在英语中所有的标点符号中,逗号可能是被滥用和误用最多的,这也难怪,因为关于逗号的用法有很多规则,而决定你是否应该使用逗号的因素往往非常微妙。
1. 通常不能用逗号把主语与包含主语要做的动作的动词分开,特别是在写作中,因为添加逗号会使句子显得生硬不自然,例如:✔: Susan’s roommate Rosa planted an apple tree.❌: Susan’s roommate Rosa, planted an apple tree.✔: My friend Cleo is a wonderful singer.❌:My friend Cleo, is a wonderful singer.除了极少的为了提高可读性之外,有些主语很长或很复杂,但通常还是不能用逗号把它与动词分开,例如:✔: Some of the greatest writers in the history of English literature have been women.❌:Some of the greatest writers in the history of English literature, have been women.✔: The things that cause me joy may also cause me pain.❌:The things that cause me joy, may also cause me pain.但是无论如何用逗号把主语与动词直接隔开都不是流行或推荐的做法。2. 不能用逗号把及物动词与其直接宾语分开,例如:✔: I’m glad I trained Charlie not to beg for scraps.❌: I’m glad I trained, Charlie not to beg for scraps.✔: Mary said she likes chocolate.❌: Mary said, she likes chocolate.
不能用逗号分割通过 and 连接两个对等成分而成的复合主语、复合宾语或复合谓语,例如:✔: The cover and the binding of the old book are beginning to disintegrate .❌: The cover, and the binding of the old book are beginning to disintegrate.✔: The book has many pages and illustrations.❌: The book has many pages, and illustrations.✔: The cover of the old book is beginning to fade and disintegrate.❌: The cover of the old book is beginning to fade, and disintegrate.如果句子有被误解的几率,那么要用逗号把复合谓语分开,试比较:a. Cleo spotted the man who entered the diner, and waved.b. Cleo spotted the man who entered the diner and waved.解析:句b会让人误解,因为 waved 的动作可能是 Cleo 发出的,也可能是 the man 发出的,所以用逗号把复合谓语分开。
当连接两个独立的子句时,需要一个连词或分号,或者把两个独立的子句变成两个独立的句子。一个逗号不足以把它们连在一起,例如:❌: We were out of milk, I went to the store.We were out of milk, so I went to the store.We were out of milk; I went to the store.✔: We were out of milk. I went to the store.
当一个句子以副词短语开始时,后面通常会跟一个逗号,但这不是强制的,特别是当副词短语很短的时候。根据经验,如果副词短语长度超过大约四个单词,那么用逗号与后面的分开。当我们想要强调或添加一个停顿的效果时,可以在短的副词短语后面加逗号,例如:Confused by her sister’s sudden change in mood, Jill stayed quiet.同理,如果句子有被误解的几率,那么用逗号把副词短语与后面的分开,例如:
Before eating, the family said grace.解析:此句若不用逗号隔开,则可能会被误解为 eating the family.
在进行比较时,不要在 than 之前使用逗号,例如:✔: This box is lighter than that box.❌: This box is lighter, than that box.✔: Hardcover books are more expensive than paperback books.❌: Hardcover books are more expensive, than paperback books.
打断语是出现在句子中间的小想法,用来表达情感、语气或强调。附加成分是在句子中添加额外信息的短语,但可以在不改变句子含义的情况下删除它们都应该用逗号隔开,例如:Geoff’s cooking skills, if you can call them skills, left something to be desired.杰夫的烹饪技术,如果你可以称之为技术的话,有一些待改进的地方。Mary, unlike Anne, is very organized.
You won’t be away for long, will you?Everyone has been there, haven’t they?
八、逗号与直接称呼
当称呼别人的名字时,用逗号隔开,例如:
Mom, I can’t find my shoes!
妈妈,我找不到我的鞋子了!
Cleo, there’s someone on the phone for you.
克莱奥,有人在给你打电话。
Hello, Chester.
你好,切斯特。
九、逗号与同位语
同位语是指同一个句子中与另一个名词指同一事物的词或短语。通常,同位语提供有关名词的附加信息,或以某种方式帮助区分名词。如果你能在不改变句子意思的情况下去掉同位语,那么它就被认为是不重要的,应该用逗号隔开。如果同位语是必须的,不应该用逗号来隔开,例如:
非必要的同位语:
My sister, Angela, is a wonderful cook.
