六、標點符號用法講練
標點符號 (Punctuation Marks) 主要用來明確語句的含義，標示一個句子或句子中各個成分的起止，以及彼此間的文法或語義上的關系。常用的標點符號有：
i) 句號 ( . ) (Period, Full Stop)
ii) 問號 ( ? ) (Interrogation Mark)
iii) 感嘆號 ( ! ) (Exclamation Mark)
iv) 逗號( , ) (Comma)
v) 分號( ; ) (Semicolon)
vi) 冒號( : ) (Colon)
vii) 破折號 ( — ) (Dash)
viii) 括弧( [ ] ) (Parentheses)
ix) 引號 ( “ ” )(Quotation Marks)
x) 連字型大小 ( - ) (Hyphen)
xi) 撇號( ’ ) (Apostrophe)
xii) 刪節號 (…) (Ellipsis)
上列標點符號，可歸納為三種情況：i) — iii) 用于句尾;iv) — ix) 用于句中;x) —xi)用于詞內。最後一個符號常用于引文中，表示刪掉一些文字。
(一)主要標點符號的用法
1) 逗號 (Comma)
主要用于：
a) 並列的詞或句子。例如：
Solids , liquids and gases can be changed from one to another.
From l926 until his death in l953, Thorpe lived a poor , lonely , unhappy life.
There’s only enough room for people to walk in , take one of the eleven inserts , roll them together , slip a rubber band around them and slide them into a plastic bag.
The present is living , the past dead , and the future unknowable.
b) 狀語(包括從句，動詞-ing形式，獨立結構，不定式短語，介詞短語等)。例如：
When water is heated , it will be changed into vapour.
John , seeing that his brother was hurt , ran to help him. 或Seeing that his brother was hurt , John ran to help him.
Work is done , even by a force acting at a distance.
To make the trip more exciting for the kids , Oscar kept the destination a secret.
After the heartbreaking experience , Thorpe turned to professional sports.
c) 非限定形容詞從句或插入語。例如：
At l0 a.m.we arrived at the railway station , where Jane was waiting for us.
You know , of course , what a phrasal verb is. I needn’t , therefore , explain it now.
d) 呼語、同位語。例如：
George , tell Dick the answer to the question.
He was a direct descendant of the famous warrior chief , Black Hawk.
e) 日期、數位、地址。例如：
Chichester began the greatest voyage of his life in August , 1966.
The voyage from England and back covered 28, 2500 miles.
Please send it to 1932 Hill Road , London S.E. 18.(門牌號和街名間無標點)
f) 姓名(姓在名前面時)，非正式信件的抬頭或信末署名前的客套語。例如：
Shakespeare , William
Einstein , Albert
Dear Philip ,
Sincerely yours ,
2) 分號(Semicolon)
主要用于：
a) 兩個或兩個以上意義有聯系的分句中間。例如：
Understanding is a two-way operation ; learning doesn’t consist in being an empty receptacle.
Work is more than a necessity for most human beings ; it is the focus of their lives, the source of their identity and creativity.
Some farmers were hauling water out to their thirsty stock daily ; others were trying to drill deep wells.
Not only do lies provide the “help” hoped for by advocates of benevolent deception ; they invade the autonomy of patients and render them unable to make informed choices concerning their own health.
b) 列舉事物，尤其是其間有逗號時。例如：
There will be three foreign teachers next term: Miss Ann Smith from Boston, America ; Mr. John Baker from London, England ; and Ms Mary Blake from Sydney, Australia.
3) 冒號(Colon)
主要用于：
a) 列舉事物。例如：
That was a tale of two cities : London and Paris.
It may also be said that rational, industrious, useful human beings are divided into two classes : first, those whose work is work and whose pleasure is pleasure; and second, those whose work and pleasure are one.
b) 注解句之前。例如：
I"ve just had some good news : I’ve been offered a part-time job in the computer center.
These seat covers are the most durable kind : they are reinforced with double stitching and covered with a heavy plastic coating.
4) 破折號(Dash)
主要用于：
a) 注解性的詞語或句子前;如用于句子中間，前後都要有破折號。例如：
There is a way to decide any question — experiment.
Somewhere or other — I think it is in the preface to Saint Joan — Bernard Shaw remarks that we are more gullible and superstitious today than we were in the Middle Ages.
b) 補充性的成分。例如：
Life — and death, too — is a cycle that goes round and round. I teach because teaching is a profession built on change. When the material is the same, I change — and more important, my students change.
c) 總括所列舉的事物。例如：
The complex operation required new methods for directing the combined endeavors of thousands and thousands of minds, some in government, some in universities, some in private industry — all working together for a common purpose.
d) 突然轉折。例如：
One little problem is that a computer can’t laugh yet — but the scientists are working on it.
