標點符號的運用（Punctuation）  

     當我們說話時，會提高音亮來加強語氣，會停頓來表示語意說畢，而在文字表達上，標點符號便擔當著重要的角色，例如：表示句子完結，詢問句，對話等。有時候，標點符號更可將說話時較難表達的意思提出來，如直接引述別人的語句或文章。如果要讀者明白文章內容，便須正確運用標點符號了。

第一課：逗號 Comma  ,

逗號是最常用也最常用錯的標點符號，其中一個最常見的用法是分開子句（clauses）及短語（phrases）。

（1） 將逗號放於連接詞之前a coordinating conjunction（for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so）*，連繫兩獨立子句（independent clauses）。

* 可記著：fan boys

例子：

1. The shopkeeper closed his store early, for he wanted to get home.
2. The sky became dark gray, and the air stilled ominously.
3. We cannot expect our laws to be better than we are, nor can we expect our leaders to have higher standards than we have.   （原句子：We cannot expect our laws to be better than we are. We cannot expect our laws to be better than we are.）         注意：第二子句中要刪除 not 及次序倒轉。
4. The facts are important, but the truth is essential.
5. High winds will start, or thick snow will begin soon.
6. People on the road tried to reach safety, yet a few unlucky ones were stranded.
7. It was raining heavily, so they gave up dining out.

注意（一）：如果子句太短及意思相近，可以不用逗號，不過，一般來說，還是使用它較安全。

例子：  It is dark and I am alone. 

注意（二）：留意在 compound predicate (double verb) 的句子，不須使用逗號。

例子：

    Learning a new language demands time and patience.

    The counselors listen to and help many students.

（2） 將逗號放在 an introductory subordinate clause, phrase, or word 之後。

1. Introductory clause:

Though it was hard to believe, the story was true.

2. Introductory phrase:

Eating being enjoyable, we tend to eat more than we need for fuel.

Contrary to popular opinion, this solution is the best.

3. Introductory word:

No, you can't go there.

For example, a car's horn can alert rescuers as far as a mile downwind.

（3） 以逗號分開句子內的 words, phrases, clauses。

例子：

   She asked her son to make up and label drawers for each of the following items: toys, stationery, accessories, games, and books.

注意：除特殊情況下，一般來說，在一連串分隔項目中，不要將逗號放在第一項之前或最後一項之後。

錯誤句子：Many writers, artists, composers, have indulged in daydreaming.

正確句子：Many writers, artists, composers have indulged in daydreaming.

（4） 以逗號來分隔「並列的形容詞」 coordinate adjectives（兩個或以上形容詞用以修飾名詞noun 或 noun group）:

     coordinate adjective, coordinate adjective noun

例子：

The large, restless crowd waited impatiently for the World Cup to begin.

注意（一）：不要將逗號最後一個形容詞之後，即以上例子中 restless 及 crowd 之間並沒有逗號。

注意（二）：如果兩個形容詞不是修飾同一名詞或不是並列的coordinate，不能在兩者之間放逗號。

錯誤句子：We replaced our old, manual typewriter.

正確句子：We replaced our old manual typewriter.

（5）以逗號來分隔「非限制性修飾語」nonrestrictive modifiers（或稱nonessential element，表示所提供的資料是附加的，雖然資料仍有意義，但在句子中，即使刪去此資料，仍沒有影響原句子的意思。）

例子：

  He dug the potato, which weighed nearly 15 kg, from his garden last year.

注意：不要在「限制性修飾語」restrictive modifier 加上逗號。

錯誤句子： Stores, which honor credit cards, have noticed an increase in sales.

正確句子： Stores which honor credit cards have noticed an increase in sales.

（句中 which honor credit cards 是不能缺少的部分，如果刪去，即指「所有商店都注意到營業額有上升」，而不是原意所指「可以使用信用卡的商店」，所以我們不能用逗號分隔。）

（6）用逗號來分隔同位語 appositives（一個名詞或短語解釋或補充之前的名詞，很多同位語都是非限制性的nonrestrictive，即是說刪除同位語也不會影響原句意思。）

錯誤句子：When I graduate in June, I will begin work at ABC Company a local trading firm.

正確句子：When I graduate in June, I will begin work at ABC Company, a local trading firm.

（7）用逗號來分隔句子中的插入元素 parenthetical elements（插入元素包括字、短語或子句，用以加強或闡明重點，及作出資料補充，由於插入資料干擾了原有句子結構，所以我們會用逗號來分隔開。）

例子：

The family was upset, of course, by little Bowie's eccentric behavior.

American farmers, according to the US government figures, export more wheat than they sell at home.

用逗號來分隔讀者或聽者的名字 nouns in direct address:

例子：

Jennifer, you have to go to school on time.

用逗號來分隔感嘆詞 interjections:

例子：

Well, I guess I have no choice in the matter.

用逗號來分隔 tag question:

例子：

He will join us to see the movie, won't he?

（8）用逗號來分隔語次轉變 transitional expressions（例如： however, moreover, in fact）

例子：

Therefore, many young people like to watch World Cup with their friends.

（9）用逗號來分隔引述句 quoted words from explanatory words:

例子：

Speaking of ideal love, the poet William Blake wrote, “Love seeking not itself to please.”

“Happy I, that love and am beloved,” said William Shakespeare about reciprocated love.

“I love no love,” proclaimed poet Mary Coleridge, “but thee.”

注意：當引述句結束時用問號或感嘆號，要保留原來標點，不須再加上逗號。

引述句：  “O, Romeo! Romeo!”

錯誤寫法： “O, Romeo! Romeo,” called Juliet as she stood at her window.

正確寫法： “O, Romeo! Romeo!” called Juliet as she stood at her window.

（10）在日期，名稱，地址，及數字上使用逗號的要點

I) Dates:

             June 1, 2002

             Sunday, June 1, 2002

注意：如果日期寫法是1 June 2002  則不須加逗號。

例子：

  Many people wanted to be near a television set on May 31, 2002, to watch the World Cup.

  July 4, 1937, was a day he never forgot.

注意：如果日期中只包含月日、年月、或年份季節，則不須加上逗號。

例子：

  The major news story during June 2002 was the World Cup; news coverage was especially heavy on June 23.

II) Names and Titles:

     Peter Nelson, M.D.

     Albert Browns, Jr., took over as chief executive.

III) Places and Addresses:

     Toledo, Ohio

     141 64^th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11212

         Working in Orlando, Florida, has many compensations.

IV) Numbers:

     12,980

     145,135,000

注意：年份是不用逗號，如 1997（但是我們會用 25,000 B.C.）

        度量上，我們用逗號來分隔文字，如：five feet, three inches

        頁數上，則用：page 10, line 5

V) Letter:

 Opening of an informal letter:

 Dear Mary,

 Closing of a letter:

 Yours sincerely,

 Best regards,

David & Gerald, Scott, Short English Handbook, Foresman & Co.

Simon & Schuster, Handbook for Writers, Prentice-Hall.

Winkler &McCuen, Writing, Science Research Asso, Inc.

▼更多的課題