分號(semicolon)相信大家都有見過,但係關於佢嘅用法就未必個個都識。比起逗號佢更加強烈地表示停頓、間隔,而比起句號佢又冇表達停止咁絕對。分號嘅用法十分微妙地處於逗號同句號之間,即刻睇下分號嘅三種用法,解開大家嘅困惑啦!

1. 用於連接兩個獨立的子句

分號最常出現的情況,就是把兩個獨立的子句連接在一起,而省略例如 and, but, or, so, yet等連接詞。

I ordered a cheeseburger for lunch; life’s too short for counting calories.

中午我點了一個芝士漢堡,人生苦短,不能計算卡路里。

Money is the root of all evil; I don’t believe the reverse is necessarily true.

錢是萬惡之源,我不相信反之就一定是。

2. 用於列舉項目

在英文裡,逗號和分號都可以用來當作舉例時的標點符號。如果列舉的項目「太長」,則用分號代替逗號。

Our plan included having a picnic at the park; making dinner together at home; and throwing a house party with a few friends.

我們的計畫包括在公園裡野餐、在家一起做晚餐以及和幾個朋友辦派對。

My plan included taking him to a nice dinner; going to the park to look at the stars; and back home.

我的計劃包括帶他去吃一頓豐盛的晚餐;去公園看星星;然後回家。

3. 和連接副詞一起出現

分號還會和連接副詞一起出現,比moreover, nevertheless, however, otherwise, therefore, then等等用在語氣上連接兩個獨立的句子。

The students had been advised against walking alone at night; however, Cathy decided walking wasn’t dangerous if it was early in the evening.

學生們曾被勸告不要在晚上獨自走,然而,凱西認為如果是在傍晚時分並不危險。

We haven’t spoken to each other for a long time; moreover, we weren’t exactly friends back then, either.

我們很久沒有和對方講話了;而且我們以前也算不上是朋友。