How To Use Commas - English Writing Lesson

英文寫作 — 逗號

Hello, I'm Oli.

您好，我是Oli。

Welcome to Oxford Online English.

歡迎來到Oxford Online English。

In this lesson, you can learn about using commas.

在本節課裡，您可以學到 與逗號運用相關的知識。

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

一般看來，學生們對逗號的認識以及怎麼 正確運用非常混淆。

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

逗號是很複雜的，因為 它們不止是一件事情。

Actually, commas have many different jobs in the sentence.

實際上，逗號在句子裡有 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

所以在本節課，我會解釋逗號的不同 類別、它們的用途以及您

use them.

怎麼用它們。

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

我們從逗號的一個類別開始： 條列逗號。

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

如名字所稱，條列逗號 用於顯示條列項目或想法。

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.

我們使用逗號在清單裡 顯示項目。

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

在英國英文的單字“and”前面， 我們不常用逗號。

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

在美語裡，"and"前面 常用一個逗號。

It's your choice which style you use.

您用哪一種是您的選擇。

Both are correct.

兩者都是對的。

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

這個逗號 — 條列逗號—取代了 單字“and”或“or”。

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

您可以說：“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.

那沒錯，但是聽上去不好， 所以用逗號比較好一點。

Your list could include phrases, or even complete sentences.

您的清單可以包括片語、 或甚至是複雜的句子。

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

這個事例，在我們清單上的事項是 整個片語；他們不只是單個單字，

the principle is the same.

但是原理是相同的。

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

我們在每個事項後面用一個逗號，在英國 英文裡，在單字“and”前則不是。

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

您也可以用條列逗號 — 有時 在名詞前面分隔開形容詞。

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

看兩個句子：“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.

在句一裡，我們用條列 逗號來分隔形容詞。

In the second sentence, we don't.

在句二，我們沒有用。

Can you see why?

您能看出為什麼嗎？

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

好的，記得我們說過逗號取代 單字“and”或“or”。

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

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

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

那聽起來不好，但是是有可能的。

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

所以在這個事例裡，我們在形容詞 之間用條列逗號。

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

但是，您不能說： "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，所以在這個事例裡， 我們不用條列逗號。

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

如果您不確定，您可以用這一招： 試著用單字"and"來取代逗號。

If it sounds OK, then you need commas.

如果它聽起來可以，那麼您需要逗號。

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

如果它聽起來不是很好， 您不必用逗號。

OK, what's our second comma?

好的，那什麼是我們的第二個逗號？

It's the joining comma!

那是合併逗號！

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

合併逗號用來合併兩個完整的句子， 用一個連接詞合在一起。

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.

在本句裡，每一半句子都可以獨立存在。

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

"We were tired,"是一個完整的句子， "We really didn't feel like going anywhere,"

is also a complete sentence.

也是一個完整的句子。

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

這樣，我們可以用一個逗號和一個連接詞 “and”來把兩句合併在一起。

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

您可以像這樣用的其他連接詞包括 “and”、“but”、“or“或”although“。

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

有很多像這樣的其他單字， 這不是一個完整的清單。

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

然而，您要留意這些逗號；您不能 在沒有用連接詞的情形下

complete sentences without using a linking word.

用逗號來連接兩個完整的句子。

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

您也不能搭配一些連接詞來 用合併逗號。

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

我們來練習一下：看一些句子，看下 他們是對的還是錯的。

Here are the four sentences.

這有四個句子。

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

讀它們，暫停影片並考慮您的答案 —— 在用逗號的條件上，

are not correct in terms of comma use?

哪一个是對的，哪一個是錯的？

OK, ready?

好嗎？準備好了？

Let's look at the answers.

我們看下答案。

(1) and (4) are correct.

(1) 和 (4)是對的。

(2) and (3) are not correct.

(2) 和 (3)是錯的。

Let's see why.

我們看下為什麼。

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

句二："I applied for the job, I really hope I get it,"是錯的，因為

no linking word between the sentences.

在句子之間沒有連接詞。

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

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

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

您也可以說 "I applied for the job."

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

— 整句停頓 — "I really hope I get it."

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

但是您不能像這樣用一個 逗號來連接兩個整句。

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

在句二："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'.

我們用連接詞“however”，但是我們 不用逗號搭配“however”。

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

連接這些句子的最好方式是搭配 一個完整的停頓，所以我們在單字

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

“needed"後面放一個完整的停頓，並用 ”however"開始一個新的句子。

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

您也許覺得句四是錯的，因為 句子的第二部分不是

isn't a full sentence.

一個完整句。

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

是這樣的，但是重要的是它可以 是一個完整的句子。

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

您可以說"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

我們縮短句子讓它更簡單並更容易 讀，所以這裡用

comma here.

合併逗號是可以的。

Number three is the bracketing comma.

