English sentence and punctuation

Http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_575e112f0100zhq0.html

Probing into English sentence and punctuation

Anhui Province Chaohu Seventh High School · Wan

The basic usage of the English side-by-side sentence (compound sentence) is to express the same important thought which has the close logical relation. In addition to the help of the parallel conjunctions, the written form of the parallel sentences should help with punctuation. The structure of side-by-side sentences is relatively simple, but the relationship with punctuation is very subtle. This paper intends to make a probe into this.

One, the sentence and the comma ",".

1. commas generally cannot be connected independently of two or more parallel clauses. It must rely on the power of parallel conjunctions. Parallel conjunctions, such as: and, but, or, so, for, yet, etc. can be connected with commas and parallel clauses. For example:

We waited for a hour, but we do not come. We waited an hour, but our car didn't come.

A freshman should study regularly, or he may have to repeat a course. First-year students should study in a methodical way, or they will repeat their grades.

I am interested in your program, and I'm going to help you. I am very interested in the work you have received and I want to assist you.

We cannot get the door open, so we'll have a to walk around to the other door. We couldn't open the door, so we had to go around to another door.

The poem is ironic, for the poet's meaning contrasts with his words. The poem is counter-righteous because the poet's words are contrary to their meaning.

2. sometimes a series of parallel phrases are concatenated with commas instead of conjunctions. This side-by-side structure looks like a comma abuse, but it is right. For example:

We need wisdom, we need, we need power. We need wisdom, we need money, we need power.

He is cruel, he's lustful, he is immensely cunning. He was cruel, he was lustful, he was very cunning.

Paupers want to being rich men, rich man want to being kings, Kings want to being gods. The poor want to become rich, the rich want to become king, and kings want to be gods.

3. A comma can be used to delimit more than three parallel clauses in a sentence, and the last two clauses can be connected with an and. For example:

She entered the rooms, took off her shoes, and threw herself onto the sofa. She entered the room, took off her shoes, and then lay down on the sofa.

In the great Depression, millions lost their jobs, businesses failed, and charitable institutions closed their doors. Economic crisis During the machine period, tens of thousands of people were unemployed, companies closed and charities closed.

Second, a parallel sentence and a semicolon ";".

1. The semicolon power is larger than the comma, can not rely on the use of parallel conjunctions, entirely on their own strength to connect two parallel clauses. For example:

He couldn ' t has gone home this weekend; I saw him at the ball game on Saturday and in the library on Sunday. He couldn't have gone home this weekend, I saw him in the Saturday game and saw him in the library in Sunday.

Bill is one of the most capable students; His records is among the best of our class. Bill is one of the most capable students;

2. The above usage of semicolons can be replaced by commas and parallel conjunctions, i.e. the semicolon ";" is replaced by "," and the corresponding parallel conjunctions are added. If the second example above can be changed to:

Bill is one of the most capable students, and he records is among the best in our class.

3. Sometimes we can see a side-by-side sentence that is connected by a semicolon and a parallel conjunction, which is to strengthen the tone. If the second example above can also be changed to:

Bill is one of the most capable students; And his records is among the best of our class.

4. parallel clauses are also commonly used to connect adverbs (such as: However, therefore, furthermore, moreover, nevertheless, besides, consequently, accordingly, Otherwise, afterwards, hence, indeed, in fact, later, yet, thus, still, then, etc.) are connected to the supplement; At this point, connect the adverb before or with a comma or a semicolon. For example:

She was angry, (or;) Nevertheless he listened to me. She's angry, but listen to me.

It rained, (or;) therefore the game was called off. Because of the rain, the game was canceled.

He has the lived on the island, (or;) Besides he has married a native woman. He had lived on the islands for 30 years, and he married a local woman.

The coat is tattered beyond repair; (or,) Still, Anne hopes the tailor can mend it. The coat is in rags, but Anne still wants the tailor to mend it.

Please contact before you come, (or;) otherwise we might not being home. Call us before you come, otherwise we may be out of the house.

5. A simple conjunction can also be placed in front of the connecting adverb, when it is preceded by a comma. For example:

He rarely meets people, and therefore he feels shy. He seldom meets people and feels shy.

