English.

如果英语还是让你觉得需要小心应对，那你可能离下一个流利水平很近了。

If English still feels like something you have to manage carefully, you're probably very close to the next level of fluency.

但一旦你清楚自己处在什么位置，进步就会快得多。

But progress becomes much faster once you know exactly where you stand.

来做个免费的2分钟流利度测试，今天就了解你的英语水平吧。

Take our free two-minute fluency quiz and discover your English level today.

访问 allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore。

Go to allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore.

就是 allearsenglish.com/F-L-U-E-N-C-Y-S-C-O-R-E。

That's allearsenglish.com/F-L-U-E-N-C-Y-S-C-O-R-E.

你好，Aubrey。

Hello, Aubrey.

你今天怎么样？

How are you today?

我很好。

I'm great.

你怎么样，Lindsay？

How are you doing, Lindsay?

我也很好。

I am doing great.

Aubrey，你知道英语比大多数语言拥有的词汇都多吗？

Aubrey, did you know that English has more words than most languages?

我之前不知道，但很高兴你在问题里用了这个，我在回答里也用了。

I did not know that, but I'm excited you both used that in your question, and I used it in my answer.

这可能是——

This might be-

对

Yes

……我们在英语里用得最多的那个词。

... the word that we use most in English.

确实可能是。

It actually might be.

就是那个小词，that。

That little word, that.

它到处都是。

It's everywhere.

它无处不在，对吧？

It's rampant, right?

所以这就是为什么我们今天想专门聊聊它。

So that's why we thought we'd focus on this today.

为什么不呢？

Why not?

对。

Yes.

而且我们经常收到学生关于这个问题的提问。

And we get questions from students about this a lot.

我注意到有时候在一个句子里，母语者会用“that”，但下一句他们可能就不用了，或者别人会省略掉。

I've noticed sometimes in a sentence, a native speaker will use that, and then the next sentence, they'll drop it, or someone else will drop it.

为什么？

Why?

这确实很棘手，所以我们很兴奋——

This is so tricky, so we're excited-

今天能深入探讨这个话题。

... to dive into this today.

对，我们会解答你所有的疑问，听完这期节目，你会感觉更流利，对英语有更深的理解，这是英语中很重要的一部分。

Yeah, we're going to clear up all of your questions, and you'll come out of this episode feeling just more fluent, a deeper understanding of English, an important part of English.

那么，Aubrey——

So Aubrey-

太好了

Excellent

那我们今天从哪里开始呢？

... where shall we start today?

我们最近在问答环节又遇到了这个问题，就是什么时候保留that，什么时候省略它。

So we're answering, this came up again in our Q&A recently, when to leave that and when to drop it.

那我们就来分享几个例子吧。

So just to share a couple examples here.

比如这句话：“I knew she would be here soon.”

This sentence, "I knew she would be here soon."

我们当然也可以说：“I knew that she would be here soon.”

We definitely could say, "I knew that she would be here soon."

意思完全一样，对吧？

There's no difference, right?

那为什么要用that呢？

So why do we use it?

什么时候又不用呢？

When do we drop it?

为了确保我们的听众都明白，我们这里是有选择的，对吧，Aubrey？

So just to be really clear just to make sure our listeners know, so we have the option there, right, Aubrey?

就那个例子来说，是纯粹的个人偏好，还是有什么讲究？

With that example, is it just personal preference, or what is it?

我们接下来会详细讲这个。

We're going to get into this.

这个有点复杂。

This is tricky.

里面有很多内容。

There's a lot to it.

所以我们今天要深入探讨这个词，它有好几种不同的用法。

So we're diving into this word today, where there are a few different ways that we use it.

对于这个，是的，两者是一样的。

And for this, yeah, they're both the same.

它们意思相同，对吧？

They mean the same, right?

那再举一个例子。

So here's another example.

你说过：“你知道吗，英语比大多数语言词汇量都大？”

You said, "Did you know that English has more words than most languages?"

你完全可以说：“你知道吗，英语比大多数语言词汇量都大？”

You definitely could've said, "Did you know English has more words than most languages?"

好的。

Okay.

