なぜやるか

Part7の長文では、1文に前置詞句が3個以上含まれることが珍しくありません。前置詞句を1つ見落とすだけで主語や目的語を誤読し、設問に答えられなくなります。また、「この前置詞句はどの名詞/動詞にかかるのか（修飾先の特定）」を正確に判断できると、Part5の品詞問題や語順問題でも確実に正解できるようになります。このLesson 3を終えると、3個以上の前置詞句を含む文を素早く処理できるようになります。

やり方

前置詞句が複数ある文の処理手順

1. 文の先頭から順に前置詞を探す
2. 前置詞 + 名詞（句）を ( ) で囲う
3. 囲んだ ( ) を外してS + V + O/Cを確認する

修飾先の特定

前置詞句が修飾するのは大きく2種類。

パターン1：名詞を修飾する → 直前の名詞にかかる
例: the manager (of the sales division) ← managerにかかる

パターン2：動詞全体を修飾する → 動詞句全体にかかる
例: submitted the report (before the deadline) ← submittedにかかる

入れ子構造に注意

前置詞句の中に別の前置詞句が入ることがある。
例: (at the branch office (in Osaka))
↑ 全体を1つの ( ) と見なしてよい

例文トレーニング

文1｜前置詞句3個（動詞修飾が2つ、名詞修飾が1つ）

原文: The marketing director presented the proposal (to the board)
(at the headquarters) (on Monday morning).

S = The marketing director
V = presented
O = the proposal
( ) = to the board ← 誰に（presented を修飾）
( ) = at the headquarters← どこで（presented を修飾）
( ) = on Monday morning ← いつ（presented を修飾）

→ 3つの ( ) を外すと「The marketing director presented the proposal.」が残る。

文2｜前置詞句3個（名詞修飾を含む）

原文: The head (of the procurement team) submitted the invoices
(to the accounting department) (before the monthly close).

S = The head
V = submitted
O = the invoices
( ) = of the procurement team ← headを修飾
( ) = to the accounting department ← 誰に（submitted を修飾）
( ) = before the monthly close ← いつまでに（submitted を修飾）

→ of the procurement team を外すと、S は「The head」だけが残る。

文3｜前置詞句4個

原文: The branch manager (in Sapporo) forwarded the client feedback
(from the regional survey) (to the strategy team) (by Friday).

S = The branch manager
V = forwarded
O = the client feedback
( ) = in Sapporo ← managerを修飾
( ) = from the regional survey ← feedbackを修飾
( ) = to the strategy team ← 誰に（forwarded を修飾）
( ) = by Friday← いつまでに（forwarded を修飾）

→ 全部外すと「The branch manager forwarded the client feedback.」が残る。

文4｜入れ子構造

原文: The new distribution center (at the port (of Yokohama))
will handle shipments (from over thirty countries).

S = The new distribution center
V = will handle
O = shipments
( ) = at the port (of Yokohama) ← centerを修飾（入れ子）
└─ (of Yokohama) ← portを修飾（内側）
( ) = from over thirty countries ← shipmentsを修飾

→ 入れ子になった ( ) もまとめて外せばよい。

文5｜修飾先の特定が重要な文

原文: The supervisor (of the night shift) left a detailed note
(for the incoming team) (on the whiteboard) (near the entrance).

S = The supervisor
V = left
O = a detailed note
( ) = of the night shift← supervisorを修飾
( ) = for the incoming team ← 誰のために（left を修飾）
( ) = on the whiteboard ← どこに（left を修飾）
( ) = near the entrance ← whiteboardを修飾 ← 前の ( ) に追加修飾

→ on the whiteboard と near the entrance はセットで「入口付近のホワイトボードに」という意味。

実戦問題

構造を分解しながら空所を埋めましょう。

Q1. The senior account manager ------- the Asia-Pacific division submitted the revised client proposal to the executive committee before the quarterly review.

(A) of　(B) because　(C) although　(D) while

Q2. The compliance report prepared by the external auditors will be distributed to all regional directors ------- the end of the fiscal year.

(A) when　(B) because　(C) before　(D) although

Q3. The renovation of the conference rooms on the third floor was completed ------- schedule despite several unexpected delays during the construction phase.

(A) except　(B) ahead of　(C) because of　(D) in addition

Q4. The new safety regulations ------- the manufacturing sector in the northern region will take effect at the start of next quarter.

(A) because　(B) so that　(C) in order that　(D) for

Q5. The financial results ------- the third quarter exceeded analysts’ expectations by a significant margin across all product categories.

(A) for　(B) because　(C) although　(D) since

正解一覧