He had seen touch of the world, but still he was eager to seeing more. He had seen a lot of this society, but he was still eager to look more.

6. a parallel sentence with a connecting adverb, if there is a comma in the two clauses (or one of them), a semicolon should be used instead of a comma. For example:

He ' s Young; However, he knows more than he seems to. He is very young, however, he knows more than he seems.

John left his home twenty minutes late; Consequently, he missed his train. John left home 20 minutes late, so he missed the train.

7. connecting adverbs and phrase conjunctions (not including and, but and or) can sometimes be placed behind the subject. The subject is then preceded by a semicolon, or even a period. For example:

Not only her son died; She herself went mad, too (or as well). Not only did her son die; she was also mad.

The storm was terrible; Few houses, however, were damaged. The storm was terrible, but few houses were destroyed.

He made many mistakes; He younger sister, on the other hand, made very few. He did a lot of wrong, but on the other hand, his sister was very wrong.

John is seriously ill. Some of his best friends and relatives, therefore, is coming to see him. John is very ill. As a result, several of his best friends and relatives came to see him.

Three, a side sentence and a dash "- ".

1. sometimes a dash "--" is used instead of a semicolon to separate additional information from the inserted sentence and to supplement or strengthen the tone. For example:

You ' ve got enough facts-or are it that you don't want to the face facts? Do you have enough facts-or do you not want to confront the truth?

I want to go to the party-however and I have no transport. I want to go to the party, but I have no transportation.

Such Accidents cannot possibly occur-but, of course, that one did happen. Such an accident could not have happened-but the accident did happen.

2. sometimes a dash "--" is used instead of a colon to indicate a summary or conclusion of the preceding words. For example:

He is modest, considerate, warm-hearted-he are a good man. He was humble, considerate, warm-hearted-a good person.

Men were shouting, women were screaming, children were crying-it were chaos. The man shouted, the woman called, the child cried--a blend.

You ' ve admitted so lied to Me-how can I trust you again? Have you confessed to lying to me-how can I trust you again?

Four, the sentence and the colon ":".

A colon can be used to connect two closely related clauses. The second clause is almost one more elaboration of the first clause, or the specific content or result of the first clause. You do not need to tie the conjunctions when using colons. For example:

Ed began to study Seriously:he had finally come to his senses. Ed began to study hard: He finally came to consciousness.

The story illustrates an important principle:work comes first. This tale sheds light on an important principle: work should be number one.

The garden had been neglected for a long time:it is overgrown and full of weeds. There was no long-term care for the gardens, and they were overgrown with weeds.

He knocked at the door again and Again:there is no answer. He knocked at the door, but no one answered.

Here is the client's request:we is to provide the preliminary proposal by November 15. This is the customer's request: We should provide the preliminary plan before November 15.

The week had been productive:fourteen projects had been completed and another dozen had been initiated. The week was fruitful: 14 projects were completed and 12 more were started.

v. Sentence and period ". ".

1. when two or more simple sentences are not closely related to each other, a parallel conjunction can lead to a single sentence. A period or exclamation point is available before the conjunction of the conjunctions. For example:

I ' m sorry to trouble. But can I direct me to the nearest post office? Excuse me. Can you tell me where the nearest post office is?

You ' re alive! And she's dead. You're alive, and she's dead.

2. parallel conjunctions Sometimes intentionally connect the preceding series of sentences (as a whole) with one or more of the following sentences (as a whole), which can be preceded by a period. For example:

Bob got up at five every morning. He would read a newspaper while eating his breakfast. It was on eight when he started for the office. But today is Sunday. He wants to sleep as much as possible. Bob gets up five o'clock every day. While eating breakfast, while reading the newspaper. Go to work at about eight o'clock. But today is Sunday. He wants to sleep a little more.

Reference Documents :

1. Jinwei "Guide to the use of English punctuation marks", Golden Shield publishing house, 2004

2. Thin ice "thin ice common English vocabulary usage full Solution" Shanxi Education Press, 2006

3. Hohnby (original) Li Nore (compilation) "Oxford Corner Dictionary" (fourth Edition), Commercial Press, 1997

This article was published in the 2nd issue of English teaching and research in primary and secondary schools , 2011

English sentence and punctuation