Comma story - Terisa Folaron

逗號的故事 - 泰瑞莎‧福羅蘭

譯者: Ou Chih-Hong 審譯者: Bighead Ge

Commas are tricky things,

逗號很奇妙

especially when subordinates

尤其和連接詞

and conjunctions are involved.

以及介係詞碰在一起的時候

If you can remember a few basic rules,

如果你記得一些基本規則

a simple law of physics,

簡單的物理定律

and some common scenarios,

還有一些常見的狀況

you will be able to use commas correctly.

你就能正確的使用逗號

I like to think of the different parts

我喜歡把句子中不同的部分

看作是不同的角色

of our sentence as characters.

Let's meet a few of them:

來認識一些吧

the tiny conjunctions,

小連接詞

the mighty subordinates,

強壯介係詞

and the clever comma.

還有聰明豆號

Conjunctions are small and nimble.

介係詞瘦瘦小小的

They are words that connect clauses,

介係詞是連接子句

words,

and phrases.

單字

還有片語的單位

You can easily remember the conjunctions

介係詞很好背

by remembering the acronym FANBOYS.

只要記住縮寫「未及野蛋獲孩所」

The conjunctions are

這縮寫就是

for,

為了

and,

以及

nor,

也不

but,

但是

or,

或是

yet,

還沒

so.

所以

Because they're so small,

因為介係詞很小

more often than not,

大多時

they require the help of a comma

介係詞需要逗號的幫忙

but not always.

但並非一直

Subordinates, on the other hand,

另一方面，連接詞就像是句子中的

are the WWE heavyweight champions of sentences.

美國職業摔角重量級冠軍

They are words that connect two unequal things,

他們連接兩樣不平等的事物

dependent and independent clauses.

獨立以及非獨立子句

Subordinates make it very clear

一個句子中何者為重

what is being prioritized in a sentence.

從連接詞就看得很清楚

Commonly used subordinates are

常用的連接詞有

although,

雖然

because,

因為

before,

之前

however,

然而

unless,

除非

and even though.

還有縱使

Because subordinates are all about power,

因為連接詞力氣很大

they can do a lot of heavy lifting by themselves.

他們獨自舉起重物

But, of course, sometimes even the strongest among us

但是，有時候連最壯的連接詞

needs some help from our clever friends.

也會需要聰明的逗號來幫忙

Because our clever comma is so nice,

因為逗號小姐人太好了

she often roams her neighborhood

她總是在社區中四處逛

looking for some community service to do.

看看有什麼事情可以幫忙

Today, as soon as she leaves her house,

今天，她一離開家的時候

she sees a subordinate lifting the weight

她就看到連接詞舉起了

of two complete sentences,

兩句完整的句子

one on each arm.

一隻手舉一句

Bartheleme loves engaging in political debate

巴塞爾姆熱愛從事政治辯論

even though

儘管

he usually loses.

他很少贏過

The comma asks the subordinate if he needs help.

逗號小姐問連接詞是否需要幫忙

Well, we know that subordinates

我們了解連接詞

are the WWE heavyweight champions of sentences.

是美國職業摔角的冠軍

They can easily hold the weight

他們能夠很容易地

of these two complete sentences

舉起兩句完整的句子

because they are distributed evenly on both arms.

因為兩隻手用的力相同

So, when the comma asks if it can help,

所以，逗號小姐問介系詞的時候

the subordinate is appalled

連接詞嚇了一跳

at the idea of needing assistance.

他怎麼會需要幫忙

No thanks, maybe next time!

不了，謝謝，下次吧

So, the comma continues on.

逗號小姐繼續逛

Soon, she seems a couple of subordinates

一會兒，她看到兩個連接詞

attempting to lift the weight

試著要舉起

of sentences directly in front of themselves.

在他們面前的句子

Even though Bartheleme loves to sing,

儘管巴塞爾姆喜歡唱歌

he never sings in front of others.

他從不在他人面前唱

The comma asks the subordinates if they need help.

逗號小姐問介系詞需不需要幫忙

They might not want to admit it,

儘管連接詞不想承認

but this time the subordinates do need help.

但這次連接詞真的需要幫忙

Complete sentences weigh quite a bit.

完整的句子是有點重的

Simple physics tells us

透過簡單的物理學就知道

that it's easier to balance heavy objects

如果重物的重量相同

if the weight is evenly distributed.

會比較容易平衡它們

So, while the subordinates are quite capable

所以，僅管連接詞能夠

of balancing two complete sentences

平衡兩句完整的句子

when carrying the weight on both sides,

兩手都能承受重量

they're having trouble picking just one up.

但是要舉起一句就沒這麼容易

The comma rushes over

逗號小姐趕了過去

to help the struggling subordinates,

幫助受困的介系詞

but how will she help?

但是她怎麼幫呢？

When subordinates begin sentences,

當連接詞在句子的開頭時

the comma will place herself

逗號小姐就會去

directly after the first thought or complete sentence.

第一句完整的意思或是句子之後

After helping the subordinates,

幫了介系詞之後

our comma heroine continues on

逗號小英雄繼續逛

and spots a conjunction

看到一個介系詞

holding the weight of two complete sentences.

正在承受兩句完整句子的重量

Bartheleme was accepted into the University of Chicago,

巴塞爾姆獲准進入芝加哥大學就讀

and

然後

he is on the waitlist for Stanford University.

他也在史丹佛大學的候選名單上

The comma asks the conjunction if he needs help.

逗號小姐問介系詞需不需要幫忙

Of course he does! Hurry!

當然要啊！快點！

The comma rushes and places itself before the conjunction.

逗號小姐趕緊跑到介系詞的前面

Fanboys aren't as militant as subordinates.

介系詞並不像連接詞這麼好戰

For this reason,

所以

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

逗號小姐不需要到介系詞的後方

Fanboys are courteous creatures.

連接詞是很有禮貌的

They allow the comma to go ahead of them.

他們讓逗號小姐站在前面

Helping others is hard work!

幫助他人可是很辛苦的！

On her way home,

在回家的路上

our comma sees a conjunction holding up the weight

逗號小姐看到一個介系詞正在舉著

of a complete sentence

一句完整的句子

and a fragment sentence.

還有一小段句子

Bartheleme is going to major in molecular biology

巴塞爾姆要選擇主修分子生物學

or

或是

interpretive dance.

行為舞蹈

The now-exhausted comma asks the conjunction

累壞的逗號小姐問介系詞

if he needs help lifting the items.

需不需要幫忙

This is one of the rare occassions

這真的是很難得

where a conjunction doesn't need the help of a comma.

在這情況介系詞不需要逗號小姐的幫忙

The conjunction assures the comma

介系詞像逗號小姐保證

that help isn't needed,

她真的不需要幫忙

which is good for the comma

對逗號小姐來說也是好事

because by now,

因為她現在

all it wants to do is go home and rest up

只想回家好好休息一下

for another day of vigilant sentence constructing.

為了以後能夠幫忙小心地組合句子