徐道清
摘 ? ?要: 英語中的標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號的作用非常重要。逗號是最常用的標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號,用法極其靈活,出題者利用逗號設(shè)計(jì)一些題目,學(xué)生很容易出錯(cuò)。作者結(jié)合實(shí)際教學(xué),就有關(guān)逗號的用法與單項(xiàng)選擇題的關(guān)系作了總結(jié)。
關(guān)鍵詞: 英語 ? ?逗號 ? ?單項(xiàng)選擇題
逗號是英語中最常用的標(biāo)點(diǎn)符號,其用法較多,因此試題的設(shè)計(jì)者往往在考題中利用逗號增加一些“撲朔迷離”的色彩,學(xué)習(xí)者一不小心就會(huì)落入“陷阱”。下面筆者就針對實(shí)際教學(xué)中逗號在解題中的作用及與逗號有關(guān)的試題作歸納說明。
一、逗號與并列句、并列結(jié)構(gòu)
逗號的主要作用之一就是分隔由并列詞and, so, but, for, or, while, when, though 等連接的并列句或并列復(fù)合句。掌握逗號的這一用法在解題時(shí)非常重要。
例1 He thinks I have scolded him,?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 I have always spoken well of him.
A when ? ?B and ? ?C while ? ?D on the contrary
乍一見,答案D似乎不錯(cuò)。然而,根據(jù)題中逗號的用法,D是錯(cuò)誤的。此題逗號前是一個(gè)主從復(fù)合句,逗號后是一個(gè)簡單句,全句顯然是一個(gè)并列復(fù)合句,故中間需要一個(gè)連詞。D項(xiàng)是介詞短語,起狀語作用,不能連接并列復(fù)合句,A、B兩項(xiàng)不合題意,C項(xiàng)可作并列連詞,連接兩個(gè)對比的并列句,因此C為正確答案。
例2 I began to fish before memory began, ?搖 ?搖?搖?搖 I knew I have always fished.
A so far ? ?B so as far as ? ?C as far as ? ?D so
此題逗號前屬主從復(fù)合句,其后也屬主從復(fù)合句,因此中間需要一個(gè)并列連詞。so是并列連詞,B、D兩項(xiàng)中有so, 若選D項(xiàng),I know后面的部分就成了賓語從句,不合題意。B項(xiàng)中的so連接兩個(gè)分句,as far as為I know的從屬連詞,符合句意,因此B項(xiàng)為正確答案。
例3 John seems a nice person,?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 I don’t trust him.
A even though ? ?B even so ? ?C therefore ? ?D though
本題前半句的意思是“約翰看來是個(gè)很好的人”,后半句的意思是“我不信任他”。根據(jù)全句上下文的意思,空格應(yīng)填入表示轉(zhuǎn)折意思的副詞,所以答案是B,even so 相當(dāng)于nevertheless。A項(xiàng)是引導(dǎo)讓步狀語從句的連詞,不是副詞。C項(xiàng)雖然是副詞,但意思不對。D項(xiàng)雖然是表示轉(zhuǎn)折意思的副詞,但它通常置于句尾或插入句子中間。
二、逗號與簡單句,主從復(fù)合句
逗號的另一作用是用來分隔一些較長的簡單句或主從復(fù)合句。掌握逗號的這一用法有助于理解句子的結(jié)構(gòu),選擇正確答案。
例4 ?搖 ?搖?搖?搖 I admit that there are problems, I don’t think that they cannot be solved.
A Unless ? ?B Unti ? ?C As ? ?D While
逗號前后都有主語和謂語,因此可以判斷整個(gè)句子是一個(gè)復(fù)合句。全句的意思是:“盡管我承認(rèn)有問題存在,但我認(rèn)為這些問題能夠解決的?!贝鸢甘荄,while在此為連詞,表示語氣的轉(zhuǎn)折,意思是“盡管、雖然”。
例5 ?An Olympic Marathon is 26 miles and 385 yard, approximately ??搖?搖 ?搖?搖 from Marathon to Athens.
