大人の英文法

ネイティブチェックメモ(5) 

-文の意味・表現・文構造など-

→はインフォーマントのコメント,※は参考情報。はA・B間で意見が分かれたもの。

◆意味・表現の面で不自然

● He cannot so much as write his own name (→clean up his own room).(A)

→(A):自分の名前が書けない人はまずいない。部屋の掃除ができない人はよくいる。自分のように。

This is a picture of my own painting (→a chair [movie] of my own making). (A)

→(A):原文はpicturepaintingが同じことに聞こえる。/(B):原文は「これは私の絵の写真です」と解釈される。  

● Do you see the dog eating something (the ice cream cone)?  (A)

→(A):実際に見えているのだから具体物の方がいい。I saw a dog eating something. ならOK。

● I'm not in the least afraid of ghosts (→dogs [snakes]).(A)

→(A):dogs/snakes:実在しないものを怖がるのは不自然。Bも同意。  

I have my health examined regularly (→a health checkup regularly). (A)

→(A):元の文は不自然。  

● I don’t like this very much. Show me others, please. Can you please show me some others? (A)

→(A):命令文は相手に失礼。

Your (→His) report is anything but perfect.   (A)

→(A):元の文は相手に失礼。実際に使うことはない。

● Not surprisingly, the dam plan faced serious opposition from the residents.

→(A): dam planでは「ダム(建設)計画」の意味は伝わらない。damn(ed) planに聞こえる。  

● Do you think you could possibly help me, please?

→(A): 不自然。あまりていねいではなく,beggingに聞こえる。

● I was wondering if you could possibly help me, please?  →I could trouble you for some help.  (A)

● If you get (→want to get) married in the future, by what age do you want to do so? (A・B)

● Children six and under ( are / can enter ) free of charge.

→(A・B):can enterがベター/(B):ただしchildrenを最初に置くのは不自然で,Admission is free for children six and under. がベスト。

The lottery I bought last week fell on me. →The lottery ticket I bought last week got the big prize. (A)

● "What did you do with the money you got from your uncle?" "I saved it.I put it in my saving account.(A)

→(B):同意。saved itなら後ろに目的が必要。savingはイギリス英語ではsavings。

● The major problem is that none of us can speak English (→French).   (A) 

※「君は英語を話しているじゃないか」 ということ? 

● We should consider every possibility imaginable. It was the best vacation imaginable.  (A)

→(A):原文は表現的にくどい。また「考えうるすべての可能性を考慮する」ことは現実的に不可能。

● He is a journalist (→gentleman) in the literal sense of the word. (A)

→(A):原文は何が「文字通り」なのかわからない。

● It is not easy to care for the aged. → We must take care of the poor and needy. (A)  

→(A):the agedは避けたい。PCの問題があり,表現的にも古い。

● Many a student has a smartphone. → Many a student has fallen in love.

→(A):many a 〜は文学的な表現なので,内容をもっと文学的にしたい。

● Nobody can beat her in math (→tennis [playing the guitar]). (A・B)

→(B):mathは競争して勝つようなものではないので。

● It was unfortunate that he failed the exam (→broke his smartphone). (A)

→(A):原文は意味的にunfortunateに合わない。

● This book is worthy of reading. → The movie is worthy of your attention. (A)  

→(A):原文はこの形の文に合わない。

Leadership (→Good information) is essential to a manager.(A)

→(A):前置詞がtoだから。

●He is keen on his job (→going to France [seeing the movie]). (A)

→(A):keen onの後ろには動名詞を置くのが普通。否定文ならI’m not so keen on natto. のように名詞もよく使う。

●Once in a blue moon I see her these days. → Once in a blue moon I see a movie in a theater. (A)

→(A):「近ごろめったに彼女に合わない」と言いたければ,I hardly ever see her these days. が自然。

● I know her mother by sight. → I can identify her mother by sight. (A)  

→(A):原文はunnatural。

● The bus arrived 20 minutes behind time. → We are already 20 minutes behind time.  (A)  

→(A):原文はbehind timeをlateに変えるのが自然。

● Between you and me, our teacher is getting married (→he’s not a good teacher). (A)

● I sent her a gift by way of apology.(私はおわびに彼女にプレゼントを送った)

By way of apology, I sent her a gift. (A) ※情報構造の問題。

◆I cut my finger with a knife by mistake. → I put salt in my coffee by mistake. (A)  

→(A):原文は当たり前のことで,by mistakeは不要。

He had his house (→His house) burned down in the fire. (A)

● His family settled down in the town (→countryside). (A)

● They won the game hands down.

