英語相互添削サイト「Lang-8」（ランゲート）をやり始めて、一年になります。
前回 書いたように、TOEIC対策の勉強や Skype英会話のレッスンだけではどうしても身に付かない「英作文スキルがタダで伸ばせる」というのが、Lang-8 の一番のメリットだと思います。
ここでは、Lang-8 に一年間で投稿した約300件の中から一部を抜粋して、カテゴリ別に紹介していきます。これまでの添削結果を一旦整理して、再度見直すことで理解を定着させるのが目的でもあります。
前回までのまとめは、こちら。
英作文のコツ
ここで、自分なりの英作のコツを少し紹介します。
3～4行くらいの日記のような投稿をできるだけ毎日続けたわけですが、1回分の英作文を作る時間は10～20分くらいでしょうか。
英作するときに参照するサイトは、
の二つです。
「アルク」は和英・英和辞典で、元々使っていて便利だったので。「Longman」は英英辞典なのですが、主に、名詞が可算名詞（countable）なのか不加算名詞（uncountable）なのかを調べるために使っています。
今回は、天気や季節をテーマにしたものを紹介します。
天気
Today is the beginning of March.
Mar 1, 2013
今日は3月最初の日です。
Today is the beginning of March.
(No correction needed.)
暖かくなってきて、気温は約18度まで上がりました。
It became hot, and the temparature rose up to about 18 degree.
It has become hot, and the temperature has risen to about 18 degrees.
妻や友人達と花見ができる4月上旬が待ちきれません。
I just can't wait Cherry Blossom Viewing with my wife and buddies in early April.
I just can't wait to view the cherry blossoms with my wife and buddies in early April.
Today is very warm.
Mar 6, 2013
朝、会社に行く途中にウグイスが鳴くのが聞こえて、春が来たのを感じました。
I heard a bush warbler singing on the way to work in the morning, and I feel spring is coming.
(No correction needed.)
古代から日本ではウグイスは春のシンボルとされているので、多くの日本人はウグイスと春の始まりを結びつけて考えるのです。
Many Japanese associate bush warblers with the begining of spring, because a bush warbler is one of the symbols of the spring since ancient times in Japan.
Many Japanese associate bush warblers with the beginning of spring, because a bush warbler is one of the symbols of
thespring since ancient times in Japan.It's not wrong to put 'the' there but it sounds more natural without it.
私は春が好きです。でも妻は、花粉症なので、春が嫌いです。
I like spring, but my wife hates it because of hay fever.
I like spring, but my wife hates it because of her hay fever.
Again, like above, I added 'her' to make it more clear & natural
彼女は春はずっとマスクを着けています。
She always wears masks during the spring.
(No correction needed.)
The storm of spring
Apr 15, 2013
昨日は風の強い日で、時々台風のように強く吹きました。
Yesterday was windy and it sometimes blew very hard like a typhoon.
Yesterday was windy and sometimes it blew very hard like a typhoon.
This sounds more natural :)
運悪く自転車で下北沢に出掛けていたので、そこから家まで帰るのにすごく苦労しました。
I went to Shimokitazawa by bicycle, so I had a hard time to go home from there.
I went to Shimokitazawa by bicycle, so I had a hard time going home from there.
You could also say "I had a hard time returning home from there."
春には昨日のように風が強い日がたまにあります。
In this way, we have some windy days like yesterday in spring.
(No correction needed.)
それは「春の嵐」と呼ばれます。
It is called "the storm of spring".
(No correction needed.)
桜の花を散らすので、嫌われています。
Because it always drops the blossoms from the cherry trees, we all don't like it.
Because it always the blossoms from the cherry trees fall, we all don't like it.
While drop and fall have a similar meaning, they are not the same. In your sentence, it is more natural to use fall instead of drop. When you use the word drop, you're talking about something that you dropped by accident. If you are holding plates and someone scares them, you drop the plates. It is an accident. I hope this helps! :)
It has been raining all day
Apr 20, 2013
一日中雨が降っています。
It has been raining all day.