那我们就来聊聊，是什么让母语者在两种说法之间做选择。

So we're going to share the different things that are making native speakers choose which one to use.

但有时候，用那个词听起来更顺耳。

But sometimes it just sounds better to use that.

有时候，它好像能让意思更清楚。

Sometimes it seems like it clarifies the meaning more.

而有时候，省略它反而更好听。

And sometimes it sounds better to drop it.

所以母语者在选择的时候，更多是凭直觉。

So when native speakers are choosing, it's more instinctual.

就像哪种感觉更好，哪种听起来更顺耳，而不是因为语法规则让我们选这个或那个。

It's like, which feels better, which sounds better, rather than being a grammar rule that's making us choose one or the other.

好的，明白了。

Okay, got it.

好，那我们今天就来讲这个。

All right, so we'll get into this today.

我们会多解释一下什么时候该用那个，什么时候该避免用，对吧？

We'll explain a bit more when to actually use that, and when you should avoid it, right?

对。

Yes.

好的。

All right.

那为什么这对交流很重要呢，Aubrey？

So why does this matter for connection, Aubrey?

这挺有意思的，因为我们在对话中经常用到它。

So this is interesting because we do use it a lot in conversations.

在日常英语里，它出现的频率特别高。

Comes up constantly in everyday English.

我们在谈论自己的感受、想法，或者别人说过的话时，都会用到它，出现得特别频繁。

We use that in sentences when we're talking about what we feel or think, or when talking about things people have said, it comes up so often.

你肯定不希望因为纠结“该不该用那个”而影响你和别人的交流。

And you don't want this to be something that's keeping you from connecting, like, should I use that?

还是不该用呢？

Should I not?

你肯定不想让这种事情阻碍你开口聊天。

You would not want something like this to keep you from starting the conversation.

天哪，当然不会。

Oh my gosh, definitely not.

我们追求的是交流，不是完美。

That's the whole idea here of connection, not perfection.

别把时间花在脑子里犹豫——

Don't spend that time in your head hesitating-

……担心、觉得尴尬。

... worrying, feeling embarrassed.

把时间花在交流上，好吗？

Spend that time connecting, okay?

所以别让这个阻碍你。

So don't let this hold you back.

没错。

Exactly.

所以我们会分享什么时候用它，让你听起来也很自然，然后——

So we'll share when to use it so that you sound natural as well, and then-

……大家就能更容易听懂你在说什么。

... people can always follow what you're saying more easily.

好。

Good.

大家记得点关注哦。

But be sure to hit follow, guys.

我们经常这样讲语法。

We often will tackle grammar like this.

对。

Yes.

就是很细微的那种。

Where it's very subtle.

这更多不是靠语法规则告诉你该怎么做。

It's not so much about a grammar rule determining what you should do.

而是开始去感受什么听起来对、什么听起来自然。

It's more about starting to feel what sounds right and what sounds natural.

完美。

Perfect.

大家现在就点那边的关注按钮吧。

Guys, go ahead and hit that follow button right there.

好的。

All right.

那我们再深入聊聊吧，Aubrey。

So let's get into it a bit more, Aubrey.

所以这个词有很多不同的用法，对吧？

So that is used in many different ways, right?

这是我们首先要知道的。

That's the first thing we have to know.

是的，今天我们重点讲它作为连词的用法。

Yes, and today, we're focusing on how it's used as a conjunction.

好。

Okay.

因为你会发现几乎每句话里都能听到它，而且它的用法特别多。

Because there's a reason you hear that in almost every sentence, and there are a lot of different uses for it.

所以我们今天讲的是它作为连词的情况，连词就是连接句子两个部分的词。

So here we're talking about when we use it as a conjunction, that is a word that connects two parts of a sentence.

所以，你有一个想法、动词或名词短语，连接到另一个从句，这时候我们就是用那个来连接它们的。

So you've got an idea, a verb, or a noun phrase being connected to another clause, and that's when we're using that to connect these.

好的，比如，我知道她很快就会到。

Okay, so for example, I knew that she would be here soon.

或者，“你知道他们已经结婚了吗？”

Or, "Did you know that they were married?"

或者，“他说他累了。”

Or, "He said that he was tired."

好的。

Okay.