句三是插入逗號。

This is possibly the most difficult comma to use.

這可能是最難用的逗號。

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

用它來添加額外的片語或 一點資訊到一個句子裡。

It's often used in pairs.

它要成對使用。

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

紅色的片語是關於書的額外資訊， 所以我們把它

of commas.

放在一對逗號之間。

"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 five-a-side

team this weekend."

team this weekend."

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

同樣，紅色的文字內容是關於我同事的 額外資訊，所以資訊是在一對

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

逗號之間。如果要用插入逗號，必須 在句子沒有額外資訊時

grammatically complete without the extra information.

是合理的，並在語法上是完整的。

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

在這些事例裡，您可以看到如果我們 移除了紅色的文字內容： "This book is still

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

useful for students today" - 那仍然是一個 完整的句子，並且它是合理的。

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

同樣，如果我說："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,"那麼，那是一個完整句；它在 語法上是正確的；那是清楚的 -

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

我們不需要插入逗號之間的 文字內容來讓它合理。

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

在兩個事例上，句子是完整的，並且沒有 額外的文字內容時意思是清晰的。

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

這會更容易地看出您的逗號 用得正確或錯誤。

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

如果您在以這種方式用逗號，自問在 沒有逗號之間的額外訊息時，

the phrase between commas.

句子是合理的嗎。

If not, something is wrong.

如果不是，那麼是錯的。

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

這句看起來也許還好，但如果我們 試著移除逗號間的紅色文字，

a strict who was feared by his staff."

我們得到："He was a strict who was feared by his staff."

This doesn't make sense.

這句不通順。

He was a strict what?

他是一個嚴厲的什麼？

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

另一個例子： "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

同樣，它看起來可以，但是如果我們移除紅色 文字（額外的資訊），我們得到：

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.

現在這是一個清楚的句子，它的語法正確， 但是它有一個不同的意思。

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

我們不想說剛好任何的鋼筆 都是用過的。

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

我們想說一個特別款的鋼筆是 用過的，所以我們改變了

sentence.

句子的意思。

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

如果額外的片語是接近句首或句末， 您也許只用一個插入逗號

one bracketing comma instead of using a pair.

來取代用一對逗號。

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

我們看下："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.

同樣，紅色文字內容是額外資訊， 但是它出現在句首。

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

那意思是我們不需要兩個逗號； 我們可以只用一個逗號。

"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

同樣，那是額外資訊，但是那是在 句末，所以我們只用一個逗號，

comma and then a full stop.

然後一個完整的停頓。

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

最後，我們看一些在逗號 運用上的常見錯誤。

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

我看到我的學生們大量 犯的錯誤有三種。

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

我們來看看，這樣您可以 希望防止這些錯誤。

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

不要在主語和它的動詞 之間放一個逗號。

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

例如，這個句子是不正確的，因為 “The people we met on holiday”是主語。

'were' is the main verb.

“were”是主語相應的動詞。

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

在主語和相應動詞之間 不必有一個逗號。

In this sentence, we have the same problem.

在這個句子裡，我們有同一個問題。

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

主語，同樣，不是一個單詞；那是一個 片語：“Everything in those cupboards”。

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

主語的相應動詞是“needs”，所以同樣， 在主語和相應的動詞之間

and the main verb.

不必有一個逗號。

Don't use a comma before 'that'.

在“that”之間不要用一個逗號。

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

這是一個有用的規則，因為 那是很簡單的。

"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'.

在這個句子裡，在“that”之前 不必有一個逗號。

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

如果您沒有用一個連接詞，就不要用 一個逗號去合併兩個句子。

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

在這個事例裡，在逗號之前和之後的 句子兩個部分可以是

by themselves.

獨立的完整句子。

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

所以在這個事例裡，您需要用一個 像是“and”或“but”或“or”或

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

一些類似那樣的，或者您需要在“year” 之後用一個完整的停頓。

You can't use a comma like this.

您不能像這樣用一個逗號。

Here, we have the same problem.

這裡，我們有相同的問題。

We have two ideas.

我們有兩個想法。

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

每個想法可以自己獨立是一個句子， 沒有一個連接詞，所以我們

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

不能用一個逗號來合併兩個像這樣 沒有一個連接詞的完整句。

OK, that's the end of the lesson.

好，本節課就到這結束了。

I hope it was useful.

我希望那對您是有幫助的。

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

如果您想看包括文字的完整版，這樣您 可以讀到所有的內容，以及包括一個

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

隨堂測驗幫您練習和測試您用逗號的技能， 來我們的網站：www.oxfordonlineenglish.com.

There are also many other free English lessons there.

那也有很多其他的 免費英文課程。

But that's all.

但是，今天就到這了。

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

再次感謝觀看，下次見。

Bye bye!

再見！