The をつけるかつけないかは文章の内容によって変わります。
不冠詞のtimeは漠然と指定されていない「時間」を、the は特定の時間を表すときに使います。
例）
Do you have the time?
何時ですか？
Do you have time?
お時間ありますか？
時間を尋ねるときには「今現在」の特定の時間を訪ねているのでthe+timeを利用します。二つ目の文章はただ単に時間があるかどうかを訊いています。
Did you have a fun time during the weekend?
週末は楽しい時間を過ごすことができましたか？
週末中に楽しく過ごせたかどうかを聞いている文章ですが、週末中の特定の時間について聞いているわけではないのでaを使用します。
Thank you for the great time.
素敵な時間をありがとう。
誰かと一緒に過ごしたことに対しての感謝のお礼なのでtheをつけることによって相手もただ単に素晴らしい時間を指しているのではなく、一緒に過ごした時間を指していることを認知することができます。
形容詞にtheをつけることで一つの塊や、集団を意味します。
例）
The poor needs money.
貧しい人々はお金が必要です。
Poor needs money.
プールさんはお金が必要です。
The をつけない場合、形容詞にa を付けない限り名詞となることはないので、主語となり人の名前のような響きとなります。
なので、形容詞と同じ名前を持った人物がいれば the なしで一人の名詞として使用することができます。
企業が生産・販売している商品にa/anをつけることによって、その企業が生産している商品の内のひとつという意味となります。
例）
This is a Suzuki.
これはスズキの製品です。
This is Suzuki.
こちらはスズキ社です。or こちらはスズキ氏です。
無冠詞のスズキはその会社自体（固定名詞）を紹介、または人の名前の苗字を紹介しています。
この二つの例文を合わせてみると…
This is Suzuki and he likes a Suzuki.
この方は鈴木さんで、スズキの商品が好きです。
これでいちいち「I like Suzuki’s products.」と言わなくてもよくなりましたね。
職業を示すときにはa/anをつけることによって不定冠詞として表現され、その職業の中の一人という形となります。
例）She is a teacher. 彼女は先生です。
She is the teacher. 彼女がその先生です。
theは特定の人・物を指すので何かに限定されていない職業ではなく、いつもの、専門の等、限定されている人物を示します。
Can you call the doctor? ＝（かかりつけの）医者を呼んでくれますか？
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ちなみに時代はtimeが集まってできているのでtimeはtimes→複数形となります。
例）
You are behind the times.
あなたは時代遅れです。
You are behind time.
あなたｊは時間に遅れています。
ほとんど同じ文章構成でthe と複数形にするだけで全然違った意味になりますね！
今日は不可算名詞の little と可算名詞の few を使用して a が付くときの違いを見てみましょう。
littleは水、時間など数えることのできない名詞に使用します。
a little＝少しある little＝ほとんど
There is a little water left.
まだ少し水が残っている。
There is little water left.
ほとんど水が残っていない。
上記の例文からニュアンスの違いが伝わるでしょうか？
little は肯定的、a little は否定的な表現で使用します。
a little はnotが付いていないにも関わらず否定的になるので、「～ない」となります。
fewの場合も同じです。
There are a few girls.
数人の女の子がいる。
There are few girls left.
女の子がほとんどがいない。
a few はいる人数に注目しますが、few はいない人数に重点を置いています。
肯定、否定の表現によってどちらを使用すればいいか分かったでしょうか？
また、お会いしましょう。
One of the most convenient things about living in Japan is how often they show Western movies. I think it’s great that I get to watch American movies and foreign films in Japan, with the original audio. This is because many movies have Japanese subtitles, so I can watch movies in English all the time.
Going to the movies was a big pastime for me when I was in America. It brings back to the time when I would watch movies with my mother and father. My favorite snack is popcorn, so anytime I get an opportunity to eat it is wonderful.
Not only do I enjoy going to the movies (or the cinema as it’s more commonly referred to) in Japan, but I also like renting movies as well. I have watched many films in Japan that I would never have the opportunity to in the United States. Watching movies in Japan is a fun experience!