5) 撇號
a) 用作省略號。例如：o’er ( = over), it’s = (it is).
b) 用作所有格符號。例如：Mary’s handbag, the l990’s。
c) 構成字母、數位或縮寫的復數形式。例如：the four a’s。
EXERCISE l
Capitalize and punctuate the following:
1.the man’s papers Betty found in the attic established his identity It henry bedell company D 11th vermont volunteers 30 years old
2.it was clear that dad could do no more than he was doing already farming 80 acres in addition to holding a fulltime job
3.now i’m coming to the most important point but what are you doing over there
4.rain snow sleet fog would not trouble the underground world
5.during the summer the resort is crowded with tourists during the winter only sea gulls walk the beach
6.to a certain extent mankind encumbers the earth
7.1ike most wild life deer reproduce grow and store fat in the summer and fall
8.the big fellow was jim thorpe the greatest american athlete of modern times
9.the asparagus were enormous juicy and appetising
10.i was sure our four kids educated about the west through movies would be disappointed
11.i wouldn’t mark a painting or a statue its soul so to speak is inseparable from its beauty
12.the participants of the singing contest included students teachers doctors businessmen factory workers people from all walks of life
13.is it possible that someday we may seek to add further to our comfort and security by building our houses underground in new man-made caves
14.i answered by correspondence that i would meet her at beijing hotel on thursday
15.passengers may have one of the four beverages coffee tea milk or soda
16.present at the meeting were mr ho chairman of the english department mr brown a visiting scholar from denmark and all the professors and lecturers who had taught us
17.the suspicion of deceit undercuts the work of many doctors who are scrupulously honest with their patients it contributes to the spiral of law suits and of defensive medicine
18.his slight acquaintance with them he had met them only once made him hesitate to ask them for help
(二)並列句中的標點用法
1) 逗號+並列連詞
The clock was old , yet it was in excellent condition.
There was little formality in class , but Mr Stone never had to discipline us.
註：ⅰ)在較短的句子中，逗號可以省略。例如：
Many are called but few are chosen.
然而有時單個詞後面也需用標點，否則表示不同的句意。例如：
Again , we lost our way. (而且我們迷路了。)
Again we lost our way. (我們又一次迷路。)
ⅱ)有兩個以上分句時，前幾個分句之間用逗號，最後兩個分句之間用逗號加連詞。例如：
The night wind died down , night closed in , the moon came out , and lights came on in the scattered houses.
2) 分號
They live on the first floor ; we live on the second. (對比)
Everyone was late ; the snow had caused a traffic jam. (補充說明)
3) 分號+連線性副詞+逗號
We didn’t like the choice ; however , we had to accept it.
We didn’t know what to do ; therefore , we did nothing.
適用于這種情況的連線性副詞還有：consequently，furthermore，moreover，nevertheless等。
註：ⅰ)連線性副詞位于句末時，前面一般用逗號，後面用句號。例如：
The new seats in the auditorium are more comfortable; the acoustics are worse , however.
ⅱ) 連線性副詞也放在句首，後面用逗號。例如：
I hadn’t read the test very carefully. Therefore , I was surprised that I had done so well.
I hadn’t read the test very carefully ; therefore , I was surprised that I had done so well.
ⅲ) then 和thus後面不用逗號。例如：
The ice cracked and split ; then that boy sank into the bone-chilling water.
EXERCISE 2
Punctuate the following sentences:
1.The plan won’t work for there are too many things wrong with it.
2.The bus broke down as a result we were late for work.
3.Martin left a note it said he would be late.
4.This is a new watch yet it doesn’t work.
5.Jim was very tired so he went right off to sleep.
6.Business was booming consequently the company needed more workers.
7.The sky was bright blue with a few white clouds in it and it was a beautiful day for the picnic.
8.The dining hall is nice looking the food however is terrible.
9.Attendance is compulsory the students have no choice therefore.
10.Some people put cream and sugar in their coffee others prefer it black.
11.Space exploration is costly nevertheless we must continue to spend money on space travel if we are to learn about our universe.
12.Astronauts are affected by weightlessness moreover they are also affected by boredom and loneliness.
EXERCISE 3
Correct punctuation mistakes in each sentence by adding a semicolon or a full stop, or a comma plus a suitable coordinating conjunction:
1.Unmanned space probes (探測器) eliminate the risk of death, furthermore, they cost much less than manned space flight.
