逗號的故事 - Terisa Folaron：英語精讀講義

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

逗號這東西很棘手，尤其是在涉及從屬連接詞和對等連接詞時。

If you can remember a few basic rules, 文法

如果你能記住幾條基本規則、

a simple law of physics,

一條簡單的物理定律，

and some common scenarios,

以及一些常見的情境，

you will be able to use commas correctly.

你就能正確使用逗號。

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

我喜歡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

讓我們來認識幾個。

The tiny conjunctions,

微小的對等連接詞，

the mighty subordinates,

強大的從屬連接詞，

and the clever comma.

還有聰明的逗號。

Conjunctions are small and nimble.

對等連接詞小巧靈活。

They are words that connect clauses, 用詞

它們是連接子句、

words,

單字

and phrases.

和片語的詞。

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

你可以透過記住首字母縮寫FANBOYS來輕鬆記住這些對等連接詞。

The conjunctions are

這些對等連接詞包括：

for,

for，

and,

and，

nor,

nor，

but,

but，

or,

or，

yet,

yet，

so.

so。

Because they're so small, 文法

因為它們太小了，

more often than not, 慣用語

往往，

they require the help of a comma,

它們需要逗號的幫助，

but not always. 表達脈絡

但並非總是如此。

Subordinates,

從屬連接詞，

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重量級冠軍。

They are words that connect two unequal things,

它們是連接兩個不對等成分的詞，

dependent and independent clauses. 用詞

即從屬子句和獨立子句。

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

從屬連接詞讓人很清楚句子中哪部分是重點。

Commonly used subordinates are

常用的從屬連接詞有：

although,

although，

because,

because，

before,

before，

however,

however，

unless,

unless，

and even though.

以及 even though。

Because subordinates are all about power, 片語搭配

因為從屬連接詞全靠力量，

they can do a lot of heavy lifting by themselves. 慣用語

它們自己就能挑起大樑。

But,

但是，

of course,

當然，

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

有時即使是我們之中最強壯的，也需要聰明朋友的幫助。

Because our clever comma is so nice,

因為我們聰明的逗號非常善良，

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

她經常在附近閒晃，尋找能做的社區服務。

Today,

今天，

as soon as she leaves her house, 文法

她一出門，

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

就看到一個從屬連接詞正在舉起兩個完整句子的重量，

one on each arm.

每隻手臂各舉一個。

Bartheleme loves engaging in political debate, 片語搭配

Bartheleme喜歡參與政治辯論，

even though he usually loses. 文法

即使他通常會輸。

The comma asks the subordinate if he needs help. 文法

逗號問從屬連接詞是否需要幫助。

Well,

好吧，

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

我們知道從屬連接詞是句子中的WWE重量級冠軍。

They can easily hold the weight of these two complete sentences

他們能輕鬆承受這兩個完整句子的重量，

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

因為它們均勻地分布在兩條手臂上。

So,

所以，

when the comma asks if it can help,

當逗號問是否可以幫忙時，

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

從屬連接詞對需要幫助的想法感到震驚。

No, 語氣意圖

不，

thanks.

謝謝。

Maybe next time.

也許下次吧。

So,

所以，

the comma continues on.

逗號繼續前進。

Soon,

很快，

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

她看到一對從屬連接詞試圖舉起句子的重量，

directly in front of themselves.

就直接在他們身前。

Even though Bartheleme loves to sing, 文法

即使Bartheleme喜歡唱歌，

he never sings in front of others.

他也從不在別人面前唱。

The comma asks the subordinates if they need help.

逗號問這些從屬連接詞是否需要幫助。

They might not want to admit it, 語氣意圖

他們可能不想承認，

but this time the subordinates do need help. 文法

但這次從屬連接詞確實需要幫助。

Complete sentences weigh quite a bit. 片語搭配

完整的句子相當重。

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

簡單的物理學告訴我們，平衡重物會更容易，

if the weight is evenly distributed. 片語搭配

如果重量均勻分布的話。

So,

所以，

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

雖然從屬連接詞完全有能力平衡兩個完整的句子

when carrying the weight on both sides,

當兩側承擔重量時，

they're having trouble picking just one up. 文法

但只挑起一個卻讓他們感到吃力。

The comma rushes over to help the struggling subordinates,

逗號跑過去幫助苦苦掙扎的從屬連接詞，

But how will she help? 表達脈絡

但是她將如何幫助呢？

When subordinates begin sentences, 文法

當從屬連接詞位於句首時，

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

逗號會把自己直接放在第一個想法或完整句子之後。

After helping the subordinates, 文法

在幫助了從屬連接詞之後，

our comma heroine continues on and spots a conjunction

我們的女英雄逗號繼續前進，發現了一個對等連接詞

holding the weight of two complete sentences.

支撐著兩個完整句子的重量。

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

Bartheleme被芝加哥大學錄取了，

and he is on the waitlist for Stanford University. 用詞

而且他在史丹佛大學的候補名單上。

The comma asks the conjunction if he needs help.

逗號問對等連接詞是否需要幫助。

Of course,

當然，

he does. 文法

他需要。

Hurry.

快點。

The comma rushes and places itself before the conjunction. 文法

逗號衝過去，把自己放在對等連接詞之前。

FANBOYS aren't as militant as subordinates. 文法

FANBOYS並不像從屬連接詞那樣好戰。

For this reason, 表達脈絡

因此，

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

逗號不必排在FANBOYS後面。

FANBOYS are courteous creatures.

FANBOYS是懂禮貌的生物。

They allow the comma to go ahead of them. 文法

他們允許逗號走在他們前面。

Helping others is hard work. 文法

幫助別人是一項艱苦的工作。

On her way home, 片語搭配

在回家的路上，

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

我們的逗號看到一個對等連接詞正舉起一個完整句子

and a fragment sentence.

和一個殘缺句子的重量。

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

Bartheleme打算主修分子生物學，

or interpretive dance.

或者表現派舞蹈。

The now-exhausted comma asks the conjunction

現在精疲力竭的逗號問對等連接詞

if he needs help lifting the items. 文法

是否需要幫忙舉起這些東西。

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

這是一個對等連接詞不需要逗號幫助的罕見場合。

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

對等連接詞向逗號保證不需要幫助，

which is good for the comma, 文法

這對逗號來說是件好事，

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

因為現在她只想回家

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

好好休息，迎接另一天警惕的句子建構工作。