说到标点符号的用法,估计很多人当年或者正在学习英语时,都会很有感触,而且大多人的感触基本是:
1、老师基本没有系统教过,所以就是想着怎么用就怎么用了;
2、想学习标点符号的用法,但一直找不到适合的学习材料。
如果是这样,那就请大家跟着我一起来重新学习标点符号的用法吧。
英语中的标点符号很多,用法也繁简不一,今天就先从用法最为繁杂的逗号学起吧。
说起逗号的用法,其功能之强大,小编我是深有体会的,因为当年我的硕士毕业论文就是有关英汉语逗号的比较研究的,有兴趣的朋友可以到中国知网上查阅一下:http://cdmd.cnki.com.cn/Article/CDMD-10269-2004087335.htm。
记得当年答辩的时候,前后不到15分钟,考官们就让我出来了;一开始还担心得要死,以为要被“枪毙”了,后来我的导师告诉我,因为我的主题考官们都没怎么做过研究,问不出什么问题,所以就象征性地问了几个数据问题,就直接让我过了,哈哈!
好了,言归正传!接下来我就跟大家分享一下英语里逗号的基本用法。我们先来看看《新概念英语》第一册第137课的课文:
不知大家有没有注意到,课文中所有if条件句开头的句子中,if条件句都没有用逗号隔开。这在英语里实际上是一种错误,是有关逗号的用法错误。此外,课文中的最后一句话中的It's a pleasant dream后面也应该用逗号。
为什么?
请从下面的逗号用法规则中查找答案:
(一)单词和短语间
1、当有三个或三个以上并列的单词或短语时,这些单词或短语要用逗号隔开,而且最后一个单词或短语一般都会用and或or连接,如:
My estate goes to my husband, son, daughter-in-law, and nephew.
需要注意的是,这组并列的单词或短语的最后两个单词或短语,一般要用逗号隔开,这个逗号被称作牛津逗号(Oxford comma)。大部分报纸或杂志会省略这个逗号,但有的时候会因此引起歧义,如:
We had coffee, cheese and crackers and grapes.
句中的cheese and crackers其实指的是一道菜,所以最好在crackers后面加上逗号,即:
We had coffee, cheese and crackers,and grapes.
2、当两个前置形容词并列且可以调换顺序时,要用逗号隔开,如:
He is a strong, healthy man. vs. He is a healthy, strong man.
如果两个形容词的位置是不可调换的,则不能用逗号,如:
We stayed at an expensive summer resort.
我们不能说:We stayed at a summer expensive resort.
所以,也不能用逗号隔开两个形容词。
(二)句子之间
1、逗号粘连错误(Comma Splice),指的是有的作者会用逗号隔开两个独立的句子,如:
He walked all the way home, he shut the door.
这在英语里是不允许的,应该通过改变标点符号或是增加连接词改为:
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、两个独立的句子如果用and, but, 或者or等词连接起来时,一般要在前一句话的末尾插入逗号,如:
He walked all the way home, and he shut the door.
注意:如果两个独立的句子都很短的时候,很多作者都不加逗号,如:
I paint and he writes.
3、如果前后两个句子的主语是一样的,则无需在前一个句子末尾插入逗号,如:
He thought quickly but still did not answer correctly.
注意:这种情况也有例外,需要加上逗号,以避免产生歧义,如:
【有歧义】I saw that she was busy and prepared to leave.
【无歧义】I saw that she was busy, and prepared to leave.
(三)句首开头
1、如果是以从句开头,则要在从句末尾用逗号隔开,如:
If you are not sure about this, let me know now.
2、如果开头的是介绍性短语,一般也要用逗号隔开,如:
Having finally arrived in town, we went shopping.
注意:如果这个介绍性短语只有三四个单词而且意思很明确,则无需用逗号隔开,如:
When in town we go shopping.
但是,如果会因此引起歧义,则需加上逗号,如:
Last Sunday, evening classes were canceled.
如果不加逗号,读者可能就会以为句子的主语是:last Sunday evening classes,而不是evening classes了。
3、如果介绍性短语是以介词开头引导的,则无论这个短语包含多少个单词,都无需用逗号隔开,如:
Into the sparkling crystal ball he gazed.
注意:如果开头的引导词有两个介词,则要看情况来决定是否要用逗号:
(1)介词后面如果紧跟动词谓语,则不用逗号,如:
Between your house on Main Street and my house on Grand Avenue is the mayor's mansion.
(2)介词后面如果跟的是句子的主语,则要用逗号,如:
Between your house on Main Street and my house on Grand Avenue, the mayor's mansion stands proudly.
4、如果句子开头时主句,后面紧跟从句,则主句末尾无需使用逗号,如:
Let me know now if you are not sure about this.
(四)次要成分
1、同位语,如:
My best friend, Joe, arrived.
The three items, a book, a pen, and paper, were on the table.
2、非限定性定语从句,如:
Jill, who is my sister, shut the door.
3、分词短语,如:
The man, knowing it was late, hurried home.
(五)其他用法
1、用在well, yes, why, hello, hey等呼语后面,如:
Why, I can't believe this!
No, you can't have a dollar.
2、用于隔开nevertheless, after all, by the way, on the other hand, however等插入语,如:
I am, by the way, very nervous about this.
3、用于隔开人名、外号、昵称或者头衔,如:
Will you, Aisha, do that assignment for me?
Yes, old friend, I will.
Good day, Captain.
4、用于隔开年月日,如:
It was in the Sun's June 5, 2003, edition.
注意:如果只有年和月,则无需用逗号,如:
It was in a June 2003 article.
5、用于隔开不同级别的行政区域,如:
I'm from the Akron, Ohio, area.
6、如果人名后跟有头衔或学历,则一般要在姓氏后面加上逗号,如:
Al Mooney, Sr., is here.
Al Mooney, M.D., is here.
7、在直接引语的说话者或提问者的动词后面要加上逗号,如:
He said, "I don't care."
"Why," I asked, "don't you care?"
注意:
1)如果直接引语只有一个单词,则不用逗号,如:
He said "Stop."
2)如果直接引语在说话者之前,且是陈述句,直接引语的句末要用逗号,如:
"I don't care," he said.
"Stop," he said.
3)如果只是转引某人的话,则不用逗号,如:
Is "I don't care" all you can say to me?
Saying "Stop the car" was a mistake.
8、用于隔开反意疑问句,如:
I can go, can't I?
9、用于隔开前后两个形成鲜明对照的成分,如:
That is my money, not yours.
10、用于隔开namely, that is, i.e., e.g., and for instance等表示举例说明的引导性短语,如:
You may be required to bring many items, e.g., sleeping bags, pans, and warm clothing.
11、用于隔开etc.,而且前后都要用逗号隔开,如:
Sleeping bags, pans, warm clothing, etc., are in the tent.
****************************************************
如果您认为本文对你有帮助,欢迎并感谢大家多多转发分享本文!
有话要说...