句子開頭的副詞片語或子句應使用逗點與主要子句隔開

一個句子若以副詞片語或子句做開頭,那麼該副詞片語或子句的後面應使用逗點來與主要主句 (即獨立子句) 隔開。儘管有人認為可以不用,但使用逗點的主要目的是要讓句子易讀易懂,對於句意的正確傳達有很大的助益。不過,若句子的開頭並非副詞片語或子句,而是一個字的副詞 (如 Now, Today, Here 等),那麼它們的後面通常不用逗點。例如:

  • In the center of Taipei, a lot of people fell victim to pickpockets. (在台北市中心,許多人遭到扒竊) (正)
  • On Wednesday 2nd December, Jack broke up with his girlfriend. (12 月 2 日星期三,傑克跟他女友分手) (正)
  • On Wednesday 2nd December Jack broke up with his girlfriend. (誤)
  • When I was a kid, I would always swim in the sea. (小時候我常常在海中游泳) (正)
  • After Jack had broken up with his girlfriend, he suffered from depression. (傑克跟他女友分手後得了憂鬱症) (正)
  • Here they disagree with us. (在這一點上,他們和我們看法不同) (正)
  • Yesterday Jack saw his ex-girlfriend having dinner with a man in a restaurant. (昨天傑克看見他前女友和一名男子在一家餐廳共進晚餐) (正)

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After 和 behind 的用法差異

After 主要當介系詞、副詞和連接詞用,而 behind 則主要當介系詞和副詞用。這兩個字的用法可謂「小同大異」,除了有個地方可以互換之外,其他用法皆大異其趣、截然不同。

After 用作介系詞時意為「在 … 之後,在 … 以後;在 … 後面;隨 … 之後」,是指時間的先後順序。例如:

  • After graduation Allen is going to study abroad. (艾倫畢業後要出國留學)
  • We’re planning to meet at half after ten. (我們打算十點半見面)
  • After you, please. (您先請)
  • After you with the computer, please. (請您用完電腦後給我用)
  • Mary came in after John. (瑪麗在約翰之後進來)
  • Paul slammed the door after him. (保羅砰的一聲隨手關上了門)

After 用作副詞時意為「之後,以後」,也是指時間的先後順序。在此用法中,after 通常與其他字構成副詞片語。例如:
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How come 的用法

  • How come Adam called his dad a bloody fool! (亞當怎麼叫他老頭大笨蛋呢!) (正)
  • How about Adam called his dad a bloody fool! (誤)
  • What come Adam called his dad a bloody fool! (誤)

解說: 疑問副詞 how 與 come 構成副詞片語 how come,相當於 why,意為「何以會…;為什麼」,但用 why 時,句子為問句,用 how come 時,句子為直述句。How come 大多用於口語。

Immunity vs. impunity

Impunity 意為「免除 (懲罰);免於懲處」,通常與 with 連用來構成 with impunity 這個副詞片語, 意為「不受懲罰地」,如 That guy will not escape with impunity. (那個傢伙不可能逃脫懲罰)。

Impunity 與意思較廣的 immunity 並不相同,後者意為「免疫力」、「免除,豁免」、「豁免權」及「不受影響」,如 The scientists intend to develop immunity to many diseases. (科學家打算培養對抗多種疾病的免疫力);The law gives public schools immunity from taxation. (法律免除公立學校的納稅義務);John’s father has diplomatic immunity. (約翰的父親有外交豁免權);His immunity to criticism upset me. (他對批評之無動於衷使我生氣);parliamentary immunity (國會議員免責權)。

Impunity 是一種 immunity,這兩個字在「免除 (懲罰),豁免」的意思上非常相近,但 immunity 通常是個法律名詞,不常出現在其他上下文中。在指某人做錯事或做壞事而不必承擔負面的後果或受到處罰時,無論是法律或非法律的,impunity 是個比較適當的用字。