谈谈英语逗号的用法

【作者：唐教员,编号62 更新时间：2014-11-10】

谈谈英语逗号的用法

新疆乌鲁木齐市第63中学 唐恩众



在学习英语时，尤其是写作中，标点符号是最容易被忽视的一个问题。逗号是最常用的标点符号之一，也是使用中出现错误最多的。其实，逗号表示一个句中短促的停顿，用于连接、分开、突出或替代句子里不同的成份。那么，如何正确使用逗号呢？

1.逗号用来连接并列分句，用在并列连词and, but, or, for, so, nor, yet等之前。如果独立分句之间没有并列连词，要用分号。例如：

   He wanted to go on, but other people
disagreed.

   
The young man tried, yet he failed to convince her.

   
She didn't come, so I went there alone.

   
The child hid behind his mother's skirt, for he was afraid of the dog.

   I never saw her again, nor I regret it.

2.如果句中出现for example, that is, besides, also, still, instead, thus, moreover,
otherwise, therefore, however, nevertheless, hence, unfortunately等词组或连接副词时，之前用分号或句号，之后用逗号。例如：

   He was busy; therefore, he couldn't
come.

   
We must hurry up; otherwise, we will miss the bus.

   
He promised to come to the meeting; however, he didn't appear.

   
Our monitor didn't hear the report; therefore, he didn't know what new
decisions were made.

   She believed he had the talent to succeed.Unfortunately, he was lazy.

3.平行结构的使用，用于分割对比或对照成分,相当于汉语中的顿号作用。在最后两个成分之间的连接词之前，一般不用逗号；但如果最后两个成分太长，最好用逗号隔开，以免引起歧义。例如：

   
No pain, no gains.

   
We’re tired, thirsty and hungry.

   It was her money, not her charm or
personality, that first attracted him.

   
The children sang, danced, jumped and chased each other.

   
I spent yesterday playing basketball, drinking beer, and telling
stories.

   
The more old he is, the more wise he becomes.

   We all agreed that she was beautiful,that she was intelligent, and that she was ambitious.

4.用于分隔反意疑问句或选择疑问句。例如：

   
He never said she would come, did he?

   
Things were not as you imagined, were they?

   
John didn’t take it, did he?

   
Which do you like better, apples or bananas?

　　5.句中如有限制性从句或词组时，不用逗号；如果是非限制性从句或词组，则需要用逗号把它与句子的其他部分隔开。例如：

   This is the lab where students listen
to tapes and see films.

   Her father, who is a famous scholar,
teaches English.

   Up to now, he has written ten stories,
three of which are about country life.

   He is from the south, as we can know from
his accent.

   Zhang Hua has been to Paris more than ten
times, which I don’t believe.

   
Mr. Li, the new CEO of the company, will soon announce his plans for
reforms.

6.
逗号把同位语、插入语、直接引语、独立成分或附加说明成分与句中的其他成分隔开。例如：

   
He wants us, you and me, to go to his place tomorrow.

   
You may, if you like, raise some bird.

   
The machines you have supplied us with, I'm glad to tell you, work very
well.

  
"Tell me." he said, "What did you think of the
discussion?" 

  
Oh, what a nice little girl she is!

  It is, Sir, not my fault.　

  
Many interesting places in Beijing, such as the Summer Palace and Temple
of Heaven, attract thousands of visitors daily.

7.用于隔开with复合结构。例如：

   
With his heart beating fast, he slowed down.

   
With the work finished, he could go home.

   
With the weather so hot, they went in to have a rest.

   
His wife came down the stairs, with a book in her hand．

   
The students stood in line, with the national flag being raised.

   
These children can set their hearts at ease, with everything well-arranged
by their parents.

8.用于隔开独立主格结构。例如：

   
His mother being ill, he had to stay home to look after her.

   
The meeting being over, our headmaster soon left the meeting-room.

