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
- 名詞句(S)をすべて [ ] や ( ) で囲って外す
- 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) |