注意，所有这些例子中，那个词都可以省略。

And notice how for all of these, you could leave that out.

你可以说，“我知道她很快就会到。”

You could say, "I knew she would be here soon."

“你知道他们已经结婚了吗？”

"Did you know they were married?"

他说他累了。

"He said he was tired."

所以，这个有点难。

So, this is tricky.

我们来看看这里的语法结构。

Let's look at the grammar structure here.

好的，是的。

Okay, yes.

所以，通常或者说经常，我们会说动词加that再加从句。

So, usually or often, we say the verb plus that plus the clause.

对吧？

Okay?

那我们来看看哪些动词经常这样跟that连用，对吧？

So let's look at the types of verbs that are often used with that this way, right?

对。

Yes.

它经常用在表示思考或知道的词后面。

It's often used after words about thinking or knowing.

好的。

Okay.

比如，think that。

So for example, think that.

“我觉得她对这个游戏越来越没兴趣了。”

"I think that she's losing interest in this game."

或者知道，对吧？

Or knowing, right?

knowing that。

Knowing that.

“我知道你很快就要走了，但我希望你能留下来。”

"I know that you have to leave soon, but I'm hoping you'll stay."

或者forget that。

Or forget that.

我忘了你明天有出差。

"I forgot that you had a work trip tomorrow."

或者“sure that”。

Or sure that.

我确定你考试考得很好。

"I'm sure that you aced the test."

这些词后面经常加“that”。

These, it's common to add that after.

对。

Yes.

或者我们可能在表达沟通的词后面用它。

Or we might use it after communication words.

比如说，“said that”。

So for example, said that.

我说过我可能去不了，但我会尽力。

"I said that I probably couldn't make it, but I'd try my best."

或者说“告诉”，告诉某人某事。

Or tell that, tell someone that.

“他告诉我他得了流感。”

"He told me that he had the flu."

它也可以用在和你所知道的事情相关的词后面。

And it can also be used after words relating to what you're aware of.

所以我们就是在分类，各位。

So we're just finding buckets here, guys.

就是“that”这个词常用的几种情况。

Buckets of when it's commonly used, the word that.

和你所知道的事情相关的词。

Words relating to what you're aware of.

比如听到什么，对吧？

Heard something, right?

听到说……

Heard that.

我听说他们现在在约会。

"I heard that they were dating now."

对。

Exactly.

或者注意到。

Or noticed.

注意到那个。

Noticed that.

我注意到你总是把甜点里的葡萄干挑出来。

"I noticed that you always pick the raisins out of your dessert."

是的。

Yes.

对。

Yes.

还有一些常见的短语，你经常会听到和that一起用的固定搭配。

And there are some common phrases, common chunks that you'll hear that with.

比如说，我很高兴，或者我很开心。

For example, I'm glad that, or I'm happy that.

“我很高兴我们今天能见面。”

"I'm glad that we were able to meet up today."

对。

Yes.

对，没错。

Yeah, exactly.

或者“the fact that”，对吧？

Or the fact that, right?

“这个周末要下雨这件事让我很失望。”

"The fact that it's going to rain this weekend disappoints me."

没错。

Exactly.

但你不一定非要在这些句子里用那个结构。

But you don't always have to use that in these sentences.

两种说法在语法上都是对的。

It can be grammatically correct either way.

更多是听起来的感觉。

It's more about how it sounds.

好的。

All right.

那我们在这里稍微休息一下，Aubrey，然后回来再聊一会儿。

So let's take a quick break here, Aubrey, and then we'll come back and talk a bit more.

好吗？

Okay?

好的。

All right.

理解英语和参与英语对话之间有很大的区别。

There's a big difference between understanding English and participating in English.

理解意味着你能跟上对话。

Understanding means you follow the conversation.

参与就是加入你的想法，自然地回应，让对话继续下去。

You participate by adding your ideas, reacting naturally, and keeping the conversation moving.

很多英语学习者听力很好，但开口说的时候却犹豫不决。

Many English learners are strong listeners, but hesitant speakers.

一旦你知道了自己目前的流利程度，缩小这个差距就容易多了。

Once you know your current fluency level, it becomes much easier to close that gap.

