なぜやるか

Part7の文章では「名詞 + 後置修飾のカタマリ」が主語になり、主動詞が遠くに離れることがよくあります。主語の範囲を素早く特定できないと、動詞を読み飛ばしたり動詞を名詞句の一部と誤解したりします。また「形式主語 it」と「真主語の that節/不定詞句」の区別はPart5の頻出問題です。このLesson 11を終えると、どんなに主語が長くても V の位置を即座に見つけられるようになります。

やり方

長い主語のパターン

パターン1:名詞 + [ 後置修飾 ] が主語
[The report submitted by the external team] was reviewed.
主語 = The report(核)
[ ] = submitted by the external team(後置修飾)

パターン2:動名詞句が主語
[Reducing operational costs] is the primary objective.
主語全体 = Reducing operational costs

パターン3:that節が主語(形式主語 it と対で)
It is clear [that the policy needs revision].
形式主語 = It
真主語 = that the policy needs revision

S + V の境界の見つけ方

  1. 名詞句(S)をすべて [ ] や ( ) で囲って外す
  2. 残った最初の動詞が V

例文トレーニング

文1|後置修飾された主語

原文: The employees [selected (by the regional committee) (for the leadership program)]will attend an intensive training seminar (next month).

S = The employees(核)
[ ] = selected by the regional committee for the leadership program ← 後置修飾
V = will attend
O = an intensive training seminar
( ) = next month

→ [ ] を外すと「The employees will attend an intensive training seminar.」が残る。

文2|前置詞句を含む長い主語

原文: The proposal (from the development team) (at the eastern branch)
required significant revision (before final submission).

S = The proposal(核)
( ) = from the development team ← proposalを修飾
( ) = at the eastern branch ← teamを修飾(または proposalを修飾)
V = required
O = significant revision
( ) = before final submission

→ ( ) を外すと「The proposal required significant revision.」が残る。

文3|動名詞句が主語

原文: Implementing the new compliance framework (across all departments)
will require substantial investment (in staff training).

S = Implementing the new compliance framework(動名詞句)
( ) = across all departments ← 動名詞句を修飾
V = will require
O = substantial investment
( ) = in staff training ← investmentを修飾

→ 動名詞句全体が S。V は will require。

文4|形式主語 it + that節

原文: It has become evident {that the market (for electric vehicles)
is expanding (at an unprecedented rate)}.

形式主語 = It
V = has become
C = evident
{ } = that the market for electric vehicles is expanding at an unprecedented rate
← 真主語(that節)
( ) = for electric vehicles / at an unprecedented rate ← { }の内部

→ It の内容(真主語)は that節。

文5|形式主語 it + 不定詞句

原文: It is essential [to review all the terms and conditions (of the agreement)
(before signing)].

形式主語 = It
V = is
C = essential
[ ] = to review all the terms and conditions of the agreement before signing
← 真主語(不定詞句)
( ) = of the agreement / before signing ← [ ]の内部

実戦問題

構造を分解しながら空所を埋めましょう。

Q1. The new regulations ------- to take effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year have already been distributed to all department heads.

(A) scheduled (B) scheduling (C) schedule (D) schedules

解答・解説を見る

構造メモ:
The new regulations [-------] (to take effect) (at the beginning) (of the next fiscal year)
have already been distributed (to all department heads).

空所の位置: regulations(名詞)の直後 → 後置修飾
regulations は「予定される側」→ 受動 = 過去分詞

正解: (A) scheduled

regulations(規制)は「予定される側」なので受動の過去分詞 scheduled。scheduled to take effect「施行予定の(規制)」と後置修飾する。be scheduled to do〜「〜する予定である」の分詞形。

(B) scheduling:現在分詞(能動)で「予定している規制」は不自然。(C) schedule:原形で名詞修飾に使えない。(D) schedules:三人称単数現在形で動詞になってしまう。

Q2. ------- is widely recognized that early investment in employee development leads to higher long-term retention rates.

(A) This (B) It (C) That (D) What

解答・解説を見る

構造メモ:
[-------] is widely recognized that early investment
(in employee development) leads (to higher long-term retention rates).

空所: 文の主語の位置
that節(真主語)が後ろにある → 形式主語が入る

正解: (B) It

It is recognized that〜「〜ということが認識されている」の形式主語構文。It が仮の主語で、真主語は that 以下。

(A) This:指示代名詞で形式主語としては使わない。(C) That:接続詞 that は節を導くが、ここでは主語の位置なので不可(That S + V …型だと that 以下が主語になるが、後ろにもう一つ that があり二重になる)。(D) What:疑問詞・関係詞で形式主語には使わない。

Q3. The results [obtained (during the six-month pilot program)] ------- that the new approach is significantly more effective than previous methods.

(A) demonstrating (B) demonstrated to (C) demonstrate (D) to demonstrate

解答・解説を見る

構造メモ:
The results [obtained (during the six-month pilot program)] [-------]that the new approach is significantly more effective (than previous methods).

S = The results
[ ] = obtained during the six-month pilot program ← 後置修飾(外す)
→ 空所は主動詞の位置
that 以下 = O(名詞節)

正解: (C) demonstrate

[ ] を外すと「The results ------- that〜」という SVO の骨格が見える。空所は主動詞の位置なので動詞の原形(現在形)demonstrate が正しい。

(A) demonstrating:現在分詞で主動詞になれない。(B) demonstrated to:前置詞 to が余分。(D) to demonstrate:不定詞で主動詞になれない。

Q4. It is strongly advisable ------- all financial records for a minimum of seven years to comply with the new regulatory requirements.

(A) retain (B) retaining (C) retention of (D) to retain

解答・解説を見る

構造メモ:
It is strongly advisable [-------] all financial records (for a minimum of seven years)
(to comply with the new regulatory requirements).

形式主語 = It → 真主語 = 不定詞句
It is advisable to do〜「〜することが望ましい」

正解: (D) to retain

It is advisable to do〜「〜することが望ましい」の形式主語構文。真主語として不定詞 to retain が入る。

(A) retain:原形単独では真主語の位置に置けない(to が必要)。(B) retaining:動名詞は It is … to do の構文では使わない(It is … doing は別の構文)。(C) retention of:名詞句で It is advisable + 名詞句の形は不自然。

Q5. Streamlining the approval process ------- multiple departments is expected to reduce the overall project cycle by at least two weeks.

(A) although (B) because (C) across (D) despite of

解答・解説を見る

構造メモ:
Streamlining the approval process [-------] multiple departments
is expected (to reduce the overall project cycle) (by at least two weeks).

S = Streamlining the approval process(動名詞句)
空所: the approval process を修飾する前置詞が入る
意味:「複数の部門にわたって承認プロセスを効率化すること」

正解: (C) across

across multiple departments「複数の部門にわたって」と the approval process を修飾する前置詞句。across「〜にわたって / 〜全体で」が正しい。

(A) although:接続詞で後ろに S + V が必要。(B) because:接続詞で後ろに S + V が必要。(D) despite of:despite の後ろに of は不要(despite + 名詞が正しい形)。

正解一覧

問題正解
Q1(A)
Q2(B)
Q3(C)
Q4(D)
Q5(C)