They serve the best pizza in town hands down. / Hands down they serve the best pizza in town. (A) 

→(B):同意。hands downはopinionを表すから。

● I’ll answer for his ability.(彼の能力は私が保証します)

→(A):この意味はvouch forで表す(I’ll vouch for his skills)。He’ll answer for his crimes.に変更。

● It’s no use crying for the moon.(ないものねだりをしても無駄だ)

→(A):不自然。普通はIt’s no use crying over spilled milk. だから。

● She went to the U.S. for the purpose of becoming an actress. → She went to France [Vienna] for the purpose of becoming an artist [a musician].

→(A):原文は,もっとかっこよくしたい。

● Translate the sentence word for word.(その文を文字通りに訳しなさい)

(A)You don’t have to translate ...(…訳さなくてもいいよ)に変更。

● My sister majors in law (→English) in college. (A)

→(A):アメリカではLaw Schoolは大学は別なので。

● His scholarship was to his advantage. (彼の学識は彼にとって有利だった)

→(A):無意味。He used his weaknesses to his advantage. に変更。

● Ten to one what he said is true (→a lie). (A)

Comics have become a popular Japanese culture. → Comics are part of Japanese pop culture. (A)

Hokkaido (→Hakodate) is to the north of Aomori.(A)

※主語が北海道と青森では大きさのバランスが悪いから?

● I’m under the weather with a cold (→at the moment). (A)

→(A):あまり具体的にしない方がよい。under the weather自体に「かぜをひいている」の意味もあるので。

● Under no circumstances should you change your mind (→use rude language). (A)

● Japanese might be difficult for Westerners to learn. → Japanese is said to be a difficult language for many people. (A)

→(A):原文は差別的に響く。

● The new album of the rock band enjoys a good reputation.

The rock band (released a new album and) enjoyed a good reputation.(B)

→(B):reputationの主体は,人または何らかの意味で人に関係するもの。museumrestaurantcompanyなどは可。  

● @She works at a museum which a lot of tourists visit from abroad.

AShe works at a museum which a lot of tourists from abroad visit.

→(A・B):Aを使う。

● "What music do you like best? (→What’s your favorite kind of music?)" "I like anime theme songs best." (A)

● We need more helpers on the festival day (→the day of the festival). (A)

●People aged 20 or/and over have the right to vote. (A)

→(A):agedはイギリス英語。アメリカではagedなし。  

● My mother told me that I got seriously ill shortly after birth (→I was born) (A)

I don’t have much experience of (→doing) volunteer work. (A)

→(B):of,doing,of doingのどれでもよい。

● "Won’t you join us?" "OK. (→Thank you.)"(A)

I heard your sister was in the hospital. What’s wrong with (→What happened to) her? (A)

→(B):元の方がベター。彼女に何かがあったかどうかはわからない。検査入院の可能性もある。

●Do you know if he is Japanese? への返事として,

@Yes, I do. AYes, he is. のどちらがベターか?

→(B):Aがベター。同様に,たとえば「このへんにコンビニがあるか知ってる?」という質問は実質的にコンビニの場所を尋ねているわけだから,知っているならコンビニの場所を答えるべき。Yes, I do. はan expected answerではない。

●Tom: Well, I'd better be leaving if I want to make my dentist appointment.

Mary: Oh, I'm sorry to hear you're ( having trouble ) with your teeth.

Tom : Actually, it's just an annual checkup. (2002 上智大)

質問:下線部はOKか(自分について「もし私が〜したいなら」という仮定が成り立つのか)?

