說到標點符號的用法,估計很多人當年或者正在學習英語時,都會很有感觸,而且大多人的感觸基本是:
1、老師基本沒有系統教過,所以就是想著怎麼用就怎麼用了;
2、想學習標點符號的用法,但一直找不到適合的學習材料。
如果是這樣,那就請大家跟著我一起來重新學習標點符號的用法吧。
英語中的標點符號很多,用法也繁簡不一,今天就先從用法最為繁雜的逗號學起吧。
說起逗號的用法,其功能之強大,小編我是深有體會的,因為當年我的碩士畢業論文就是有關英漢語逗號的比較研究的,有興趣的朋友可以到中國知網上查閱一下:http://cdmd.cnki.com.cn/Article/CDMD-10269-2004087335.htm。
記得當年答辯的時候,前後不到15分鐘,考官們就讓我出來了;一開始還擔心得要死,以為要被「槍斃」了,後來我的導師告訴我,因為我的主題考官們都沒怎麼做過研究,問不出什麼問題,所以就象徵性地問了幾個數據問題,就直接讓我過了,哈哈!
好了,言歸正傳!接下來我就跟大家分享一下英語裡逗號的基本用法。我們先來看看《新概念英語》第一冊第137課的課文:
不知大家有沒有注意到,課文中所有if條件句開頭的句子中,if條件句都沒有用逗號隔開。這在英語裡實際上是一種錯誤,是有關逗號的用法錯誤。此外,課文中的最後一句話中的It's a pleasant dream後面也應該用逗號。
為什麼?
請從下面的逗號用法規則中查找答案:
(一)單詞和短語間
1、當有三個或三個以上並列的單詞或短語時,這些單詞或短語要用逗號隔開,而且最後一個單詞或短語一般都會用and或or連接,如:
My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew.
需要注意的是,這組並列的單詞或短語的最後兩個單詞或短語,一般要用逗號隔開,這個逗號被稱作牛津逗號(Oxford comma)。大部分報紙或雜誌會省略這個逗號,但有的時候會因此引起歧義,如:
We had coffee, cheese and crackers and grapes.
句中的cheese and crackers其實指的是一道菜,所以最好在crackers後面加上逗號,即:
We had coffee, cheese and crackers, and grapes.
2、當兩個前置形容詞並列且可以調換順序時,要用逗號隔開,如:
He is a strong, healthy man. vs. He is a healthy, strong man.
如果兩個形容詞的位置是不可調換的,則不能用逗號,如:
We stayed at an expensive summer resort.
我們不能說:We stayed at a summer expensive resort.
所以,也不能用逗號隔開兩個形容詞。
(二)句子之間
1、逗號粘連錯誤(Comma Splice),指的是有的作者會用逗號隔開兩個獨立的句子,如:
He walked all the way home, he shut the door.
這在英語裡是不允許的,應該通過改變標點符號或是增加連接詞改為:
He walked all the way home. He shut the door.
After he walked all the way home, he shut the door.
He walked all the way home, and he shut the door.
2、兩個獨立的句子如果用and, but, 或者or等詞連接起來時,一般要在前一句話的末尾插入逗號,如:
He walked all the way home, and he shut the door.
注意:如果兩個獨立的句子都很短的時候,很多作者都不加逗號,如:
I paint and he writes.
3、如果前後兩個句子的主語是一樣的,則無需在前一個句子末尾插入逗號,如:
He thought quickly but still did not answer correctly.
注意:這種情況也有例外,需要加上逗號,以避免產生歧義,如:
【有歧義】I saw that she was busy and prepared to leave.
【無歧義】I saw that she was busy, and prepared to leave.
(三)句首開頭
1、如果是以從句開頭,則要在從句末尾用逗號隔開,如:
If you are not sure about this, let me know now.
2、如果開頭的是介紹性短語,一般也要用逗號隔開,如:
Having finally arrived in town, we went shopping.
注意:如果這個介紹性短語只有三四個單詞而且意思很明確,則無需用逗號隔開,如:
When in town we go shopping.
但是,如果會因此引起歧義,則需加上逗號,如:
Last Sunday, evening classes were canceled.
如果不加逗號,讀者可能就會以為句子的主語是:last Sunday evening classes,而不是evening classes了。
3、如果介紹性短語是以介詞開頭引導的,則無論這個短語包含多少個單詞,都無需用逗號隔開,如:
Into the sparkling crystal ball he gazed.
注意:如果開頭的引導詞有兩個介詞,則要看情況來決定是否要用逗號:
(1)介詞後面如果緊跟動詞謂語,則不用逗號,如:
Between your house on Main Street and my house on Grand Avenue is the mayor's mansion.
(2)介詞後面如果跟的是句子的主語,則要用逗號,如:
Between your house on Main Street and my house on Grand Avenue, the mayor's mansion stands proudly.
4、如果句子開頭時主句,後面緊跟從句,則主句末尾無需使用逗號,如:
Let me know now if you are not sure about this.
(四)次要成分
1、同位語,如:
My best friend, Joe, arrived.
The three items, a book, a pen, and paper, were on the table.
2、非限定性定語從句,如:
Jill, who is my sister, shut the door.
3、分詞短語,如:
The man, knowing it was late, hurried home.
(五)其他用法
1、用在well, yes, why, hello, hey等呼語後面,如:
Why, I can't believe this!
No, you can't have a dollar.
2、用於隔開nevertheless, after all, by the way, on the other hand, however等插入語,如:
I am, by the way, very nervous about this.
3、用於隔開人名、外號、暱稱或者頭銜,如:
Will you, Aisha, do that assignment for me?
Yes, old friend, I will.
Good day, Captain.
4、用於隔開年月日,如:
It was in the Sun's June 5, 2003, edition.
注意:如果只有年和月,則無需用逗號,如:
It was in a June 2003 article.
5、用於隔開不同級別的行政區域,如:
I'm from the Akron, Ohio, area.
6、如果人名後跟有頭銜或學歷,則一般要在姓氏後面加上逗號,如:
Al Mooney, Sr., is here.
Al Mooney, M.D., is here.
7、在直接引語的說話者或提問者的動詞後面要加上逗號,如:
He said, "I don't care."
"Why," I asked, "don't you care?"
注意:
1)如果直接引語只有一個單詞,則不用逗號,如:
He said "Stop."
2)如果直接引語在說話者之前,且是陳述句,直接引語的句末要用逗號,如:
"I don't care," he said.
"Stop," he said.
3)如果只是轉引某人的話,則不用逗號,如:
Is "I don't care" all you can say to me?
Saying "Stop the car" was a mistake.
8、用於隔開反意疑問句,如:
I can go, can't I?
9、用於隔開前後兩個形成鮮明對照的成分,如:
That is my money, not yours.
10、用於隔開namely, that is, i.e., e.g., and for instance等表示舉例說明的引導性短語,如:
You may be required to bring many items, e.g., sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.
11、用於隔開etc.,而且前後都要用逗號隔開,如:
Sleeping bags, pans, warm clothing, etc., are in the tent.
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