参加我们免费的2分钟小测验，了解你的水平以及接下来该重点提升什么。

Take our free two-minute quiz to discover your level and what to focus on next.

访问 allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore。

Go to allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore.

就是 allearsenglish.com/F-L-U-E-N-C-Y-S-C-O-R-E。

That's allearsenglish.com/F-L-U-E-N-C-Y-S-C-O-R-E.

好的。

All right.

所以，奥布里，有时候我们会省略它。

So, sometimes we drop it, Aubrey.

跟我们说说这个。

Tell us about this.

对。

Exactly.

而且我们这样做，是因为这样听起来更好或更自然，就像有时候我们加上它，也是因为听起来更好或更自然。

And we do this when it sounds better or more natural, for the same way-

……就像有时候我们加上它，也是因为听起来更好或更自然。

... that sometimes we add it because it sounds better or more natural.

我一直在想我们用的这些例子，尤其是那些比较短的句子。

I was kind of thinking of some of these examples we were using, and the shorter sentences especially.

比如，“他告诉我他得了流感。”

Example, "He told me that he had the flu."

如果我把那个词去掉……

If I drop that-

……感觉就断断续续的，对吧？

... it feels so much choppier, right?

他告诉我他得了流感。

"He told me he had the flu."

这很大程度上关乎语言的节奏。

It's a lot about the rhythm of language.

我们加上那个词是为了让句子更有节奏感。

We're adding that to give a little more rhythm to that sentence.

挺有意思的。

It's interesting.

如果你说“告诉我他”，听起来会很奇怪。

And it feels weird if you say, "Told me he."

他告诉我他。

He told me he.

而不是——

Instead of-

可能是因为元音碰撞吧，对吧？

It's probably the bumping vowels, right?

我，他。

Me, he.

对，就是元音碰撞。

It's the bumping vowels, yes.

我们加上那个来把它们分开。

We add that to break those up.

有意思。

Interesting.

确实。

For sure.

那对于短句子呢？

What about for shorter sentences, though?

这样容易理解，也不会造成混淆。

So they're easy to understand, and it doesn't cause confusion.

比如，“我觉得你是对的。”

So for example, "I think you're right."

这里我们不需要那个“that”。

We don't need that that here.

对，确实不需要。

No, you really don't.

我觉得你是对的。

I think that you're right.

感觉没必要。

It feels unnecessary.

所以，还是那句话，关键看听起来怎么样。

So it's really, again, about how it sounds.

我们也可以说“她说她累了”，而不是“她说她累了”。

We could also say, "She said she's tired," instead of saying, "She said that she's tired."

她说她累了。

She said she's tired.

明白了吗？

Okay?

对，就是这样。

Yeah, exactly.

我觉得句子越短，越……

I think the shorter the sentence, the more-

……就像你不会失去句子的主线。

... it's like you're not losing the thread of the sentence.

它已经又短又简洁，所以我们不需要……

It's already short and concise, so we don't need-

……用那个“that”来澄清什么，或者给句子增加节奏，对吧？

... the that in there to clarify anything or to create more rhythm within the sentence, right?

或者……

Or-

另一个例子，“我知道她走了。”

Another example, "I know she left."

我不需要说“我知道她走了”里的“that”。

I don't need to say, "I know that she left."

就是感觉多余，感觉累赘，感觉没必要。

It just feels redundant, it feels extra, it feels unnecessary.

但再说一次，别忘了，如果你想加进去，也可以。

But again, don't forget, if you want to put it in there, you can too.

我们可以说——

We can say-

这语法上没错。

It's not grammatically incorrect

……“我知道她离开了。”

... "I know that she left."

这语法上没错。

It's not grammatically incorrect.

没问题。

It's okay.

只是你有选择把它去掉。

It's just you have the option to take it off.

“我相信他会来。”

"I believe he's coming."

“我相信他会来。”

"I believe that he's coming."

“我相信他会来。”

"I believe he's coming."

或者，“我听说它关门了。”

Or, "I heard it's closed."

说“我听说它关门了”也没错。

It's not wrong to say, "I heard that it's closed."

作为母语者，我们通常不会在这么短的句子里选择用那个词。

As native speakers, we're not normally going to choose that for a short sentence like this.

