How To Use Commas - English Writing Lesson

英语写作 - 逗号

Hello, I'm Oli.

您好，我是Oli。

Welcome to Oxford Online English.

欢迎来到Oxford Online English。

In this lesson, you can learn about using commas.

在本节课里，您能学习与 逗号使用有关的东西。

Students often seem very confused about commas and how to use them correctly.

通常看起来学生们对逗号和怎样 正确使用它们非常混淆。

Commas are quite complicated, because they don't just do one thing.

逗号是十分复杂的，因为 他们不仅是一件事。

Actually, commas have many different jobs in the sentence.

实际上，逗号在句子里有 很多不同的功能。

So in this lesson, I'll explain the different types of comma, what they do and how you can

所以在本节课，我会解释逗号的不同 类型、它们做什么用以及您能

use them.

怎么使用它们。

Let's start with our first type of comma: the listing comma.

让我们从逗号的第一个类型开始： 列举逗号。

As the name suggests, the listing comma is used to list items or ideas one after another.

如名字所称，列举逗号 用于列举事项或想法。

For example: "We need two cucumbers, four tomatoes, some onions and a lettuce."

例如：“We need two cucumbers, four tomatoes, some onions and a lettuce.”

We use commas to separate the items on the list.

我们使用逗号来在 清单里分隔事项。

Before the word 'and' in British English, we don't usually use a comma.

在英国式英语的单词“and”前面， 我们不常使用逗号。

In American English, a comma is often used before 'and'.

在美国式英语里，一个逗号 常用于"and"前面。

It's your choice which style you use.

您使用哪一种是您的选择。

Both are correct.

两者都是对的。

This comma - the listing comma - replaces the words 'and' or 'or'.

这个逗号— 列举逗号—取代 单词“and”或“or”。

You could say: "We need two cucumbers and four tomatoes and some onions and a lettuce."

您可以说：“We need two cucumbers and four tomatoes and some onions and a lettuce.”

It's not wrong, but it doesn't sound good, so it's better to use the commas.

那没错，但是听上去不好， 所以使用逗号比较好一点。

Your list could include phrases, or even complete sentences.

您的清单可以包括短语、 或甚至是复杂的句子。

The principle is the same.

原理是相同的。

For example: "We spent our time relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea and drinking

例如：“We spent our time relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea and drinking

coffee in the seaside cafés."

coffee in the seaside cafés.”

In this case, the items on our list are whole phrases; they're not just single words, but

在这个事例里，在我们清单上的事项是整个短语； 他们不仅是单个的单字，但是

the principle is the same.

原理是相同的。

We use a comma after each item, and in British English, not before the word 'and'.

我们在每一个事项后面使用一个逗号，在英式 英语里，在单词“and” 前不是。

You can also use the listing comma - sometimes- to separate adjectives before a noun.

您也可以使用列举逗号— 有时 在名词前面分隔形容词。

Look at two sentences: "She has long, dark, shiny hair."

看两个句子：“She has long, dark, shiny hair.”

"He bought a bottle of dark, German beer."

"He bought a bottle of dark, German beer."

In the first sentence, we use listing commas to separate the adjectives.

在第一个句子里，我们使用列举 逗号来分隔形容词。

In the second sentence, we don't.

在第二个句子，我们没有使用。

Can you see why?

您能看出为什么吗？

Well, remember we said that the listing comma replaces the words 'and' or 'or'.

好的，记得我们说过逗号取代 单词“and”或“or”。

You can say: "She has long and dark and shiny hair."

您可以说：“She has long and dark and shiny hair."

It doesn't sound good, but it's possible.

那听起来不好，但是有可能的。

so in this case we use listing commas between the adjectives.

所以在这个事例里，我们在形容词 之间使用列举逗号。

But you cannot say: "He bought a bottle of dark and German beer."

但是，您不能说： "He bought a bottle of dark and German beer."

It's not possible, so in this case we don't use listing commas.

那是不可能的，所以在这个事例里， 我们不使用列举逗号。

If you're not sure, you can use this trick: try replacing the commas with the word 'and'.

