谈谈英语分号的用法

【作者：唐教员,编号62 更新时间：2014-11-09】

      分号是一种介于句号和逗号之间的表示停顿的标点符号。它主要用来表示隔开前后部分之间的并列、转折、承接、因果等关系。使用分号比使用句号更能突显分句之间的紧密联系，但不及用逗号分开的紧密。许多英语学习者由于对英语分号的用法不甚了解，因而在英语写作中，不用或很少使用这一标点符号。

      1．如果并列分句之间没有and、but、for、or、nor等并列连词连接，要用分号。例如：
The window is broken; the door can’t close.
Kind hearts are the gardens; kind thoughts are the roots; kind words are the flowers; kind deeds are the fruits.
Those who can lose shall gain; those who wish for gain shall lose.
People make history; unusual people make history interesting.     
Don’t ask what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

      2．分号用于分隔已有逗号的并列成分或相似内容, 以避免歧义等。例如：
With clothes, the new are best; with friends, the old are best.
The lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb, of meekness.
Matter may be invisible; air, for example, is this kind of the matter.
After tasting all the dishes, the judges sighed heavily; it was so difficult to choose the best from all of them.
Unfortunately, Tom couldn’t come; and his absence made things difficult for us.

     3．分号起转折、承接或形成因果等作用，使上下文意思连贯，语义衔接。句中若有连接副词also、besides、hence、however、indeed、instead、meanwhile、moreover、nevertheless、otherwise、therefore、thus等连接独立分句，之前常用分号。例如：
   She prepared her English lessons; also she wrote a composition.
   I live too far away to visit you often; besides, you are never home.
   The composition is all right; however, there isroom forimprovement.
   He knows a lot about England; indeed, he has been in the most countries in Europe.
   He put out the fire quickly; thus, a great disaster was avoided.

     4．分号可用于in addition、in fact、for example、on the contrary、on the other hand、so then、that is等短语之前,以连接或补充说明其后的短语或句子。例如：
    HIV weakens a person’s immune system; that is, the part of the body that fights disease.
   You need money and time; in addition, you need diligence.    
    His sister is a busy girl; in fact, she works harder than he does.
   Decide what kind of band you will be; for example, will you be a rock band or group of singers?
   It doesn’t seem ugly to me;on the contrary, I think it’s rather beautiful.
   You have been to Egypt; so then, you must have seen the pyramids.

       5.  句中若有并列连词and、but、only、or、still等，其前可应用分号或逗号隔开并列分句。例如：
   He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.
   Sam didn’t get the job; but he’s not worried because it didn’t pay well anyway.
   Travel wherever you want to; only return at the end of the month.
    She failed; still she didn’t lose heart.
    English has hurt me a thousand times, but I still regard it as my first love.

      6.   分号用于分隔或分行列举下文各并列成分，如不定式短语或从句等。例如：
      In English, there are several ways of forming words: compounding (gold + fish =
goldfish); derivation (un- + help + -ful = unhelpful); and conversion.
     Follow this procedure: first, get your application forms; next, fill them out; last, pay the charge.
    Tell the magazine readers:
   —what exactly your hobby is;
   —when and how you became interested in this hobby;
   —why you enjoy your hobby;
   —about your hopes and plans for the future.
   The functions of your skin are also very complex: it keeps you warm or cool; it prevents your body from losing too much water; it is where you feel cold, heat or pain and it give you your sense of touch.

       7. 分号用于分隔辞书中同一义项的不同释义或试题中的并列选项等。例如：
      strengthen ['streŋθn]verbto become stronger; to make sb./sth. stronger 加强；增强；巩固
      以上对分号的常见用法作了简单的陈述和归纳。分号的主要作用就是用于分隔没有连接词连接的句子。标点的正确使用会使文章表达清晰，通顺易懂。因此，分号这个看似司空见惯却不易把握的小符号，应该受到英语学习者的重视。





参考文献
1．高凌《英汉双解大词典（最新版）》，外文出版社, 2008年
2.  Hornby, A. S. 《牛津高阶英汉双解词典（第七版）》，商务印书馆，牛津大学出版社, 2009年
3．Longman《朗文当代高级英语词典（英英英汉双解（新版）》，外语教学与研究出版社，2005年
4．徐广联《大学英语语法》，华东理工大学出版社，2005年