我们常常想用更少的词来表达，节省时间，而且当句子——

We are often trying to say things with less words, save time, and when it's-

……已经很短、很简洁的时候，那个词就没那么必要了。

... already a short, concise sentence, that isn't needed as much.

我们这么说吧。

Let's put it this way.

它不会增加太多价值——

It doesn't add a lot of value-

……放在那些简短、快速、简单的句子里。

... putting that in those short, quick, easy sentences.

对吧？

Okay?

这不算错。

It's not wrong.

但它在什么时候能增加价值呢？

But where does it add value?

我们什么时候真正需要用它，或者应该用它？

When do we actually need to use it, or should we use it?

所以这就是我们需要它的时候，当句子很长或很复杂的时候，对吧？

So this is when we need it, when the sentence is long or complex, right?

好的。

Okay.

这能帮助听者分清思路，更容易跟上。

It helps the listener separate the ideas and follow more easily.

好的。

Okay.

一方面是有助于把握节奏，另一方面也能把从句分开，让听的人更容易理解在说什么。

Part of it's helping with that rhythm and also separating clauses to make it easier to follow what's being said.

好的。

Okay.

所以听起来是这样的。

So what this sounds like is this.

“我意识到，经过所有的会议、延误和最后一刻的变动，我们无法按时完成。”

"I realized that after all the meetings, delays, and last-minute changes, we would not finish on time."

其实从语法上讲，我也可以说：“我意识到经过所有的会议、延误和最后一刻的变动，我们无法按时完成。”

Now, I technically could say, "I realized after all the meetings, delays, and last-minute changes, we would not finish on time."

对吧，Aubrey？

Right, Aubrey?

从语法上讲，我能这么说吗？

Could I say that grammatically?

可以。

Yes.

对。

Yep.

两种说法都符合语法。

Both are grammatical.

我们经常在这里加那个词是有原因的，因为这句话太长了，这个想法太长了——

There's a reason we would often add that here, and it's because this is such a long sentence, such a long thought-

……那个词就像个路标。

... that that is like a signpost.

它就像一个标记，它——

It's like a marker that's-

……给你句子的节奏和结构，这样我们的大脑就能更紧密地跟上所说的内容。

... giving you the rhythm, the structure of a sentence, so that our brain can follow more closely what's being said

奥布里，你能再给我们举一个这种长句子的例子吗，就是需要路标的那种？

Can you give us another example, Aubrey, of this long, where we need signposts?

好的。

Yes.

她解释说，因为系统已经更新了好几次，一些旧的数据就不再可用了。

She explained that because the system had been updated multiple times, some of the older data wouldn't be available anymore.

那真是挺多的——

That's a lot-

而且这里，我特别会加上它。

And this especially, I would add it here.

如果我只说“她解释说因为系统已经更新了”

If I just say, "She explained because the system had been updated"

……这对听的人来说会很难跟上，对吧？

... this would be hard for a listener to follow, right?

这并不算语法错误，但加上那个词会让句子结构更清晰，意思也更明确。

It's not ungrammatical, but it makes so much more sense, it clarifies the structure and meaning of the sentence to add that.

好的，不错。

Okay, good.

所以，另一个适合加这个词的场合是在更正式的写作中，比如学术写作、专业写作、专业邮件，说实话，这时候更看重的是准确性，而不是表达的自然流畅。

So another time when it makes sense to add it is in more formal writing, academic writing, professional writing, a professional email, where honestly, it's less about the delivery, less about the natural speech, and more about accuracy.

比如，学生理解这个过程是很重要的。

So, for example, it is important that students understand the process.

有意思的是，加上这个词会让它听起来更正式、更学术，更像书面英语。

It's interesting how this makes it sound a little bit more formal, academic, more for written English.

如果你只说“学生理解这个过程很重要”，那听起来就非常随意，就像日常口语，对吧？

If you just say, "It is important students understand the process," that sounds very informal, very much just like spoken speech, right?

对。

Yes.

而加上“that”之后，这才是我会写出来的句子。

Whereas adding the that, now that's something I would write.

奥布里，再举一个正式的例子吧？

What would be another example, Aubrey, of something formal?

