安徽省巢湖市第七中学 · 万小泉
英语并列句(compound sentence)的基本用法是用来表达有密切逻辑关系的同等重要思想。并列句的书面形式除需要借助并列连词的帮助外，还要借助标点符号的帮助。并列句的结构较为简单，但与标点符号之间的关系却十分微妙。本文拟对此作一探究。
一、并列句与逗号“，”。
1. 逗号一般不能独立连接两个或两个以上并列分句。它必须借助并列连词的力量。并列连词，如：and, but, or, so, for, yet等可与逗号一起连接并列分句。例如：
We waited for an hour, but our bus did not come.我们等了一小时，但我们的汽车没来。
A freshman should study regularly, or he may have to repeat a course.一年级学生要按部就班地学习，否则就会留级。
I am interested in your program, and I’m going to help you.我对你接的这项工作很感兴趣，并且我要帮助你。
We cannot get the door open, so we will have to walk around to the other door.我们打不开门，因此我们不得不绕到另个门。
The poem is ironic, for the poet’s meaning contrasts with his words.这首诗是反义，因为诗人的话与其意思相反。
2. 有时一串平行的短句用逗号连接起来，而不用连词。这种并列结构看起来像是逗号的滥用，然而却是对的。例如：
We need wisdom, we need money, we need power.我们需要智慧，我们需要金钱，我们需要权力。
He is cruel, he is lustful, he is immensely cunning.他残忍，他好色，他非常狡猾。
Paupers want to be rich men, rich men want to be kings, kings want to be gods.穷人想变富，富人想称王，王者想成神。
3. 逗号可用于分隔句中三个以上的并列分句，最后两个分句之间可用and连接。例如：
She entered the room, took off her shoes, and threw herself onto the sofa.她进入房间，脱下鞋，然后躺倒在沙发上。
In the Great Depression, millions lost their jobs, businesses failed, and charitable institutions closed their doors.在经济大危机时期，数以万计的人失业，公司倒闭，慈善机构关门。
二、并列句与分号“；”。
1. 分号力量较逗号大，可以不借助于并列连词，完全靠自己的力量来连接两个并列分句。例如：
He couldn’t have gone home this weekend; I saw him at the ball game on Saturday and in the library on Sunday. 他这个周末不可能回家；我在周六的球赛中看到了他，而且周日在图书馆也看见了他。
Bill is one of the most capable students; his records are among the best in our class.比尔是最能干学生中的一个；他的成绩是我们班上最好的。
2. 分号的上述用法可以用逗号加并列连词来代替，即把分号“；”改为“，”，并加上相应的并列连词。如上述第二例可改为：
Bill is one of the most capable students, and his records are among the best in our class.
3. 间或我们可以看到既用分号又用并列连词连接的并列句，这是为了加强语气。如上述第二例也可改为：
Bill is one of the most capable students; and his records are among the best in our class.