(No correction needed.)
今日は代官山に散歩に行こうと思っていたのですが、雨のために延期しました。
I wanted to walk around Daikan-yama today, but I suspended it because of the rain.
I wanted to walk around Daikan-yama today, but I put it off it because of the rain.
Suspended is a formal word that we use when someone is "suspended from school" or even a job. You can use "put if off" to describe something you decided to do later instead of now.
天気が良ければ、明日妻と一緒に出かけようと思います。
If the weather is fine, I'm going to go there with my wife tomorrow.
If the weather is fine tomorrow, I will go there with my wife.
Use the first conditional when you want to talk about the things that you expect to happen but cannot guarantee.
Condition Result
If _______(present simple), (future simple).
代官山は東京の格好のデートスポットで、たくさんのブティックや雑貨屋さん、カフェなどがあります。
Daikan-yama is a nice date spot in Tokyo and there are many boutiques, grocery stores, cafes, and so on.
Daikan-yama is a nice place to go out on a date in Tokyo and there are many boutiques, grocery stores, cafes, and so on.
We don't use this phrase "date spot". If it's more casual, you could say "nice place to hang out" or "nice place to go out on a date". I know it's a long :) but can't think of a shorter alternative. You could also consider using the word "romantic".
女性なら間違いなく気に入ると思います。
They are sure to please wemen.
They are sure to please women.
This sentence sounds a little funny :) but grammatically it's perfect.
It was unseasonably cold yesterday.
Apr 22, 2013
昨日は季節外れの寒さでした。
It was unseasonably cold yesterday.
(No correction needed.)
東京は最高気温が約10度でした。
The maximum temperature was about ten degree in Tokyo.
The high was about ten degrees in Tokyo.
Maximum temperature= high
Example: The high today was 72 degrees.
なので、外に出る際、一ヶ月ぶりにジャケットを着ました。
So, when I went out I put on my down jacket for the first time in a month.
So, when I went out, I put on my down jacket for the first time in a month.
東北地方では雪が降って、満開の桜に雪が積もったとのことです。
It was reportedly said that it was snowed in the Tohoku district and the full-blown cherry trees were covered with snow.
It was reportedly said that it
wassnowed in the Tohoku district and the full-blown cherry trees were covered with snow.
何という奇跡的な出来事でしょうか！
What a miracle occasion!
(No correction needed.)
A typhoon is approaching.
Jun 12, 2013
6月中旬から9月初旬までは台風シーズンですが、現在、台風3号が日本に近づいています。
We have the tyhoon season from mid-June to early September, and the third typhoon of this season is approaching to Japan.
We have a typhoon season spanning from mid-June to early September, and the third typhoon of this season is approaching
toJapan.
しかしながら、大きさと強さは少し弱いようです。
But its size and strength seems a little weak.
However, its size and strength seems to be a little weak.
1ヶ月ほどずっと雨が降っていなかったので、農家の人たちはきっと喜んでいるでしょう。
We have no rain in about a month, so the farmers must be happy.
We had no rain for about a month, so the farmers must be happy.
The typhoon has passed.
Jun 14, 2013
昨夜遅くに台風は過ぎ去りましたが、まだ雨が少し降り続いています。
The typhoon has passed late last night, but it has still been raining a little.
The typhoon
haspassed late last night, but it is stillbeenraining a little.
多くの人と同じように、雨の日に外出するのが好きではありません。
I don't like to go out on rainy days like most of us.
Like most people, I don't like to go out on rainy days.
私は今会社にいますが、家に帰る前に雨が止んでくれるといいなぁ。
I'm in my office now, and I wish it would stop raining before going out home.
I'm in my office now, and I wish it would stop raining before I go
outhome.
The gloomy weather
Jun 21, 2013
昨日からずっと雨が降り続いています。
It has been raining since yesterday.
(No correction needed.)
雨模様の天気は人を少し暗い気持ちにさせます。もちろん私もそうですが。
The rainy weather makes us a little gloomy, and of course me too.
