This week on Ask a Teacher we answer a question from Yigitcan.
本周《名师答疑》我们要回答伊占提出的一个问题。
Yigitcan asks if it is correct to begin a sentence with conjunctions such as and, but and or. Their grammar book, this person adds, says no.
伊占问,一个句子以“and”、“but”和“or”这样的连词来开头是否正确。伊占补充道,他们的语法书说那不正确。
It is completely acceptable to begin a sentence with the words and, but, and or. Conjunction words like these join together sentences, clauses, or phrases.
句子以“and”, “but”,和“or”来开头是完全可以接受的。像这样的连词将句子、从句或短语连接在一起。
Sometimes starting a sentence with a conjunction makes your writing sound better.
有时句子用连词开头会使你的行文听起来更好。
It can keep your thoughts clearly separate.
它可以把行文的思想内容分得很清楚。
And it can add importance to a thought, like in this example:
而且它还可以重点突出思想内容,就像下面这个例子:
Not only is Stella my sister, she also is my best friend. And she is a great business partner, too!
斯特拉不仅是我的妹妹,她也是我最好的朋友。而且她也是一个很好的商业伙伴!
Other times, it might be better to use a different word, such as, however.
其它时候,使用一个不同的连词可能会更好,例如“however”。
The word "however" sounds a bit more formal and serious than "but."
“however”听起来比“but”更正式、更严肃。
The right word choice depends on the kind of writing you are doing.
词汇的恰当选择取决于你的行文种类。
Let's look at another example.
让我们看看另一个例子。
This one is from a recent Words and Their Stories article on the Learning English website.
这个例子摘自英语学习网站上最近的一篇《词汇掌故》文章。
Listen for the two sentences that begin with a conjunction.
听听下面这两个以连词开头的句子。
"To make it on Broadway, you have to be very good.
要在百老汇取得成功,你必须非常出色。
But you also have to be tough.
但你也必须要很坚韧。
Actors usually have many doors closed in their faces before other doors, hopefully, open.
演员在有望崭露头角之前通常都是默默无闻的。
But even if you are hard-working and gifted, you may also need something else to succeed on Broadway -- luck!
但即使你很努力并且有天赋,你可能也需要其它东西来在百老汇取得成功——运气!
Yigitcan's question is not surprising.
伊占的问题并不令人惊讶。
Many people are taught to avoid using conjunction words at the start of sentences.
许多人被教导要避免在句子开头使用连词。
In fact, experts at Merriam-Webster.com write: "Everybody agrees that it's all right to begin a sentence with and, and nearly everybody admits to having been taught at some past time that the practice was wrong."
事实上,韦氏词典网站的专家写道:“大家都认同句子以“and”开头没什么问题,而且几乎人人承认,在过去某些时候,他们被教导说这种做法是错误的。”
And that is Ask a Teacher.
以上就是本期《名师答疑》的全部内容。
I'm Anna Matteo.
我是安娜·马特奥。