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ワンポイント英会話
前JIAM教務部研修副主幹 ラッセル・ピケット
第21回2006.04.26
ワンポイント英会話 ~簡単な英語の序数~
前回のワンポイント英会話では、英語による序数について勉強しました。
■今回のワンポイント
今回は、短縮形を紹介したいと思います。読者の皆さんは、すでに短縮形を知っていると思いますが、英語で話すときに必ず使っているのでしょうか。一応、短縮形の基本を知っていても、あまり使わない日本人の方が多いようです。次の二つの理由が考えられます。1)少し覚えにくいので、どちらかというと使わないほうが楽。2)くだけた英語を使うのが失礼と思われたくない。
しかし、実際には、ほとんどの会話と多くの書かれた文では短縮形を使うのが自然で、使わないのが不自然です。会話に短縮形を使わないと、非常に堅苦しく聞こえます。覚えるのもそれほど難しくないと思います。そのために、短縮形をなるべく使うようお勧めします。
では、短縮形をいろいろ見てみましょう。代名詞と動詞(am, are, is, will, would, have, had)を使った短縮形が多いので、先にいくつかを述べてみます。
1. 短縮形 代名詞 + 動詞
I'm → I am (例: I'm not sleepy, I'm hungry.)
I'd → I would, I had (例: I'd better get up early tomorrow.)
I'll → I will (例: I'll have a small Coke and a hotdog please.)
I've → I have (例: I've seen that movie three times already.)
you're → you are (例: You're very kind.)
you'll → you will (例: I hope you'll forgive me.)
he'll → he will (例: He'll be famous someday.)
she's → she is (例: She's my boss.)
it'll → it will (例: It'll be dark in one hour.)
we're → we are (例: We're very tired.)
we've → we have (例: We've been to many countries.)
they're → they are (例: They're my favorite books.)
they'll → they will (例: If he answers this question correctly, they'll give him a new car.)
who's → who is (例: Who's his girlfriend?)
that's → that is (例: That's a secret.)
let's → let us (例: Let's go to Hawaii this year.)
2. 短縮形 動詞 + not
aren't → are not (例: Aren't you eating too much?)
can't → can not (例: I can't decide which shirt to wear.)
couldn't → could not (例: He couldn't move his legs.)
didn't → did not (例: She didn't get a gold medal.)
shouldn't → should not (例: We shouldn't worry about the future.)
hadn't → had not (例: They hadn't had food or water for 3 days.)
won't → will not (例: We won't get the results until next week.)
3. 短縮形 there + 動詞
there's → there is (例: There's a post office in my neighborhood.)
there've → there have (例: There've been three accidents on this highway this year.)
4. 短縮形 word + is/has
what's → what is (例: What's your phone number?)
here's → here is (例: Here's a picture of my cat.)
Ms. Suzuki's → Ms. Suzuki is (例: Ms. Suzuki's our new accountant.)
これらのような短縮形の活用法がたくさんあります。どんどん利用し、あなたの英語をより自然になるようにしてみませんか。がんばってください。