   
All our savings gone, we started looking for jobs.

 
  The river having risen in the
night, the crossing was impossible.

   
We to care for the children, you are able to be carefree away from home.


   
Our English teacher came into the classroom, papers in hand.

9.当修饰全句的状语置于动词各部分之间，或主语与动词之间，或动词与补语之间时，用逗号把它和句子的其他成分隔开。例如：

   The girl, on waking up, found the
woman had gone.

   
Fortunately, he was not drowned and was saved by the PLA men.

   
Like the best stories, this one may yet have a happy ending.

   
My father had, surprisingly, kept his temper all day.

  They
were, believe it or not, in love with each other.

10.用于状语从句中，表示时间、条件、地点、原因、让步、目的和结果等。例如：

   
If you go to the party, you’ll have a great time.

   As they say, if there’s no pain, there’s no glory.

  Where there is life, there’s hope.

   He must be tired, for he went to bed early.

   Young as she is, she has seen much of the world.

   In order that everybody should hear him, he spoke loudly.
  
   She left early, so that he caught the train.

11.用于评注性状语之后。例如：

   
To be sure, she is the best student in the class.

   
Funny, he pretends to know what he doesn’t know.

   
Generally speaking, it is worth reading.

   
Briefly, there are too many people and too little food.

   To make a long story short, she lost the
ring.

   
Even more important, pay close attention to where you are and where
you're going.

12.介词短语或分词短语在句中作状语，一般均要用逗号同其他成分隔开。例如：

   
With your help, I am sure to succeed.

   Now, for the benefit of any male readers,
let me explain something.

   
Seeing a car coming, they stepped aside.

   
The old scientist died all of a sudden, leaving the project unfinished,

   
Given another chance, I’ll do it much better.

   
Dressed in white, she suddenly appeared.

13.用于形容词或形容词短语做状语或定语的时候。例如：

   
Sad and tired, she slept the whole day.

   
He finally came back, safe and sound.

   
Moving and true to life, this TV series moved thousands of audiences
into tears.

   
The boy, silent, stood at the door.

  
 He bought a set of furniture,
simple and beautiful,

14.用于连接性状语之后。例如：

  
As a result, the discussion was put off until the following week.

  
Above all, through his simple and straightforward style, he has educated
and informed his readers.

15.替代句子里某个成份，表示字词的省略。例如：

   The lion is the symbol of courage; the
lamb, of meekness.

   George was the hard worker, John, the lazy
one.　

16.用于分割日期、数字、地点、人名或与职衔、呼语等；若只有月和年，就不必加逗号。例如：

   
Word came that China launched its first manned spaceship on Oct. 15,
2003.

   The
address is 2025 M
Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20036.

   
David Smith, Ph.D. never told us why you were late for the last meeting.

   The apple tastes very nice. Could I have
another apple, Sir?

   Can you show me Mr. Jeffery’s office,
please?

   June 2000 is one of the most meaningful of
my life.　

17.递进重复结构的使用。重复关键词，在语义上逗号后面部分具体说明﹑补充或进一步引申﹑递进逗号前面部分的内容，而不是文字上简单的重复。例如：

   
We all love peace, peace all over the world.

   
Zoos are so much fun, fun for the animals of course.

   
Applause of cheerful roars and howls fill the zoo with hope, hope to see
a brighter tomorrow.

18.
名词性从句，尤其是由that, what, where, when, if等引导的宾语从句，前后一般不用逗号。有时为了避免误解等，则要在句子中加上逗号。例如：

   That she knew where the money was, was news
to me.　

以上对逗号的常见用法作了简单的归纳。标点的正确使用会使文章表达清晰，通顺易懂。因此，逗号这个看似简单却常常被人忽视的小符号，应该受到英语学习者的重视。



参考文献

1．徐广联《大学英语语法》，华东理工大学出版社，2005年

2．张道真《实用英语语法》，商务印书馆，1986年