英語講義【126】由標點符號引起的錯句

在英語的錯誤中，有兩種和標點符號有關。一種是應用逗號卻用了句點；另一種應用句點卻用了逗號。前種情況使句子不完整；後種情況，則無休止符。

　　這裡就詳細談談這兩個問題。

　　大家知道，一個完整的句子有主語（The Subject）和謂語（The Predicate）。除了省略句（Elliptical Sentences）之外，一般的句子，都由“主語＋謂語”組成一個簡單句（The Simple Sentence ）。一個短語或分句沒有了主句，便是不完整的句子（Fragmentary Sentences），便是錯誤句。

　　在下列句子中，①a, ②a, ③a全錯；①b, ②b, ③b才對：

　　①a. I have two purposes of dieting. To save money on food and to trim my waistline.
　　　b. I have two purposes of dieting: to save money on food and to trim my waistline.

　　②a. That desk has a secret drawer. Into which James stuffed all the old bills.
　　　b. That desk has a secret drawer into which James stuffed all the old bills.

　　③a. The old men jumped through the window. Because it was the only way of escaping the fire.
　　　b. The old man jumped through the window because it was the only way of escaping the fire.

　　和不完整的句子呈強烈對照的是衹有逗號的句子（Run-on Sentences）。這樣的句子，一個接一個，沒有句點，也沒有連詞，這是不對的；因此，④a和⑤a錯；④b和⑤b對：

　　④a. All at once, we knew the answer, Jenny was lying.
　　　b. All at once, we knew the answer. Jenny was lying.

　　⑤a. Helen is an excellent singer, one of the best in this country, don't you think so?
　　　b. Helen is an excellent singer, one of the best in this country. Don't you think so?

　　下麪這段文字裡有些句子不完整，有些又一句接一句，欲罷不能。你能不能把這些錯誤找出來，竝加以改正。

　　① Tony was a good singer, he went in for singing at a very young age.
　　② lt goes without saying that he was keen on singing, many people did not like singing at all.
　　③ But as far as Tony was concerned. Singing became part of his life.
　　④ Whenever he was tired or ill, he would; as a rule, consider it good to sing a song （for entertainment）.
　　⑤ The moment Tony played his musical instrument and sang. All living things came to listen to him. In other words, his singing was welcomed by all creatures.
　　⑥ Like anyone else; Mary loved his singing and decided to marry him.
　　⑦ Tony too, loved her dearly. At first sight.
　　⑧ But one day, Mary was killed, in the field.
　　⑨ For many days Tony was sad at her death. ⑩ Soon he died of grief.

　　答案：

　　① ……a good singer. He went in for ……
　　②. ……singing. Many people……
　　③ ……concerned, singing……
　　④ ……he would, as a rule, consider……
　　⑤ ……and sang, all living things……
　　⑥ Like anyone else, Mary……
　　⑦ ……loved her dearly at first sight.
　　⑧ ……killed in the field……
　　⑨ For many days, ……
　　⑩ Soon, he died of grief.