(B):ノー。下線部はto be on time for my dentist appointment などとするのがベター。

◆意味が不明確・情報不足

The unemployment rate (→Sales of the book [product] ) is on the increase.  (A・B)

→(B):元の文がまずいのは,下線部が一般的な失業率を表すように響くから。

したがってThe unemployment rate has been on the increase for the past few years. のような文なら正しい。  

● I had lunch just a while (→a few hours) ago.(A・B)

→(B):a while agoは意味が広すぎる。1日前でもa while agoと言える。

● Mat did well in the interview, so he was sure of being employed (→getting the job).(A)

→(A):原文だと誰に雇われるか不明確。

● Don't leave the engine running while shopping (→while you go shopping). (A)

→(A):元の文では「車を離れて」の意味にならない。

The (→That) English novel hasn't been translated into Japanese.(B)

→(B):the English novel だと「イギリス小説一般」(総称)のように響く。  

●Mat did well in the interview, so he was sure of being employed (→getting the job).(A)

→(A):原文だと「その会社に雇われる」かどうかがあいまい。

●“I feel feverish.” “Why don’t you leave (→go home) early?”(A・B)

→(B):leaveだと帰宅するとは限らない。

● He explained the data (→project [plan]) at (great) length. (A)  

→(A):dataは意味があいまい。

● 友人の一人が自動車事故にあった。 A friend of mine had (→was in) a car accident. (A)

→(A):原文は友人が事故を起こしたように響く。

● The appearance of the Internet has drastically changed the way of communication (people communicate).  (A・B)

→(B):原文は「コミュニケーションの方法」が1つしかないように響く。 またインターネットは自然にappearするものではないから,appearanceよりcreation/inventionがベター。

● They blamed him for his carelessness (→the mistake). (A) 

→(A):原文は抽象的すぎる。 

● I’ll have someone copy the paper (→document, report).

→(A):原文は意味があいまい(「新聞」の意味にも解釈できる)。もっと具体的に。

● They robbed the shop of jewelry (→all its jewelry). (A)

→(A):もっと具体的に

● There seems someone behind the scenes (→working behind the scenes). (A)

● I saw a movie (→went to the movies [went to see a movie]) for the first time in six months.(A)

● That restaurant is good and reasonable (→the prices are reasonable). (A)  

He borrowed the money at low interest (→a low interest rate). (A)

● This hall is capable of 300 people (→seating [holding] 300 people). (A)

● He always persists in his own opinions (→in defending his own opinions). (A)

● With all his faults, he is a gentleman (→a true gentleman). (A)

● He is capable of playing the piano. → 文末にwellを加える (A)

Our company is short of hands. →文末にnow [at the moment]を加える。(A)  

● Don’t leave the engine running while shopping (→while you go shopping). (A・B)  

→(B):while shoppingでは「車を離れて買い物をする」という意味が伝わらない。

● I study (→cook) listening to music.(A)

→(A):原文は意味がとりにくい(listening以下がstudyの目的語のように感じられる)。

 

◆文構造・その他の問題

● The school nurse told me to lose weight. I said yes  → (A) I said, "Yes." / (B) I said I would.

There are fewer people living in our city than 20 years ago (→than there were 20 years ago). (A)

● They are an amateur band, but play (→but they play) pretty well. (A)

I get nervous when speaking in front of people. (→whenを削除する(A)

● "What brought you here?" "To see a friend. (→I’m meeting a friend.)" (A)

● I went to the new karaoke place, your know, near the station (→the one near the station).

● I want to go to the U.S. to study after graduation (→I graduate).(A・B)

→(A):graduationは卒業式の意味/(B)graduationはevent(卒業)の意味でも使えるが,この文ではやはりI graduateがベター。

@ A:You left the office leaving the computer on yesterday.

        BSorry, I forgot to turn it off.

        AWell, don’t let it happen again.

A AYou left the office You left the office with your computer on yesterday.

    BSorry, I forgot to turn it off.

    AWell, Well, make sure it doesn’t happen again.

(A)@をAに訂正する/(B)Aの第1文はleavingがベター(withだとcarryingのように響く)。第3文はmake sureがベター。パソコンの電源がひとりでに切れるわけではない。ただし元のままでも可。

● (    ) her age, she has a promising future.

@Consider  〇AConsidering  BConsidered  CTo consider

→(A):@も別解となりうる(つまり,文と文をコンマでつなぐ形は許容される)。以下はコメント。

I worry about this [@]. "Technically" this would be "wrong" because it's a comma splice and it should be two separate sentences. 

