逗號(comma)的五個主要用法習慣(#4)
那些對一個句子所需表達的意思並非關鍵的形容詞,我們通常會把逗號加在它們兩側(或前面),去顯示它們是額外加入的。
例:The athlete collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
例:This blue dress, which I bought for $100, is my favorite.
e.g. The car, red, is very easy to spot.
形容詞是指修飾名詞的單字、詞組或子句。
在特定語境下,若該形容詞對句子核心意思是有關鍵作用的,我們慣常不會加入逗號:
例:The dress that I bought for $100 is my favorite.
如果這句子的所需意思是要表達出「我用 $100 買的那條裙 (而非其他裙)是我最喜歡的」,那麼,關係子句「that I bought for $100」對於「the dress」便是個關鍵的形容詞,因為拿掉它,便無法表達這所需意思了:
例: The dress is my favorite. **
(這便不能表達出「 我用$100 買的那條裙 (而非其他裙)是我最喜歡的」這意思。)
例:This blue dress, which I bought for $100, is my favorite.
但如以上這一個句子,如果所需表達的意思只是「這條藍色裙是我最喜歡的」,關係子句形容詞「which I bought for $100」便屬於額外加入的。即使把這額外的形容詞拿掉,也不影響核心的所需意思:
例:This blue dress is my favorite.
這種情況下,我們通常會在額外形容詞的兩側加上逗號:
簡單小測試:
假如拿掉形容詞後,句子在那情況中所需表達的核心意思沒受影響,該形容詞便是額外的,而我們一般會在兩側加入逗號以顯示它是可被移除的:
假如把「who is 65」拿走,要表達的核心意思是否也不被影響?
是的,因此,習慣上是會在這關係子句的兩側加入逗號。
小練習
根據用法習慣#4,我們會在以下句子中的 ( ) 位置加入逗號嗎?
要表達的意思在句子下方。
a. A construction worker ( ) who makes $23 an hour ( ) would not be able to keep up with inflation.
(一個每小時賺23元的建築工人不能趕上通脹)
b. Ariel’s new job ( ) which pays $50 an hour ( ) is much more stable than her old one.
(Ariel $50的新工作比她舊工作穩定。這新工的時薪是$50。)
____________________
(English version)
Commas: usage convention #4
We usually put commas around (or in front of) adjectives that are “not essential” for the core intended meaning in a specific context.
e.g. The athlete collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.
e.g. This blue dress, which I bought for $100, is my favorite.
e.g. The car, red, is very easy to spot.
Adjectives are words, phrases, or clauses that modify a noun.
In the context of a particular sentence, if an adjective is essential to the intended meaning, we usually don’t put commas around it:
In this sentence, the relative clause “that I bought for $100” is an “essential” adjective for “the dress” if the intended meaning is to point out this specific dress (我用$100 買的那條裙 (而非其他裙)是我最喜歡的).
The meaning would not be expressed if we take out this adjective:
When an adjective is “essential” like this, we do not put commas around it.
However, when an adjective is “not essential,” we usually put commas around it to indicate that it is “extra”:
We can take out this “extra” adjective without affecting the core intended meaning:
e.g. This blue dress is my favorite.
When this is the case, we usually put commas around the “extra” adjective:
An easy “test” for this type of comma:
If you can take out the adjective without affecting the core intended meaning of your sentence, it is “extra,” and we would usually put commas around it to indicate that it can be “taken out.”
Can “who is 65” be taken out without affecting the core meaning?
Yes, so the convention is to put commas around this relative clause.
Mini Exercise
Do we need commas in the positions indicated by ( ) according to convention #4? The intended meanings are in Chinese underneath.
a. A construction worker ( ) who makes $23 an hour ( ) would not be able to keep up with inflation.
(一個每小時賺23元的建築工人不能趕上通脹)
b. Ariel’s new job ( ) which pays $50 an hour ( ) is much more stable than her old one.
(Ariel $50的新工作比她舊工作穩定。這新工的時薪是$50。)
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