如果您不确定，您可以使用这招： 试着用单词"and"来取代逗号。

If it sounds OK, then you need commas.

如果它听起来OK，那么您需要逗号。

If it doesn't sound right, you don't need commas.

如果它听起来不是很好， 您不必使用逗号。

OK, what's our second comma?

好的，那什么是我们的第二个逗号？

It's the joining comma!

那是合并逗号！

The joining comma is used to join two complete sentences, together with a linking word.

合并逗号用于合并两个完整句子， 用一个连接单词合在一起。

For example: "We were tired, and we really didn't feel like going anywhere."

例如： "We were tired, and we really didn't feel like going anywhere."

In this sentence, each half of the sentence could stand by itself.

在本句里，每半个句都可以独立存在。

"We were tired," is a complete sentence, and "We really didn't feel like going anywhere,"

"We were tired,"是一个完整的句子， "We really didn't feel like going anywhere,"

is also a complete sentence.

也是一个完整的句子。

So we can put the two sentences together with a comma and the linking word 'and'.

这样，我们可以用一个逗号和一个连接 “and”来把两句放在一起。

Other linking words you can use in this way include 'and', 'but', 'or' or 'although'.

其他的您可以像这样用的连词包括 “and”、“but”、“or'或”although“。

There are many others as well; that's not a complete list.

有很多其他的像这样的， 那不是一个完整的清单。

However, you do need to be careful with these commas; you can't use a comma to join two

然而，您需要留意这些逗号；您不能 在没有用连词的情况下

complete sentences without using a linking word.

用逗号连接两个完整的句子。

You also can't use joining commas with some linking words.

您也不能搭配一些连词来 使用合并逗号。

Let's practise: look at some sentences and see if they're right or wrong.

我们来练习一下：看一些句子，看下 他们是对的还是错的。

Here are the four sentences.

这有四个句子。

Read them, pause the video and think about your answer - which are correct and which

读他们，暂停视屏并考虑您的答案—— 在逗号使用的条件上，

are not correct in terms of comma use?

哪一个是对的，哪一个是错的？

OK, ready?

好吗？准备好了？

Let's look at the answers.

我们看下答案。

(1) and (4) are correct.

(1) 和 (4) 是对的。

(2) and (3) are not correct.

(2) 和 (3) 是错的。

Let's see why.

我们看下为什么。

Sentence two: "I applied for the job, I really hope I get it," is not correct because there's

句子二："I applied for the job, I really hope I get it,"是错的，因为

no linking word between the sentences.

在句子间没有连词。

You could say: "I applied for the job, and I really hope I get it."

您可以说： "I applied for the job, and I really hope I get it."

You could also say: "I applied for the job."

您也可以说 "I applied for the job."

- full stop - "I really hope I get it."

- 整句停顿 - "I really hope I get it."

But you can't use a comma to join two full sentences like this.

但是您不能像这样用一个 逗号去连接两个整句。

In the second sentence: "She didn't get the grades she needed, however she got into the

在第二句："She didn't get the grades she needed, however she got into the

university in any case."

university in any case."

We use the linking word 'however', but we don't use commas with 'however'.

我们使用连词“however”，但是我们 不用逗号搭配“however”。

The best way to link these sentences is with a full stop, so we put a full stop after the

连接这些句子的最好的方式是搭配 一个完整的停顿，所以我们在单词

word 'needed', and then start a new sentence with 'however'.

“needed"后面放一个完整的停顿，并用 ”however"开始一个新的句子。

You might be thinking that number four is wrong because the second part of the sentence

您也许觉得句子四是错的，因为 句子的第二部分不是

isn't a full sentence.

一个完整句。

That's true, but the important point is that it could be a full sentence.

是这样的，但是重要的是它可以 是一个完整的句子。

You could say: "You'll either have to start again, or you'll have to find someone to help

您可以说"You'll either have to start again, or you'll have to find someone to help

you."

you."

We shorten the sentence to make it simpler and easier to say, so it's OK to use the joining

我们缩短句子让它更简单并更容易 读，所以这里用

comma here.

