逗号的故事 - Terisa Folaron：英语精读讲义

Commas are tricky things, especially when subordinates and conjunctions are involved. 短語搭配

逗号这东西很棘手，尤其是在涉及从属连词和并列连词时。

If you can remember a few basic rules, 語法

如果你能记住几条基本规则、

a simple law of physics,

一条简单的物理定律，

and some common scenarios,

以及一些常见的情境，

you will be able to use commas correctly.

你就能正确使用逗号。

I like to think of the different parts of our sentence as characters. 短語搭配

我喜欢把句子的不同部分看作是人物角色。

Let's meet a few of them. 表達脈絡

让我们来认识几个。

The tiny conjunctions,

微小的并列连词，

the mighty subordinates,

强大的从属连词，

and the clever comma.

还有聪明的逗号。

Conjunctions are small and nimble.

并列连词小巧灵活。

They are words that connect clauses, 用詞

它们是连接分句、

words,

单词

and phrases.

和短语的词。

You can easily remember the conjunctions by remembering the acronym FANBOYS. 文化背景

你可以通过记住首字母缩写FANBOYS来轻松记住这些并列连词。

The conjunctions are

这些并列连词包括：

for,

for，

and,

and，

nor,

nor，

but,

but，

or,

or，

yet,

yet，

so.

so。

Because they're so small, 語法

因为它们太小了，

more often than not, 習語

往往，

they require the help of a comma,

它们需要逗号的帮助，

but not always. 表達脈絡

但并非总是如此。

Subordinates,

从属连词，

on the other hand, 表達脈絡

另一方面，

are the WWE heavyweight champions of sentences. 文化背景

是句子中的WWE重量级冠军。

They are words that connect two unequal things,

它们是连接两个不对等成分的词，

dependent and independent clauses. 用詞

即从属分句和独立分句。

Subordinates make it very clear what is being prioritized in a sentence. 語法

从属连词让人很清楚句子中哪部分是重点。

Commonly used subordinates are

常用的从属连词有：

although,

although，

because,

because，

before,

before，

however,

however，

unless,

unless，

and even though.

以及 even though。

Because subordinates are all about power, 短語搭配

因为从属连词全靠力量，

they can do a lot of heavy lifting by themselves. 習語

它们自己就能挑起大梁。

But,

但是，

of course,

当然，

sometimes even the strongest among us needs some help from our clever friends.

有时即使是我们中最强壮的，也需要聪明朋友的帮助。

Because our clever comma is so nice,

因为我们聪明的逗号非常善良，

she often roams her neighborhood looking for some community service to do.

她经常在附近溜达，寻找能做的社区服务。

Today,

今天，

as soon as she leaves her house, 語法

她一出门，

she sees a subordinate lifting the weight of two complete sentences,

就看到一个从属连词正在举起两个完整句子的重量，

one on each arm.

每只手臂各举一个。

Bartheleme loves engaging in political debate, 短語搭配

Bartheleme喜欢参与政治辩论，

even though he usually loses. 語法

即使他通常会输。

The comma asks the subordinate if he needs help. 語法

逗号问从属连词是否需要帮助。

Well,

好吧，

we know that subordinates are the WWE heavyweight champions of sentences.

我们知道从属连词是句子中的WWE重量级冠军。

They can easily hold the weight of these two complete sentences

他们能轻松承受这两个完整句子的重量，

because they are distributed evenly on both arms. 短語搭配

因为它们均匀地分布在两条手臂上。

So,

所以，

when the comma asks if it can help,

当逗号问是否可以帮忙时，

the subordinate is appalled at the idea of needing assistance. 用詞

从属连词对需要帮助的想法感到震惊。

No, 語氣意圖

不，

thanks.

谢谢。

Maybe next time.

也许下次吧。

So,

所以，

the comma continues on.

逗号继续前进。

Soon,

很快，

she sees a couple of subordinates attempting to lift the weight of sentences

她看到一对从属连词试图举起句子的重量，

directly in front of themselves.

就直接在他们身前。

Even though Bartheleme loves to sing, 語法

即使Bartheleme喜欢唱歌，

he never sings in front of others.

他也从不在别人面前唱。

The comma asks the subordinates if they need help.

逗号问这些从属连词是否需要帮助。

They might not want to admit it, 語氣意圖

他们可能不想承认，

but this time the subordinates do need help. 語法

但这次从属连词确实需要帮助。

Complete sentences weigh quite a bit. 短語搭配

完整的句子相当重。

Simple physics tells us that it's easier to balance heavy objects 語法

简单的物理学告诉我们，平衡重物会更容易，

if the weight is evenly distributed. 短語搭配

如果重量均匀分布的话。

So,

所以，

while the subordinates are quite capable of balancing two complete sentences 短語搭配

虽然从属连词完全有能力平衡两个完整的句子

when carrying the weight on both sides,

当两侧承担重量时，

they're having trouble picking just one up. 語法

但只挑起一个却让他们感到吃力。

The comma rushes over to help the struggling subordinates,

逗号跑过去帮助苦苦挣扎的从属连词，

But how will she help? 表達脈絡

但是她将如何帮助呢？

When subordinates begin sentences, 語法

当从属连词位于句首时，

the comma will place herself directly after the first thought or complete sentence. 短語搭配

逗号会把自己直接放在第一个想法或完整句子之后。

After helping the subordinates, 語法

在帮助了从属连词之后，

our comma heroine continues on and spots a conjunction

我们的女英雄逗号继续前进，发现了一个并列连词

holding the weight of two complete sentences.

支撑着两个完整句子的重量。

Bartheleme was accepted into the University of Chicago, 短語搭配

Bartheleme被芝加哥大学录取了，

and he is on the waitlist for Stanford University. 用詞

而且他在斯坦福大学的候补名单上。

The comma asks the conjunction if he needs help.

逗号问并列连词是否需要帮助。

Of course,

当然，

he does. 語法

他需要。

Hurry.

快点。

The comma rushes and places itself before the conjunction. 語法

逗号冲过去，把自己放在并列连词之前。

FANBOYS aren't as militant as subordinates. 語法

FANBOYS并不像从属连词那样好战。

For this reason, 表達脈絡

因此，

the commas don't have to fall in line behind the FANBOYS. 講解

逗号不必排在FANBOYS后面。

FANBOYS are courteous creatures.

FANBOYS是懂礼貌的生物。

They allow the comma to go ahead of them. 語法

他们允许逗号走在他们前面。

Helping others is hard work. 語法

帮助别人是一项艰苦的工作。

On her way home, 短語搭配

在回家的路上，

our comma sees a conjunction holding up the weight of a complete sentence 講解

我们的逗号看到一个并列连词正举起一个完整句子

and a fragment sentence.

和一个残缺句子的重量。

Bartheleme is going to major in molecular biology, 短語搭配

Bartheleme打算主修分子生物学，

or interpretive dance.

或者表现派舞蹈。

The now-exhausted comma asks the conjunction

现在精疲力竭的逗号问并列连词

if he needs help lifting the items. 語法

是否需要帮忙举起这些东西。

This is one of the rare occassions where a conjunction doesn't need the help of a comma. 短語搭配

这是一个并列连词不需要逗号帮助的罕见场合。

The conjunction assures the comma that help isn't needed, 短語搭配

并列连词向逗号保证不需要帮助，

which is good for the comma, 語法

这对逗号来说是件好事，

because by now all it wants to do is go home 語法

因为现在她只想回家

and rest up for another day of vigilant sentence constructing. 短語動詞

好好休息，迎接另一天警惕的句子构建工作。