2.Praise is like sunlight, we cannot flower or grow without it.
3.It was May, snow still lay under the branches of the thick pines.
4.The price of serious illness has risen drastically(大幅度地)in recent years, for example some hospital rooms now cost a hundred pounds a day.
5.John is short and quiet, his roommate is tall and talkative.
6.The window kept banging all night, I couldn’t sleep a wink.
7.Reckless (魯莽的) drivers would be severely punished, in fact they should lose their drivers’ permits for at least six months.
8.Jim liked to sample different kinds of food, I fixed some Chinese food for him.
9.Methods of studying vary, what works well for some students doesn’t work at all for others.
10.Philip was watching TV, Marie was upstairs on the phone.
(三)直接引語句的標點用法
1) 引述動詞位于句首
引述動詞+逗號/冒號+引語。例如：
Jim said: “I swim for an hour every day. ”
Tom said to his brother, “Put your toys away. Mom will be back soon.’’
2) 引述動詞位于句中
引語+逗號/驚嘆號/問號+引述動詞+逗號/句號+引語
引語的第一部分若是一個完整句子，引語第二部分句首用大寫字母，引述動詞後用句號。例如：
“Just tell the boys to get busy, ” their father instructed. “They’re college men. They’ll do what they have to do.’’
“No! No!” I cried. “You can’t sell my books.”
如果引語的第一部分不是完整句子，則引語的第二部分以小寫字母開始，引述動詞後用逗號。例如：
“You sir, ” King Gustav of Sweden told Thorpe, “are the greatest athlete in the world.’’
3) 引述動詞位于句末
引語+逗號/問號/驚嘆號+引述動詞。例如：
一“What offence?” I asked.
一“Theft, ” the policeman said.
“What a beautiful view!” she exclaimed.
4) 引語句子在句末
引語句子位于句末，其標點即為全句標點。例如：
All he can say in English is “How do you do?”
Did you see the words “Are you happy?”
上面兩句不能寫成：
* All he can say in English is “How do you do?”.
* Did you see the words “Are you happy?”?
EXERCISE 4
Correct the punctuation mistakes in the following sentences. If a sentence is correct as it stands, write C at its end:
1.“On Friday” the teacher announced: “we’ll take up a new lesson.’’
2.“What?” he asked? “do we have to prepare for the camping trip”?
3.“How was your day?” I enquired. “Great!” I enthused.
4.He greets everyone with “Hi”.
5.“You may think I have a lot of garbage in these bags.” One shopping-bag lady volunteered in a church soup kitchen. “but it’s everything I need.”
6.Who wrote “You fools!” on the blackboard?
7.“It pains me,” I said. “To find that you both have been panhandling so long that it no longer embarrasses you.’’
8.Retirement often brings many problems surrounding the “What do I do with myself” question? even though there may be no financial worries.
EXERCISE 5
Capitalize and punctuate the following passages:
1.London Fire
at one o’clock on september 2 1666 the great fire of London started in side a bakers shop in pudding lane it lasted five days and nearly 80%of all the buildings within the London wall were razed according to the official report l3200 houses 87 parish churches over 400 streets and the enormous old st pauls cathedral one of the wonders of the medieval world were in ruins out of Londons 450 acres only 75 remained untouched.
robert hubert a French watchmaker from rouen was accused of the fire the sentence said he had deliberately started the fire after he was hanged it was conclusively proved that he had not even arrived in London until two days after the fire broke out
2.Mountain-Climbing and Sight-Seeing
mr jones was very fond of climbing mountains so one year he went to switzerland for his holidays after he had climbed some easy mountains he decided one day to climb a more difficult one but he did not want to go up it alone so he found a good swiss guide who had often climbed that mountain
at first it was not a difficult climb but then they came to a place which was not so easy the guide stopped turned round and warned mr jones be careful here he said this is a dangerous place you can easily fall and if you do you will fall straight down a very long way but he continued calmly if you do fall here don’t forget to look to the right while you are going down there is a quite extraordinarily beautiful view there much more beautiful than the one you can see from here
3.The Road to Happiness
it is the simple things that really matter if a man delights in his wife and children has success in work and finds pleasure in the alternation of day and night spring and autumn he will be happy whatever his philosophy may be if on the other hand he finds his wife hateful his childrens noise
unendurable and the office a nightmare if in the daytime he longs for night and at night he sighs for the light of day then what he needs is not a new philosophy but a new pattern of life a different diet or more exercise man is an animal and his happiness depends on his physiology more than he likes to think unhappy business men I am convinced would increase their happiness more by walking six miles every day than by any conceivable change of philosophy