逗號(comma)的五個主要用法習慣(#1)



 很多學生會問我關於標點符號的問題,特別是逗號(comma)的用法。

一般來說,逗號是在寫作中用以顯示句子內部的不同部分如何組合一起的一種標點。

與句號(full stop/period)相反,句號用於句子與句子之間,顯示一個句子結束與另一新句子的開始。

以下簡單總結一下,在英文寫作中,逗號五個最主要的用法習慣。

關於標點符號的背景知識

逗號是其中一種標點符號。而標點符號是人發明出來的,目的是讓讀者在閱讀文字時,更容易理解句子的結構。

標點並非語言自然的一部份,而是寫作的一部分。因為它並不是一個語言自然文法結構的一部分,所以,當我們討論標點符號(包括逗號)時,說的其實只是它們在寫作時的「用法習慣」。

理解這點十分重要,因為人們有時會遵循不同的用法習慣來使用標點,或出於某些原因而故意不去遵循那些用法習慣,例如某些報紙雜誌可能會特意使用某種有別於常規習慣的「內部風格」(house style)。

在寫作中使用標點符號,目的是幫助我們在書寫和閱讀時更容易解構句子,所有用法習慣也是為此而生成的。所謂「正確」的用法,就是說,用了某標點後,令句子更容易理解。

相反,如果你使用標點符號後,令句子結構更難理解,便不可稱之為「正確」了。


逗號:用法習慣 #1

我們慣常會將逗號放在由對等連接詞連接的子句前面。

例: I said "hi" to him, and he waved back at me.

例: I said "hi" to him, but he ignored me.

例:I said "hi" to him, so he turned around.

像「and」、「but」、「or」、「so」這些對等連接詞,會連接在結構和意思上也是完全獨立,但在意思上有延續性的子句。(像我課程中的用語一樣,子句是指有限定動詞的子句。)

我們通常會將逗號放在這對等連接詞前,如上述例子中的「and」、「but」、「so」(和它連接的子句)前面。

但由附屬連接詞(如「because」、「although」、「if」等)連接的子句,我們一般都不會在前面加逗號,因為這種子句,是會在結構上變成連接去的子句內部的一部分。


例:He waved at me because I said "hi."
(在「because」連接的子句 [ because I said "hi" ] 前習慣不用逗號)

小練習

根據以上解釋的用法習慣 #1,我們可以在以下句子中的什麼位置加入逗號?

a. These drugs are in the early stages of research and it may be several years before they’re available.

b. Formulas are being touted online as an extra safeguard against the virus but they’re not approved by the government.



____________________

(English version)

Many students have asked me questions about punctuation use in English, especially about the comma.

In general, the comma is a punctuation mark that is used within a sentence to indicate how different parts of a sentence fit together structurally.

A period (or full stop), on the other hand, is used between sentences to indicate where one sentence ends and a new sentence starts.

I decided to write up a simple summary of five common usage conventions regarding commas in English writing.

A note about punctuation:

Commas are a type of punctuation, and punctuation is a human invention whose purpose is to make sentences easier to understand in writing. (Writing itself is a human invention.) 

Punctuation is not actually part of the natural language. That is why, when we talk about English grammar, we don’t need to take punctuation into consideration at all. 

When we talk about punctuation (including commas), we are only talking about "usage conventions" in writing. 

It is important to understand this because, sometimes, people follow different conventions for punctuation or deliberately avoid following certain conventions for different reasons. For example, some magazines might have a certain "house style" that differs slightly from conventional use.

The main thing to understand about punctuation convention in general is that its purpose is to make the structure of sentences easier to "break down" in writing and reading.

All the conventions that we will talk about will serve this purpose.

Conversely, if a punctuation mark makes a sentence harder to read, it is definitely not used "correctly."

Commas: usage convention #1

We usually put a comma in front of a clause linked by a coordinating conjunction.

e.g. I said "hi" to him, and he waved back at me.

e.g. I said "hi" to him, but he ignored me.

e.g. I said "hi" to him, so he turned around.

Coordinating conjunctions like "and," "but," "or," "so" connect clauses (with finite verbs) that are completely independent from each other structurally and are only connected "externally" because of a certain continuation of meaning.

We usually put a comma before this coordinating conjunction linking the separate clause – for example, before "and," "but," and "so" in the example sentences above.

We usually don’t put a comma in front of clauses linked by subordinating conjunctions like "because," "although," and "if":

e.g. He waved at me because I said "hi."  
(no comma before "because")

Mini Exercise

Where should we put commas in the following sentences to reflect convention #1?

a. These drugs are in the early stages of research and it may be several years before they’re available.

b. Formulas are being touted online as an extra safeguard against the virus but they’re not approved by the government.



Comments

Popular Posts

及物與不及物動詞對:「Lay」vs.「Lie」(+其他例子)

有被動語態的動名詞組(Gerund Phrases): 「Being Chosen for a Flight Mission」 ✈️

比利時巧克力 - 「Belgian」Chocolate 🍫

2025 New Year's Resolutions?

你有「完善的計劃」(“Robust” Plan)來學習英文嗎?

No Doubt… 不容置疑(?)