Questions:
1) What is your favorite movie and why?
2) When is the last time you watched a movie?
3) When you go to the movies (or cinema), do you eat snacks? If so, what do you eat?
4) What kind of movies do you like to watch?
5) Do you prefer to watch movies with the original audio and just read subtitles or do you prefer to “dub” (change) the audio? Why?
Key Words and Phrases:
films / original / subtitles / pastime
snack / not only / but I also / as well
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英語が話せる！「SEI新宿英会話教室」 http://www.sayinsei.com/
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One of the stereotypes about American people is that they don’t know much about other countries. The general idea is that Americans do not care about anything outside of America, and that many people in the country don’t consider other places interesting. I have read the same thing about some Japanese people.
According to some of my Japanese friends, many people in the country do not know about many other parts of the world, nor do they care. Which makes me wonder; how much is geography taught in schools and to what extent is it taught? Growing up in a family of many cultures, I was really fascinated with learning about different parts of the world. My goal is to go to as many countries as I possibly can, in order to expand my horizons. I wonder if many people in Japan want to do the same.
Questions:
1) What country would you like to visit and why?
2) How many countries have you visited?
3) In your opinion, do you think Japanese people in general are not interested in foreign countries? Why or why not?
4) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
5) What is the capital of the United States of America?
Key Words and Phrases:
nor do / geography / what extent
horizons / the same
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英語が話せる！「SEI新宿英会話教室」 http://www.sayinsei.com/
♦〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿2-8-1 新宿セブンビル 606
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Living in Japan, I get to see many interesting things. One of the more interesting aspects of living here is seeing the “rivalry” between Tokyo and Osaka. A long term expat told me that I’ll mostly like one or the other, but never both. Before coming to Japan, I thought I would like Osaka more since my idea of the city was more like the “Los Angeles” of Japan. However, since living here, I must say that I prefer the hustle and bustle of Tokyo more so than Osaka. It’s nice to visit Osaka, but I think my personality fits more with Tokyo.
In America, there’s a sort of rivalry going on between Los Angeles and New York City. Each with it’s own set of stereotypes, both cities offer a unique flair that sets them apart from each other. Personally, I prefer more of an “LA” style than “NYC” since it’s seems to be more stuffy and fast paced. Either way, the rivalry between both cities is similar to how people look at Tokyo and Osaka.
Questions:
1) Which do you prefer, Tokyo or Osaka? Why?
2) Have you lived in both cities? If you had the chance to move to the other city, would you? Why or why not?
3) What are some of the generalizations you have heard about Tokyo or Osaka people?
4) What are some of the generalizations you have heard about New York City or Los Angeles?
5) If you had to choose, where would you go New York City or Los Angeles? Why?
Key Words and Phrases:
rivalry
expat
hustle (and) bustle
more with
flair
stuffy
fast-paced
One of the most interesting aspects about living in Japan is experiencing different holidays in the country. Personally, I love holidays and festivals in Japan, since I have a chance to eat tons of food. There are many interesting festivals in Japan, and from what I’ve seen, many individual towns and cities have their own unique way of celebrating. In America, we have similar holidays throughout the year, where we share moments with family and eat meals together.
Another interesting aspect of Japanese and American culture is how they celebrate the New Year. In Japan, many people visit temples and shrines and wish for a better year. In America, depending where you are, many people do different things. For example, last year, I went to downtown Houston and counted down the seconds until it turned midnight. These differences are very interesting and unique in their own way.
Questions:
1) What do you usually do during festivals and New Year’s?
2) What is your favorite holiday?
3) When you celebrate New Year’s, what do you usually do?
4) When you celebrate holidays, do you spend time with mostly family or friends?
5) What holiday are you looking forward to in the future?
Key Words and Phrases:
tons of / throughout the year / counted down
the seconds / midnight
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英語が話せる！「SEI新宿英会話教室」 http://www.sayinsei.com/
♦〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿2-8-1 新宿セブンビル 606
♦メール: sei@kaonnuri.com TEL: 03-5925-8247
