Eating together

chopsticks are only used when people eat chinese food. knives and forks are used for most food. the fork is held in your left hand and the knife in you r right, and the food is held with the fork and cut with the knife. americans often cut all their food first, and then put the fork in their right hand to eat it. soup is drunk with a spoon. however, there’s some food which can be eaten with your fingers, such as chicken legs, seafood, bread and cake.
be used for
be used to do
be used as
be used by
at the start of a meal, if you’re the guest, you’ll be invited to serve yourself （“help yourself!”）, or your plate will be filled by your host （“can i serve you?”）. if you’ve been given something you don’t like, it should be pushed to the edge of the plate and left. you don’t have to say why, but if you feel an explanation is required, just say, “i’m sorry. i can’t eat this.” no one will be cross. if you’re offered more food, but can’t eat any more, just say, “no, thanks. it was delicious, but i’ve had enough.”
help oneself to+ 食物
no one will be cross. adj. 生氣的，發怒的
get/ be cross with sb.
be cross at sth.
generally, fewer dishes are prepared than in china. it isn’t thought to be so important to offer too much food.
it is + 過去分詞+ to be + adj. + to do sth.
finally, it’s sometimes difficult to know when the meal is over. if you’ve been invited to dinner by western friends, you’ll know that you’re expected to stay and talk around the dinner table long after the last dish has been brought to the table, and it’s thought quite rude if you leave as soon as you finish eating.
over
finish+ doing
the golden rule is: watch the other people. do as they do.