看来还需要进一步研究。

It seems that further research is needed.

这也是个很好的例子，因为如果你只说“看来还需要进一步研究”，语法上没错，但听起来就随意一些。

Another really good example, because if you just say, "It seems further research is needed," that's not ungrammatical, it's correct, but it just sounds a little more casual.

对，我很喜欢这个例子。

Yes, love it.

所以各位，关键就在于选择。

So guys, it's all about options.

在英语里，插入“that”有很多选择，但更多取决于你希望表达得流畅自然还是更正式，对吧？

You have a lot of options in the English language when it comes to inserting that, but it's a bit about a feeling of how you want to communicate smoothly or more formally, right?

是的，这其实是个很好的小技巧，可以想想句子的长度。

Yes, and this is a great sort of a pro tip to think about sentence length.

句子有多简单？

How simple is the sentence?

句子越简单，就越不需要那个。

The simpler the sentence, the less it's going to need that.

那些又长又复杂的句子，就需要它来让意思更清楚。

Those longer, complex sentences, it's going to need it more to clarify.

而且在书面英语里，你也会更常听到它。

And then as with written English, you're going to hear it more.

我们来做个角色扮演吧——

But let's do a role play-

看看我们怎么用这个。

... where we'll see how we'll use this.

你和我在这里是朋友，我们刚度假回来。

You and I are friends here, we just returned from a vacation.

好的。

Okay.

你会听到几个句子，在这些句子里我们可以用那个，也可以不用。

And you'll hear a few sentences here where we could use that or remove it.

我们做角色扮演的时候，会把这些地方标出来。

When we go through the role play, we'll kind of highlight those.

好的，那我们开始吧。

Yes, all right, here we go.

我累坏了。

I'm exhausted.

我没想到回来要花这么长时间。

I didn't realize getting back would take so long.

嗯，我知道航班要五个多小时，但没想到去机场的路上会堵成这样。

Well, I knew that the flight was over five hours, but I didn't realize there would be so much traffic on the way to the airport.

唉，我也是。

Ugh, same.

我听说周末总是更糟，但没想到会这么严重。

I heard that weekends are always worse, but I didn't think it would be that bad.

是啊，我觉得我都忘了坐那么久有多累。

I know, and I feel like I forgot how tiring it is just sitting for that long.

说来也怪，坐着反而更累。

Somehow, sitting makes you even more exhausted.

终于到家了，真开心。

I'm glad we're finally home.

下次咱们试试订工作日的航班，避开机场高峰。

Next time, let's try to book our flight on a weekday to avoid the airport rush.

嗯，听起来不错。

Hmm, sounds good.

哦，对。

Oh, yeah.

现在机场都挤得不行，太疯狂了。

All the airports are so crowded these days, it's crazy.

天哪。

Oh my gosh.

我好久没去机场了，所以只能信你了。

I haven't been in an airport for a while, so I'm going to have to believe you.

对，确实是这样。

Yeah, it's true.

丹佛机场真的很拥挤。

DIA is really crowded.

天哪。

Oh my gosh.

人山人海的。

Crawling with people.

所以，我对这个话题真的很有共鸣。

So, I resonate with this conversation for sure.

所以这里有一些场景，我们当时没有用到那个，但其实可以用。

So here, we have some scenarios where we didn't use that, but we could have.

没错。

Exactly.

首先，我没想到回来会花这么长时间。

So first of all, I didn't realize getting back would take so long.

这句话其实挺简单的。

So this is a simple enough sentence.

我们真的不需要加什么。

We don't really need to add.

如果说“我没意识到回来要花这么长时间”，听起来会稍微正式一点。

It does sound a little bit more formal to say, "I didn't realize that getting back would take so long."

对，如果你想显得稍微正式一点，可以这么说。

Yeah, and you could do it if you want to sound slightly more formal.

比如你在跟同事说话，而不是跟朋友。

Maybe you're talking to your coworker as opposed to your friend.

我不确定在那种情况下我会不会做这种区分，严格来说，对吧？

I'm not sure if I would make that distinction there, that technically, right?

但你可以这么做。

But you could.

我没意识到回来要花这么长时间。

I didn't realize that getting back would take so long.