合并逗号是可以的。

Number three is the bracketing comma.

句子三是插入逗号。

This is possibly the most difficult comma to use.

这可能是最难用的逗号。

It's used to add an extra phrase or piece of information into a sentence.

它用来添加额外的短语或 一点信息到一个句子里。

It's often used in pairs.

它常要用一对。

For example: "This book, first published in 1956, is still useful for students today."

例如： "This book, first published in 1956, is still useful for students today."

The phrase in red is extra information about the book, and so we put it between a pair

红色的短语是关于书的额外信息， 所以我们把它

of commas.

放在一对逗号之间。

"One of my colleagues, who used to be a semi-professional footballer, invited me to play in their five-a-side

"One of my colleagues, who used to be a semi-professional footballer, invited me to play in their

team this weekend."

five-a-side team this weekend."

Again, the information in red is extra information about my colleague, and so the information

同样，红色的信息是关于我的同事的 额外的信息，所以信息是在一对

goes between a pair of commas.To use bracketing commas, the sentence must make sense and be

逗号之间。要使用插入逗号，句子必须 在没有额外信息时

grammatically complete without the extra information.

是合理的，并在语法上是完整的。

In these cases you can see that if we remove the information in red: "This book is still

在这些事例里，您可以看到如果我们 移除了红色的信息： "This book is still

useful for students today" - that's still a complete sentence and it makes sense.

useful for students today" - 那仍然是一个 完整的句子，并且它是合理的。

Also, if I say: "One of my colleagues invited me to play in their five-a-side team this

同样，如果我说："One of my colleagues invited me to play in their five-a-side team this

weekend," again, that's a full sentence; it's grammatically correct; it's clear - we don't

weekend,"那么，那是一个完整句；它在 语法上是正确的；那是清楚的 -

need the information between the bracketing commas for the sentence to make sense.

我们不需要插入逗号之间 的信息来让它合理。

In both cases, the sentence is complete and the meaning is clear without the extra information.

在两个事例上，句子是完整的，并且没有 额外的信息时意思是清晰的。

This makes it easy to see if your commas are correct or not.

这会更容易地看出您的逗号 是正确或错的。

If you're using commas in this way, ask yourself whether the sentence would make sense without

如果您在用这种方式使用逗号，自问在 没有逗号之间的额外信息时，

the phrase between commas.

句子是否是合理的。

If not, something is wrong.

如果不是，那么是错的。

For example: "He was a strict, and sometimes cruel leader, who was feared by his staff."

例如： "He was a strict, and sometimes cruel leader, who was feared by his staff."

This might look OK, but if we try to remove the red text between commas, we get: "He was

这句也许看起来还好，但如果我们 试着移除逗号间的红色文字，

a strict who was feared by his staff."

我们得到："He was a strict who was feared by his staff."

This doesn't make sense.

这句不通顺。

He was a strict what?

他是一个严厉的什么？

Another example: "Pens, which can write upside-down, are used by NASA astronauts on the International

另一个例子： "Pens, which can write upside-down, are used by NASA astronauts on the International

Space Station."

Space Station."

Again, it looks OK, but if we remove the red text - the extra information - we get: "Pens

同样，它看起来可以，但是如果我们移除红色 文字（额外的信息），我们得到：

are used by NASA astronauts on the International Space Station."

"Pens are used by NASA astronauts on the InternationalSpace Station."

Now this is a clear sentence and it's grammatically correct, but it has a different meaning.

现在这是一个清楚的句子，它的语法正确， 但是它有一个不同的意思。

We didn't want to say that just any pens are used.

我们不想说刚好任何的钢笔 都是用过的。

We wanted to say that a special kind of pen is used, so we've changed the meaning of the

我们想说一个特别款的钢笔是 用过的，所以我们改变了

sentence.

句子的意思。

If the extra phrase is near the beginning or the end of a sentence, you might just use

如果额外的短语是接近句首或句末， 您也许只用一个插入逗号

one bracketing comma instead of using a pair.

