我很喜欢看书，但是书太贵了，所以我经常去图书馆借书。
I love reading, but books are too expensive, so I often go to the library to borrow them.
星期六上午，我骑自行车去了学校旁边的图书馆。
On Saturday morning, I rode my bike to the library next to the school.
我想借的那本书很有名，可是我找了半天也没找到。
The book I wanted to borrow is very famous, but I searched for ages and still couldn't find it.
我问工作人员：“请问，那本书在哪儿？”
I asked the staff member: "Excuse me, where is that book?"
她说：“那本书被人借走了，下星期一才会还回来。”
She said: "That book has been borrowed by someone; it won't be back until next Monday."
我先借了两本别的书，然后把名字写在借书卡上。
I first borrowed two other books, then wrote my name on the library card.
工作人员告诉我，一本书可以借一个月，到时间一定要还。
The staff member told me a book can be borrowed for one month, and it must be returned on time.
下星期一我要再去一次，希望能借到那本有名的书。
Next Monday I'll go one more time — I hope I can get that famous book.
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Key words 生词
借jièto borrow
还huánto return (sth)
图书馆túshūguǎnlibrary
有名yǒumíngfamous
工作人员gōngzuò rényuánstaff member
借书卡jièshūkǎlibrary card
Grammar note 语法点
A + 被 (+ B) + verb
The 被 passive puts the thing acted on first; the doer comes after 被 and can be vague, like 人 'someone'. For example, 书被人借走了 means 'the book was borrowed by someone'.
那本书被人借走了。 — That book has been borrowed by someone.
先……，然后……
先…然后… links two actions in order: 'first ..., then ...'. Each part is a full verb phrase, e.g. 先吃饭，然后看书.
我先借了两本别的书，然后把名字写在借书卡上。 — I first borrowed two other books, then wrote my name on the library card.
……才 + verb
才 marks that something happens later than hoped or expected — 'not until'. It goes right before the verb, e.g. 他十点才起床.
那本书下星期一才会还回来。 — The book won't be returned until next Monday.
Check yourself 小测验
1. Why does the narrator often borrow books from the library?
2. Why couldn't he find the famous book?
3. How long can a book be borrowed for?