分号是一种介于句号和逗号之间的表示停顿的标点符号。它主要用来表示隔开前后部分之间的并列、转折、承接、因果等关系。使用分号比使用句号更能突显分句之间的紧密联系,但不及用逗号分开的紧密。许多英语学习者由于对英语分号的用法不甚了解,因而在英语写作中,不用或很少使用这一标点符号。
1.如果并列分句之间没有and、but、for、or、nor等并列连词连接,要用分号。例如:
The window is broken; the door can’t close.
Kind hearts are the gardens; kind thoughts are the roots; kind words are the flowers; kind deeds are the fruits.
Those who can lose shall gain; those who wish for gain shall lose.
People make history; unusual people make history interesting.
Don’t ask what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.
2.分号用于分隔已有逗号的并列成分或相似内容, 以避免歧义等。例如:
With clothes, the new are best; with friends, the old are best.
The lion is the symbol of courage; the lamb, of meekness.
Matter may be invisible; air, for example, is this kind of the matter.
After tasting all the dishes, the judges sighed heavily; it was so difficult to choose the best from all of them.
Unfortunately, Tom couldn’t come; and his absence made things difficult for us.
3.分号起转折、承接或形成因果等作用,使上下文意思连贯,语义衔接。句中若有连接副词also、besides、hence、however、indeed、instead、meanwhile、moreover、nevertheless、otherwise、therefore、thus等连接独立分句,之前常用分号。例如:
She prepared her English lessons; also she wrote a composition.
I live too far away to visit you often; besides, you are never home.
The composition is all right; however, there isroom forimprovement.
He knows a lot about England; indeed, he has been in the most countries in Europe.
He put out the fire quickly; thus, a great disaster was avoided.
4.分号可用于in addition、in fact、for example、on the contrary、on the other hand、so then、that is等短语之前,以连接或补充说明其后的短语或句子。例如:
HIV weakens a person’s immune system; that is, the part of the body that fights disease.
You need money and time; in addition, you need diligence.
His sister is a busy girl; in fact, she works harder than he does.
Decide what kind of band you will be; for example, will you be a rock band or group of singers?
It doesn’t seem ugly to me;on the contrary, I think it’s rather beautiful.
You have been to Egypt; so then, you must have seen the pyramids.
5. 句中若有并列连词and、but、only、or、still等,其前可应用分号或逗号隔开并列分句。例如:
He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything.
Sam didn’t get the job; but he’s not worried because it didn’t pay well anyway.
Travel wherever you want to; only return at the end of the month.
She failed; still she didn’t lose heart.
English has hurt me a thousand times, but I still regard it as my first love.
6. 分号用于分隔或分行列举下文各并列成分,如不定式短语或从句等。例如:
In English, there are several ways of forming words: compounding (gold + fish =
goldfish); derivation (un- + help + -ful = unhelpful); and conversion.
Follow this procedure: first, get your application forms; next, fill them out; last, pay the charge.
Tell the magazine readers:
—what exactly your hobby is;
—when and how you became interested in this hobby;
—why you enjoy your hobby;
—about your hopes and plans for the future.
The functions of your skin are also very complex: it keeps you warm or cool; it prevents your body from losing too much water; it is where you feel cold, heat or pain and it give you your sense of touch.
7. 分号用于分隔辞书中同一义项的不同释义或试题中的并列选项等。例如:
strengthen ['streŋθn]verbto become stronger; to make sb./sth. stronger 加强;增强;巩固
以上对分号的常见用法作了简单的陈述和归纳。分号的主要作用就是用于分隔没有连接词连接的句子。标点的正确使用会使文章表达清晰,通顺易懂。因此,分号这个看似司空见惯却不易把握的小符号,应该受到英语学习者的重视。
参考文献
1.高凌《英汉双解大词典(最新版)》,外文出版社, 2008年
2. Hornby, A. S. 《牛津高阶英汉双解词典(第七版)》,商务印书馆,牛津大学出版社, 2009年
3.Longman《朗文当代高级英语词典(英英英汉双解(新版)》,外语教学与研究出版社,2005年
4.徐广联《大学英语语法》,华东理工大学出版社,2005年