However, this kind of structure is often seen in novels, especially in dialogue and first-person speech, so there is clear evidence this is an acceptable style.  

"Can I use these scissors?" "Sure. Go ahead. (→Sure, go ahead)." (A)

● Rika’s symptom is so-called “the eighth-grade syndrome.” (→the so-called "eighth-grade syndrome.") (A)

● The telephone was invented by Graham Bell (→Alexander Graham Bell). (A)

● When Meg’s parents died in the accident, the only person she had to depend on was her ( uncle / Uncle ) George.

→(A・B):Uncleを使う。/(B):uncleなら後ろにコンマを置く。

● When she kissed the frog, it changed (   ) a Prince.(武蔵大)

@ by  A for  B from  〇C into  D out of

→(A):princeにする。大文字だとミュージシャンのプリンスのよう。

●どちらの強勢が正しいか?

@ I'll have someone dríve you to the airport.

A I'll háve someone dríve you to the airport.

→(A・B):@。haveには強勢を置かない。(※ジーニアス英和には「使役のhaveには強勢を置く」という趣旨の記述があるが)

●次の文で強く読む語はどれか?

They had their new office built last year.

→(B):状況がよくわからない。この文だけで言えば,officeを強く読む。「建てる予定なの?―いや,去年建てたんだ」のような状況ならlastを強く読む。

●The students went on strike, but ( not ) the teachers. (2000 関西外語大) ※(  )内は正解の選択肢。

質問:... but the teachers didn’t. の意味で,notをこのように使ってよいか?

→(B):かまわない。ただし,この文がどんな状況を想定しているのかはよくわからない。

● I (   ) my finger with a knife many times.

@cut  Ahave cutten  Bhave cut  Chave cutted (2014熊本県立大)

質問:正解はどれか?

→(B):Bが正解。@だと(過去のある時点で)自分の指をわざと何度も切ったことになる。

●What do you suppose ( that ) the old man bought at the store? (2020 中央大) ※(  )内は正解の選択肢。

質問:空所には何も入れないのが自然ではないか?

→(B):老人が既に話題に出ている状況なら何も入れない。「ほら,あそこの老人が…」のように老人が新情報ならthatを入れてよい(thatの前に休止を置く)。  

●It was not until his second book that the author attracted attention from people around the world. (2022 関西学院大)

質問:bookの後ろにwas publishedが省略されていると考えてよいか?

→(B):イエス。

●岩清水さんのRTにあった,あるブログの記事について。

To form a society, individuals must be related in a certain manner. 

For instance, if people do not communicate with each other, if they are perpetually in aggressive physical combat, 

if they do not cooperate with each other, and do so routinely over a period of time

their interactions are not social and they don't constitute a society.

下線部の訳として,元の本(ポレポレ)は@を,ブログの書き手はAのように訳している。

@互いに協力しないとか,してもある期間の間だけお決まり通りにするだけだったりする場合には(人々の互いの関係は社会的ではないし、社会を構成することにはならない)

Aお互いに協力し,しかも一定期間習慣的に行うのでなければ

※どちらの訳でも,do so=cooperate with each otherと考えている。notの作用域をotherまでと考えれば@,timeまでと考えればAの訳になる。

質問:下線部のdo soは,前の3つのif節のすべての行為を指していると思う。この解釈は正しいと思うか?  

また,andを〈A, B, C, and D〉の意味に解釈して,andの後ろにifを補うこともできるか?

→(B):どちらもイエス。ただし,I don't think this is a great sentence.(これはよい文だとは思わない)。

soは直前の1つの行為を指すように響くので,do soよりも指示対象の幅が広いdo thisを使う方がよい。

※DeepL翻訳の訳文は以下のとおり。

「社会を形成するためには、個々人が一定の関係性を持っていることが必要です。例えば、人々が互いにコミュニケーションを取らず、

攻撃的な肉体的戦闘を恒常的に行い、互いに協力せず、それを一定期間にわたって日常的に行っていれば、

その相互作用は社会的ではなく、社会を構成することはない。」

 

 

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