4. 并列分句也常用连接副词（如：however, therefore, furthermore, moreover, nevertheless, besides, consequently, accordingly, otherwise, afterwards, hence, indeed, in fact, later, yet, thus, still, then 等）连接，以起补充说明；此时连接副词前面或用逗号或用分号。例如：
She was angry, (或 ; ) nevertheless he listened to me.她生气了，但听我的话。
It rained, (或 ;) therefore the game was called off.由于有雨，因而那场比赛取消了。
He has lived on this island, (或 ; ) besides he has married a native woman.他在这岛上已生活了三十年，此外，他还娶了一位当地妇女。
The coat is tattered beyond repair; (或 , )still, Anne hopes the tailor can mend it.这件上衣破烂不堪，然而安妮仍希望裁缝把它缝补好。
Please call before you come, (或 ;) otherwise we might not be home.你来之前请先打个电话，否则我们可能不在家。
5. 单纯连词也可放在连接副词前面，这时它前面可加逗号。例如：
He rarely meets people, and therefore he feels shy.他很少与人会面，因而觉得害羞。
He has seen touch of the world, but still he is eager to see more.这个社会他已经看到了许多，可他仍急切地想多看一些。
6. 带有连接副词的并列句，若两个分句（或其中一个）中有一逗号，则须用分号代替逗号。例如：
He’s young; however, he knows more than he seems to.他很年轻，然而，他比看起来懂得更多。
John left his home twenty minutes late; consequently, he missed his train.约翰离开家晚了二十分钟；结果他没赶上火车。
7. 连接副词和短语连词（不包括and, but及or)有时可放在主语后面。这时这个主语前面应用一个分号，甚至句号。例如：
Not only her son died; she herself went mad, too (或as well) .不仅她儿子死了；她本人也变疯了。
The storm was terrible; few houses, however, were damaged.那场风暴是可怕的；不过很少有房屋被毁。
He made many mistakes; his younger sister, on the other hand, made very few.他做错了许多；而另一方面，他妹妹却错得很少。
John is seriously ill. Some of his best friends and relatives, therefore, are coming to see him.约翰病得很重。结果，他的几位要好的亲戚朋友要来看他。
三、并列句与破折号“—”。
1. 有时可用破折号“——”来代替分号，以隔开插入句中的附加信息，起补充说明或加强语调的作用。例如：
You’ve got enough facts—or is it that you don’t want to face facts?你有足够的事实——还是你不想面对事实？
I want to go to the party — however, I have no transport.我想去参加聚会，但我没有交通工具。
Such accidents cannot possibly occur—but, of course, that one did happen.这样的事故不可能发生——但是，那次事故就确实发生了。
2. 有时可用破折号“——”来代替冒号，表示对前面的话的总结或结论。例如：
He is modest, considerate, warm-hearted — he is a good man.他谦逊、体谅别人、热心肠——是一个不错的人。
Men were shouting, women were screaming, children were crying—it was chaos.男的喊、女的叫、孩子哭——混成一片。
You’ve admitted that you lied to me—how can I trust you again?你已经承认对我撒了谎——我怎么能再信任你呢？
四、并列句与冒号“：”。
冒号可用来连接两个关系十分紧密的分句。第二个分句几乎就是第一个分句的再一次阐述；或是第一个分句的具体内容或结果。使用冒号时也不用并列连词。例如：
Ed began to study seriously: he had finally come to his senses.埃德开始认真学习：他终于觉悟过来。
The story illustrates an important principle: work comes first.这个故事揭示了一条重要原则：工作应当第一。
The garden had been neglected for a long time: it was overgrown and full of weeds.那个花园长期无人照料，里面长满了杂草。
He knocked at the door again and again: there was no answer.他一再敲门，但无人应声。
Here is the client’s request: we are to provide the preliminary proposal by November 15.这里是客户的要求：我们应在11月15日之前提供初步计划。
The week had been productive: fourteen projects had been completed and another dozen had been initiated. 那一周成果丰硕：完成了14个项目，另外又开始了12项。
五、并列句与句号“。”。
1. 当两个或两个以上的简单句的关系不很紧密，并列连词可引导单独一个句子。此时并列连词前可用句号或感叹号。例如：
I’m sorry to trouble you. But can you direct me to the nearest post office?对不起打扰一下。你可以告诉我最近的邮局在哪儿吗？
You’re alive! And she’s dead.你活着，而她却死了。
2. 并列连词有时有意把前面一系列句子(看作一个整体)和后面的一个或几个句子(看作一个整体)连接起来，此并列连词前也可用句号等。例如：
Bob got up at five every morning. He would read a newspaper while eating his breakfast. It was about eight when he started for the office. But today is Sunday. He wants to sleep as much as possible. 鲍勃每天五点起床。一边吃早饭，一边看报纸。大约八点钟去上班。可今天是星期天。他想多睡一会儿。
参考文献：
1. 李经纬《英语标点符号用法指南》，金盾出版社，2004年
2. 薄冰《薄冰常用英语词汇用法全解》山西教育出版社，2006年
3. 霍恩比(原著) 李北达(编译)《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》(第四版)，商务印书馆，1997年
【本文发表于《中小学英语教学与研究》2011年第2期】
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