A distance ? ? ? ? ?B is the distance
C the distance ? ?D the distance is
逗號之后并無主謂成分,因此全句是一個(gè)簡單句。全句 的意思是:“奧林匹克馬拉松賽跑為26英里385碼,約為從馬拉松到雅典的距離。”本題的答案是C項(xiàng),名詞短語“approximately the distance from Marathon to Athens”進(jìn)一步說明26miles and 385 yards 究竟有多長,這在語法上叫同位語。答案如果是B或D的話,則句子結(jié)構(gòu)應(yīng)該分別為:
An Olympic Marathon is 26 miles and 385 yard, or is approximately the distance from Marathon to Athens.
An Olympic Marathon is 26 miles and 385 yard, and the distance is approximately from Marathon to Athens.
本題中逗號之后并沒有or 或and 之類的連接詞,因此后面不應(yīng)當(dāng)是一個(gè)句子。選項(xiàng)A也不對,因?yàn)檫@里的distance 后面有from...to...作定語,是特指,前面要有定冠詞。
例6 ? Meeting my uncle after all these years was an unforgettable moment,?搖?搖 ?搖?搖?搖?搖 I will always treasure.
A that ? ?B one ? ?C it ? ?D what ? ?(NMET2002)
此題首先排除了A、D兩項(xiàng),因?yàn)閠hat不能引導(dǎo)非限制性定語從句,what不合題意。逗號后面應(yīng)該是an unforgettable moment的同位語成分,用one 代替表示泛指,此題正確答案為B。
三、逗號與分詞短語、獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)
分詞短語、獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu)在句中起狀語作用,逗號把它們與主謂結(jié)構(gòu)分開。掌握逗號的這一作用,可避免或少犯錯(cuò)誤。
例7 ??搖?搖?搖?搖 ?搖?搖, we’ll go for an outing.
A Being a fine day ? ?B As being a fine day
C It was a fine day ? ?D It being a fine day
在做這一道題時(shí),不少學(xué)生犯了選擇C項(xiàng)的錯(cuò)誤,究其原因,仍然是忽略了逗號在句中的作用。此題中并無并列連詞,逗號前不可能是結(jié)構(gòu)完整的句子,排除C。A、B屬于分詞結(jié)構(gòu),分詞作狀語用時(shí),其邏輯主語必須和句子的主語一致,否則應(yīng)是獨(dú)立主格結(jié)構(gòu),故選D。但是,我們不能一見到逗號就選分詞結(jié)構(gòu),如果句中有逗號,又有并列連接詞,就應(yīng)考慮選擇有主謂結(jié)構(gòu)的選項(xiàng)。如:
例8 ? ?搖?搖 ?搖?搖?搖?搖, so they went to bed earlier than usual.
A There being nothing more to do
B There was nothing more to do
C Having nothing more to do
D They having nothing more to do
此題的關(guān)鍵在于逗號和并列連接詞so的提示,應(yīng)選一個(gè)主謂結(jié)構(gòu)的選項(xiàng),因此正確答案是B項(xiàng)。
例9 ?Not far from the club there was a garden,?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 owner seated in it playing bridge with his children every afternoon.
A whose ? ?B its ? ?C which ? ?D that
此題有許多學(xué)生選擇A項(xiàng),認(rèn)為這是一個(gè)主從復(fù)合句。逗號后面的seated其實(shí)是過去分詞作伴隨狀語,前面的應(yīng)該是邏輯主語,所以正確答案應(yīng)該選B項(xiàng),its是指代前面的garden。
四、逗號與定語從句、名詞性從句
逗號與從句的關(guān)系非常密切。下面是一些有關(guān)定語從句和名詞性從句的轉(zhuǎn)換題,但這類試題都與逗號有關(guān)。
例10?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 is well known to us all, the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in 2008.
A It ? ?B That ? ?C As ? ?D Which
正確答案為C,as 引導(dǎo)的非限制性定語從句,指代后面的整個(gè)句子的意思,中間用逗號隔開了。如果此題去掉逗號用that替代,即變成:
例11 ? ?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 is well known to us all that the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in 2008.
