関係代名詞 - Relative Pronouns
関係代名詞とは、which, that, who, whom, 等、名詞を修飾する形容詞節を作る時に使う品詞。
「以前一緒に仕事した人に、偶然あった」「これが彼から貰った指輪」など、日本語では名詞の前から修飾しますが、英語では形容詞節は名詞の後ろにきます。
形容詞節の学習は、書き換え練習と音読練習をこなすと、すんなり頭に入るようになります。それでは詳しく見てみましょう。
関係代名詞 WHO(M),THAT,WHICH
主語の場合
修飾する文（形容詞節にする文）の主語と、修飾される語（先行詞）を結ぶ場合、人の時は 【WHO】【THAT】、物の時には【THAT】【WHICH】 を使います。
The student is from Korea. sShe works with me.
→ The student who works with me is from Korea.
上記の例文では、"the student" と、それを説明する文 She works with me. の "she" を、【WHO】が結んでいます。
"the student" は、"who works with me" という形容詞節で修飾された名詞で、これを先行詞と呼びます。
I talked to a man. sHe was dancing on the street.
→ I talked to a man who was dancing on the street.
The book is mine. sIt is on the table.
→ The book that is on the table is mine.
I am writing a sentence. sIt contains an adjective clause.
→ I am writing a sentence that contains an adjective clause.
関係代名詞は、人の時は 【WHO】 が一般的で、物の時は【THAT】 が一般的です。
The student who works with me is from Korea.
The student that works with me is from Korea.
The book that is on the table is mine.
The book which is on the table is mine.
動詞の目的語の場合
修飾する文（形容詞節にする文）の動詞の目的語と、修飾される語（先行詞）を結ぶ場合、人の時は 【WHO(M)】【THAT】、物の時には 【THAT】/ 【WHICH】を使います。
The student is from Korea. You met oher last month.
→The student whom you met last month is from Korea.
The movie was funny. I saw oit last night.
→The movie that I saw last night was funny.
目的語の時は、関係代名詞は省略するのが一般的です。ただし、論文・ビジネス文書では省略しません。
The student you met last month is from Korea. (common)
The student whom you met last month is from Korea. (formal)
The movie I saw last night was funny. (common)
The movie that I saw last night was funny. (formal)
特に、ALLが先行詞の場合、常に【THAT】節を省略した形で形容詞節を導きます。
This is all I can do.
All you need is love.
前置詞の目的語
前置詞の目的語も【WHO(M)】【THAT】【WHICH】で受けます。前置詞が関係詞の前に来るときは【WHO】【WHICH】のみで受けます。【WHO】【THAT】の前には絶対前置詞は来ません。
会話では、関係詞を省略して、前置詞が後に来るのが一般的です。
The student is from Korea. I told you about her.
→The student about whom I told you is from Korea. (formal)
→The student who(m) I told you about is from Korea.
→The student I told you about is from Korea. (common)
× The student about who I told you is from Korea.
The movie is disgusting. He is talking about it.
→The movie about which he is talking is disgusting. (formal)
→The movie which he is talking about is disgusting.
→The movie he is talking about is disgusting. (common)
×The movie about that he is talking about is disgusting.