来取代用一对逗号。

Let's look: "Similar to most people his age, he isn't really thinking about his future."

我们看下："Similar to most people his age, he isn't really thinking about his future."

Again, the text in red is extra information, but it comes at the beginning of the sentence.

同样，红色文字是额外信息， 但是它出现在句首。

That means we don't need two commas; we can just use one.

那意思是我们不需要两个逗号； 我们可以只用一个逗号。

"He told me that he wanted to quit and become a painter, which surprised me."

"He told me that he wanted to quit and become a painter, which surprised me."

Again, it's extra information, but it's at the end of the sentence, so we just use one

同样，那是额外信息，但是那是在 句末，所以我们只使用一个逗号，

comma and then a full stop.

然后一个完整的停顿。

Finally, let's look at some common mistakes with commas.

最后，我们看一些在逗号 上的常见错误。

There are three mistakes which I see students making a lot.

我看到我的学生们大量 犯的错误有三种。

Let's look so you can hopefully avoid making these mistakes.

我们来看看，这样您可以 希望防止犯这些错误。

Don't put a comma between a subject and its verb.

不要在主语和它的动词 之间放一个逗号。

For example, this sentence is incorrect, because 'The people we met on holiday' is the subject;

例如，这个句子是不正确的，因为 “The people we met on holiday”是主语。

'were' is the main verb.

“were”是主动词。

There should not be a comma between the subject and the main verb.

在主语和主要动词之间 不必有一个逗号。

In this sentence, we have the same problem.

在这个句子里，我们有同一个问题。

The subject, again, is not one word; it's a phrase: 'Everything in those cupboards'.

主语，同样，不是一个单词；那是一个 短语：“Everything in those cupboards”。

The main verb is 'needs', so again, there should not be a comma between the subject

主动词是“needs”，所以同样， 在主语和主动词之间

and the main verb.

不必有一个逗号。

Don't use a comma before 'that'.

在“that”之前不要使用一个逗号。

This is a useful rule, because it's quite easy.

这是一个有用的规则，因为 那是很简单的。

"She told me, that she wanted to move to London," or: "I had no idea, that he could speak Japanese."

"She told me, that she wanted to move to London," 或者："I had no idea, that he could speak Japanese."

In both of these sentences there should not be a comma before 'that'.

在这两个句子里，在“that”之前 不必有一个逗号。

Don't use a comma to join two sentences if you don't use a linking word.

如果您没有用一个连词，不要使用 一个逗号去合并两个句子。

In this case, both parts of the sentence before and after the comma could be full sentences

在这个事例里，在逗号之前与之后的 句子两个部分可以是

by themselves.

独立的完整句子。

So in this case, you either need to use a linking word, like 'and' or ' but' or 'or'

所以在这个事例里，您需要使用一个 像是“and”或“but”或“or”或

or something like that, or you need to use a full stop after 'year'.

一些类似那样的，或者您需要在“year” 之后使用一个完整的停顿。

You can't use a comma like this.

您不能像这样使用一个逗号。

Here, we have the same problem.

这里，我们有相同的问题。

We have two ideas.

我们有两个想法。

Each idea could be a sentence by itself, and there's no linking word, so we can't use a

每个想法可以自己是一个句子， 没有一个连词，所以我们

comma to join two complete sentences like this without a linking word.

不能使用一个逗号来合并两个像这样 没有一个连词的完整句。

OK, that's the end of the lesson.

好，本节课就结束了。

I hope it was useful.

我希望那对您是有帮助的。

If you want to see the full lesson, which includes the text, so you can read everything,

如果您想看完整版本，它包括文字，这样您 可以读到所有的内容，以及包括一个

and also a quiz to help you practise and test your comma skill, come to our website: www.oxfordonlineenglish.com.

随堂测验帮您练习和测试您使用逗号的技能， 来我们的网站：www.oxfordonlineenglish.com.

There are also many other free English lessons there.

那也有很多其他的 免费英语课程。

But that's all.

但是，今天就到这了。

Thanks again for watching, and I'll see you next time.

再次感谢观看，下次见。

Bye bye!

再见！