我妹妹安吉拉是个很棒的厨师。
Chocolate, my favorite treat, always makes me feel better after a bad day.
巧克力,我最喜欢的食物,总是让我在糟糕的一天后感觉更好。
必要的同位语:
Alec Baldwin’s brother Stephen is the most underrated Baldwin.The detective Sherlock Holmes is one of literature’s greatest sleuths.
1. 当以月-日-年格式书写日期时,用逗号将年份隔开,例如:I was born on Sunday, May 12, 1968.2. 当以日-月-年格式书写日期时,没必要用逗号隔开年份,例如:Applications are due by 31 December 2016.3. 当要引用一周中的某一天和某个日期,使用逗号,例如:On Tuesday, April 13, at three o’clock, there will be a meeting for all staff.The region experienced record rainfall in March 1999.
1. 当多个形容词同等程度地修饰一个名词时,它们就是并列的形容词,应该用逗号隔开。判断多个形容词是否是并列的一种方法是试着改变它们的顺序。如果这个句子听起来还是自然的,那么这些形容词是并列的,例如:That man is a pompous, self-righteous, annoying idiot.That man is a self-righteous, annoying, pompous idiot.2. 如果多个形容词不同等程度地修饰一个名词,也即它们不是并列的,那么不能用逗号隔开,例如:✔: The adorable little boy was eating ice cream.❌: The adorable, little boy was eating ice cream.解析:当我们试着改变 adorable 和 little 的顺序时,句子的意思变成:那个小的可爱的男孩正在吃冰激淋,很明显它不符合多个形容词修饰名词的正确顺序。
1. 当 but 连接两个独立的句子时,前面加逗号,例如:
✔: Cleo is a good singer, but she’s an even better dancer.❌: Cleo is a good singer but she’s an even better dancer.2. 当 but 不连接两个独立的句子时,前面不加逗号,例如:✔: My teacher is tough but fair.❌: My teacher is tough, but fair.
1. 当 and 列表中只包含两项时,则不要在 and 之前使用逗号,例如:✔: My dog Charlie is cute and smart.❌: My dog Charlie is cute, and smart.2. 当 and 列表不止包含两项时,用逗号分离这些项,其中 and 之前的逗号是可选的,例如:
✔: Julie loves ice cream, books and kittens.✔: Julie loves ice cream, books, and kittens. (逗号是可选的)❌: Julie loves ice cream books and kittens.注意:and 连接的项可以是名词、动词、形容词或从句等。
十四、逗号与定语从句
1. 限制性定语从句不能用逗号与先行词隔开,例如:✔: The student who sits in the back of the room asks a lot of questions.❌: The student, who sits in the back of the room asks a lot of questions.✔: The building that I was telling you about is just down the road.❌: The building, that I was telling you about is just down the road.2. 非限制性定语从句前面要用逗号与先行词隔开,当还有后续句子时,用逗号与后面的句子隔开,例如:My wife, whom I love dearly, is a brilliant physicist.我的妻子,她是我深爱的人,她是一位杰出的物理学家。My new books, which have black covers, are on the desk.
✔: You can stay either with me or with Janet.❌: You can stay either with me, or with Janet.✔: Tom is not only rich but also famous.❌: Tom is not only rich, but also famous.
1. 当直接引语在句尾时,把逗号放到引言的后面,例如:
2. 当直接引语位于句首时,把逗号放到最后的引号前面,例如:
“I was in London last year,” she said.
“我去年在伦敦,”她说。
3. 当直接引语的句尾是感叹号或是问号时,就不再需要逗号,例如:
“You have a spider on your nose!” my friend yelled.
“你鼻子上有只蜘蛛!”我的朋友喊道。
“Where did that spider come from?” I asked.
✔: The company managers accidentally scheduled the weekly meeting for Saturday.❌: The company managers accidentally scheduled the, weekly meeting for Saturday.
As well as 通常不需要逗号,除非它是非限制性从句的一部分,例如:The principal, as well as the teachers, was called for the meeting.
Coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce, do not drop their needles in the winter.Trees such as pine and spruce do not drop their needles in the winter.
Too 前面的逗号是可选的,若要加逗号,则表示强调,例如:
总的来说,是否需要逗号,主要取决于没有逗号时句子的意思是否发生改变,或语法是否正确。若意思不发生改变且语法也正确,那么就不需要逗号,否则就需要。