[化学論文のための英語講座] 第47回：形容詞 Part3

(English version is here.)

形容詞 Part3 形容詞の性質を持っている名詞

前回は形容詞の性質を持っている動詞の使い方を解説しました。今回は、形容詞の性質を持っている名詞について、問題形式で見ていきましょう。以下の中で適切な文を選んでください。

1A) The proteins folding pathways are generally complicated.
1B) The protein folding pathways are generally complicated.
訳文：タンパク質のフォールディング経路は一般的に複雑です。

2A) The oligomers UV spectra were measured in CH₂Cl₂.
2B) The oligomer UV spectra were measured in CH₂Cl₂.
訳文：オリゴマーのUVスペクトルは、CH₂Cl₂中で測定しました。

[答] 1B、2B

[解説]
先ずは1の文章を分解してみましょう。主語は「The protein(s) folding pathways」、述語は「are generally complicated」で、動詞「are」は複数形です。「folding」は現在分詞、「protein(s)」は名詞、「the」は冠詞ですが、文章内ではこの三つは形容詞の役割を果たし、動詞の直前にある「pathways」を修飾しています。形容詞の性質を持っている名詞は複数形を取らないので1B、2Bが正解です。

[補足]
「The protein folding pathways」は「The folding pathways of proteins」と書き換えることもできます。この場合は、「proteins」のように複数形にすることが可能です。

次回は「形容詞 Part4」です。

Adjectives 3: Nouns with adjective characteristics

Last time we explained the use of verbs with adjective characteristics. This time let us look at nouns with adjective characteristics, using a problem format. Please select the appropriate sentence from the following.

1A) The proteins folding pathways are generally complicated.
1B) The protein folding pathways are generally complicated.

2A) The oligomers UV spectra were measured in CH₂Cl₂.
2B) The oligomer UV spectra were measured in CH₂Cl₂.

Answers: 1B, 2B

Explanation:
First, let us analyze sentence 1. The protein(s) folding pathways is the subject, and are generally complicated is the predicate, with the plural form verb are. Folding is a present participle, protein(s) a noun, and the an article, however, in this sentence they fulfill the role of an adjective, and modify pathways, which directly precedes the verb. Nouns acting as adjectives do not take a plural form and thus, 1B and 2B are correct.

Supplement:
The protein folding pathways can be rewritten as the folding pathways of proteins. In this case, the plural form proteins is possible.

At next time, we will discuss Adjectives 4.