発展 · Unit 39
受動態 — It ~ that 節
say・think・believe・know・report のように that 節を目的語に取る動詞を受動態に変えるときは2つの方法があります。1つは形式主語 It で始まる「It is + 過去分詞 + that 」構文、もう1つは that 節の主語を文頭に引き上げた「S + be + 過去分詞 + to 不定詞」構文です。
概念の説明
say・think・believe・know・report のように that 節を目的語に取る動詞を受動態に変えるときは2つの方法があります。1つは形式主語 It で始まる「It is + 過去分詞 + that ~」構文、もう1つは that 節の主語を文頭に引き上げた「S + be + 過去分詞 + to 不定詞」構文です。
A. It is + 過去分詞 + that ~ 構文 — 形式主語 It で始める
that 節全体を主語の位置に置くと重くなるので、形式主語 It を前に立てて that 節を後ろに送る方式がこの構文です。that 節内の時制はそのまま維持されます。
| 能動態 | 受動態 (It ~ that 構文) |
|---|---|
| People say that he is honest. | It is said that he is honest. |
| Everyone believes that she is smart. | It is believed that she is smart. |
| They think that the plan will work. | It is thought that the plan will work. |
| Reporters reported that the mayor resigned. | It was reported that the mayor resigned. |
- It is said that Kevin is looking for a new job. (Kevinは新しい仕事を探していると言われています。)
- It is believed that Anna wrote this poem. (Annaがこの詩を書いたと信じられています。)
- It was reported that the company lost money last year. (その会社は去年損失を出したと報じられました。)
- It is expected that the meeting will finish by 5. (会議は5時までに終わると予想されています。)
B. S + be + 過去分詞 + to 不定詞 構文 — that 節の主語を前に
that 節の主語を文頭に引き上げ、そのあとに be + 過去分詞 + to 不定詞を続ければ同じ意味になります。that 節の時制が主節と同じなら to + 動詞原形、主節より前なら to have + p.p. になります。公式は It is said that S ~ = S is said to ~。
| It ~ that 構文 | S + be + p.p. + to 不定詞 |
|---|---|
| It is said that he is rich. | He is said to be rich. |
| It is thought that she lives alone. | She is thought to live alone. |
| It is believed that Anna wrote it. | Anna is believed to have written it. |
| It was said that he had left early. | He was said to have left early. |
- Kevin is said to be very talented. (Kevinはとても才能があると言われています。)
- Anna is thought to live in Seoul now. (Annaは今ソウルに住んでいると考えられています。)
- The suspect is believed to have escaped yesterday. (その容疑者は昨日逃走したと信じられています。)
- The company is expected to announce the results soon. (その会社は近く結果を発表すると予想されています。)
C. 代表的な動詞 — say / think / believe / know / report / expect / consider
that 節を目的語によく取る認識・伝達動詞のほとんどは、この2つの受動態構文にそのまま使えます。say・think・believe・know・report・expect・consider・assume がニュース・格式の文でよく登場する代表動詞です。
| 動詞 | It ~ that 型 | S is ~ to 型 |
|---|---|---|
| say | It is said that ~ | S is said to ~ |
| think | It is thought that ~ | S is thought to ~ |
| believe | It is believed that ~ | S is believed to ~ |
| know | It is known that ~ | S is known to ~ |
| report | It is reported that ~ | S is reported to ~ |
| expect | It is expected that ~ | S is expected to ~ |
| consider | It is considered that ~ | S is considered to ~ |
- Kevin is known to have lived abroad for ten years. (Kevinは海外に10年間住んでいたことが知られています。)
- It is considered that regular exercise is essential. (定期的な運動は必須であると考えられています。)
- Anna is expected to win the award. (Annaは賞を取ると予想されています。)
- It is reported that the meeting was postponed. (会議は延期されたと報じられています。)
重要ポイント
- 1say・think・believe・know・report・expect・consider のように that 節を目的語に取る動詞は、It ~ that 構文と S is ~ to 構文の2つの受動態で表現できます。(例: It is said that he is rich. = He is said to be rich.)
- 2It ~ that 構文の that 節内の時制は能動態の原文そのまま維持されます。(例: They say he is honest. → It is said that he is honest.)
- 3S is ~ to 構文で that 節の時制が主節と同じなら to + 動詞原形、主節より前なら to have + p.p. に置き換えます。(例: It is said that he was rich. → He is said to have been rich.)
- 4この2つの受動態構文はニュース記事・格式のある文・発表で、情報源を隠しながら事実を伝える慣用表現としてよく使われます。(例: The company is expected to announce the results soon.)
- 5It is thought / believed / considered は that 節内の内容を個人的判断ではなく一般的見解として伝えるニュアンスを持ちます。
例文
It is said that Kevin is very rich.
Kevinはとても裕福だと言われています。
Kevin is said to be very rich.
Kevinはとても裕福だと言われています。
It is believed that Anna lives in Paris.
Annaはパリに住んでいると信じられています。
Anna is believed to live in Paris.
Annaはパリに住んでいると信じられています。
It is thought that the plan will work.
その計画はうまくいくと考えられています。
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こんな間違いに注意
It is said that he is rich.
He is said to be rich.
It is said that Anna lives here.
Kevin is said to be rich.
Anna is believed to have lived in Paris.