撇號

在眾多標點符號中,撇號可能是最令人頭痛的一種了!撇號在英語中有兩種非常不同(也非常重要)的用法:所有格和縮寫;甚至連母語人士都會搞混。

撇號用於縮寫

英語中最常出現撇號的情況是縮寫,也就是名詞+動詞或代名詞+動詞的縮寫。切記,撇號常取代被省略的字母;在這種情況下,它會加在縮寫字詞的左上方。

類型 未使用縮寫的寫法 縮寫
用「not」 is not, has not, had not, did not, would not, can not isn't, hasn't, hadn't, didn't, wouldn't, can't
用「is」 she is, there is, he is, it is, Mary is, Jim is, Germany is, who is she's, there's, he's, it's, Mary's, Jim's, Germany's, who's
用「am」 I am I'm
用「will」 I will, you will, she will, we will, they will I'll, you'll, she'll, we'll, they'll
用「would」 I would, you would, he would, we would, they would I'd, you'd, he'd, we'd, they'd
用「have」 I have, you have, we have, they have I've, you've, we've, they've
用「are」 you are, they are, we are you're, they're, we're

即使是英語母語人士都會搞不清 its 和 it's、you're 和 your、who's 和 whose,還有 they're、their 和 there。以下例句會示範這幾個的差別:

舉例
  • It's a nice day outside.(代名詞 + Be 動詞的縮寫)
  • The cat is dirty. Its fur is matted.(所有格)
  • You're not supposed to be here.(代名詞 + Be 動詞的縮寫)
  • This is your book.(所有格)
  • Who's at the door?(疑問詞+ Be 動詞的縮寫)
  • Whose shoes are these?(who 的所有格)
  • They're not here yet.(代名詞 + Be 動詞的縮寫)
  • Their car is red.(所有格)
  • His car is over there.(地方副詞)

所有格中的撇號

在多數情況下,只要在名詞後加 ’s 即形成所有格。

舉例
  • a ship's captain
  • a doctor's patient
  • a car's engine
  • Ibrahim's coat
  • Mirianna's book

非以 s 結尾的複數名詞也是用這個規則:

舉例
  • the children's room
  • the men's work
  • the women's club

一般以 s 結尾的名詞,無論它是單數還是複數,只要在 s 後加一個撇號即形成所有格。

舉例
  • the bus' wheel
  • the babies' crying
  • the ladies' tennis club
  • the teachers' journal

以 s 結尾的專有名詞(如人名、城市名或國名)構成所有格的方式有兩種,一種是在字尾加撇號+s,或只加撇號。現今兩種寫法都正確(Jones 的所有格可以寫成 Jones's 或 Jones'),但近年來許多大型機構在公布其名稱時,都傾向去掉撇號,直接在字尾加 s(例如 Barclays Bank、Missing Persons Bureau)。

舉例
  • The Hughes' home (或 The Hughes's home)
  • Mr Jones's shop (或 Mr Jones' shop)
  • Charles' book (或 Charles's book)