A It ? ?B That ? ?C As ? ?D Which
此時(shí)答案便大相徑庭,應(yīng)選A項(xiàng),it 作為形式主語引導(dǎo)主語從句。上面的例句可改為下面的兩個(gè)句子:
(1)As we all know, the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in 2008.
( as引導(dǎo)的非限制性定語從句)
(2) We all know (that) the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in 2008.
(that引導(dǎo)的賓語從句)
非限制性定語從句還有一個(gè)引導(dǎo)詞which, 它可代替前面的整個(gè)句子。
例如:Mary’s father was a professor, which made her very proud.
此句相當(dāng)于: Mary’s father was a professor, and it made her very proud.
五、逗號與不定式
不定式前面一般不加逗號,在句中充當(dāng)目的狀語或結(jié)果狀語,充當(dāng)目的狀語時(shí)可把不定式提到句子的前面用逗號隔開。
例12 ?Tom telephoned all his friends,?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 everyone the exciting news that he was accepted by a famous university.
A tel ? ?B to tell ? ?C telling ? ?D told
此句中有一逗號,所以答案不能選B。A項(xiàng)顯而易見是錯(cuò)誤的,D項(xiàng)是過去分詞,其邏輯主語不對,因此選C項(xiàng),它在句中作伴隨狀語。此題中如果去掉逗號,那么B項(xiàng)就是正確答案。如:
例13 The secretary worked late into night,?搖?搖?搖 ??搖 a long speech for the president.
A to prepare ? ?B preparing
C prepared ? ? ?D was preparing ? ?(NMET1991)
此題B項(xiàng)為正確答案。
例14Minister expressed his satisfaction with the talks,?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 that he had enjoyed his stay here.
A having added ? ? ?B to add
C adding ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? D added ? ?(NMET1994)
此題C項(xiàng)為正確答案。
六、逗號與插入語
插入語作為一種語言表達(dá)形式,位置靈活,可插在句子中間、可置于句首或句末,把完整的句子拆散。插入語置于句中或句末時(shí)往往以逗號隔開,但它對句子的結(jié)構(gòu)本身并無影響。
例15 ?You’d better, I think, ?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 him a hand when necessary.
A give ? ?B to give ? ?C gave ? ?D giving
遇到這類試題時(shí),應(yīng)撇開兩個(gè)逗號之間的內(nèi)容,分析整個(gè)句子的結(jié)構(gòu),即:You’d better do something, 故選A。在有些試題中,某一句子成分會(huì)被提前到句子中間,用逗號隔開。如:
例16 ?My friends, after they heard what had happened to me,?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 said it sounded like an adventure.
A all ? ?B that ? ?C which ? ?D who
此句中主語是“My friends”, 動(dòng)詞是“said”,所以答案不可能是B、C或D,應(yīng)選A。題中after 引導(dǎo)的從句屬狀語提前,對句子的結(jié)構(gòu)無任何影響。
例17 ? ?搖?搖 ?搖?搖 it or not, his discovery has created a stir in scientific circles.
A Believe ? ?B To believe ? ?C believing ? ?D believed
正確答案為A。
七、逗號與主語補(bǔ)足語
例18 ? With the local police’s help and efforts, after a long absence, the lost child returned to his parents, ?搖?搖 ?搖?搖.
A safely and soundly ? ? ? ?B safe and sound
C being safe and sound ? ?D both safe and sound
本句意思為“在當(dāng)?shù)鼐斓膸椭?,這個(gè)失蹤了很長時(shí)間的孩子安全、健康地回到父母的身邊”。形容詞作補(bǔ)語,說明主語the lost child回到父母身邊時(shí)的狀態(tài),因而正確答案為B。
綜上所說,逗號融入單項(xiàng)選擇題中,既干擾了學(xué)習(xí)者的思維,又增強(qiáng)了試題的靈活性。但只要充分了解逗號的用法,正確分析句子的結(jié)構(gòu),就能排除干擾,正確作答。
參考文獻(xiàn):
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[3]章振邦.新編英語語法教程(第四版).上海外語教育出版社,2004,3-1.
[4]徐保國.決勝’07——攻克單項(xiàng)填空.內(nèi)蒙古人民出版社,2006,5.