The rainy weather makes one a little gloomy and, of course, me too.
The reason I changed 'us' to 'one' is that you ended the sentence with 'and of course, me too'. Since 'us' would have included you ('me') already, I chose 'one' to be generic and then, at the end, you include yourself. Hope that made sense.
一日中長い傘を持ち歩くのが、特に好きではありません。
In particular I don't like to carry a long umbrella with me all day.
In particular, I don't like to carry (or don't enjoy carrying) a long umbrella with me all day.
雨が降りそうなときはだいたい、折り畳み傘を持ち歩くようにしています。
I try to bring a folding umbrella in most cases when it looks like rain.
I try to bring a folding umbrella, in most cases, when it looks like rain.
Option: In most cases, I try to bring...
A forty percent chance of rain
Jun 22, 2013
今日は自転車で下北沢に行きたかったのですが、行くかどうか迷いました。
Today I wanted to go to Shimokitazawa by bicycle, but I wondered whether to go.
Today I wanted to go to Shimokitazawa by bicycle, but I wondered whether to go or not.
The word 'Wondered' is you thinking about whether to go or not, it is necessary to add 'or not' because you are unsure or 'Wondering' about if you should go or if you shouldn't go. This just helps to flesh out the sentence but is also necessary because wondering will have more than one option.
TVの天気予報で、天候は不安定で、雨は止んだものの降水確率は40％とのことだったからです。
Because the TV forecast says that the weather is not stable and we have a fourty percent chance of rain though it stopped raining.
Because the TV forecast says that the weather is not stable and we have a forty percent chance of rain even though it stopped raining.
a quick spelling correction on the word 'forty' and the word 'even' helps to make the sentence more natural. 'even' is used in this context as a opposite for example 'It was raining all day, even though the TV said that it wouldn't'.
自転車で行くと30分ですが、地下鉄で行っても同じくらいかかります。
It takes thirty minutes to go there by bicycle, and it takes the same time by subway.
(No correction needed.)
だからやっぱり、自転車で行こうと思います。雨が降らなければいいなぁ。
So, I'd like to use bicycle, and I wish it would not rain.
So, I'd like to use the bicycle, and I wish it would not rain.
Just a quick correction because you are referring to an object you would add 'the bicycle' a similar example would be 'the ball'.
Today was extremely hot.
Jul 11, 2013
ここ数日間、かなり暖かかったです。
It has been extremely hot these past few days.
(No correction needed.)
東京では、今日の最高気温は 35度を超えました。
The high today exceeded thirty-five degrees C in Tokyo.
(No correction needed.)
蝉の鳴く声が聞こえてきて、夏が始まったなと感じました。
I heard some cicadas singing, and I felt the summer started.
I heard some cicadas singing, and I felt that
thesummer started.
例年よりずっと早い気がします。
But it seemed quite earlier than usual.
(No correction needed.)
これも地球温暖化の影響でしょうか？
Was it also caused by global warming?
(No correction needed.)
I was caught in a shower yesterday.
Jul 24, 2013
昨日、近所のコンビニから会社まで帰る途中で突然夕立に降られました。
Yesterday I was caught in a sudden shower on the way to my office from the nearest convenience store.
(No correction needed.)
雨が止むまでしばらくの間、陸橋の下でじっとしていなければいけませんでした。
I had to stay under an overpass for a while until the rain stopped.
(No correction needed.)
夏の夕方は、たまにこのような夕立に会うので、外出する際は天気に気を配らなければいけません。
We sometimes face such a shower in the summer evening, so we should pay attention to the weather when we go out.
(No correction needed.)
Typhoons in late October
Oct 24, 2013
台風が近づいていて、報道によると今週末、東京に上陸するかもしれないとのことです。
The typhoons are coming, and reportedly they may hit Tokyo this weekend.
There are typhoons coming, and reportedly they may hit Tokyo this weekend.
This is a correct sentence. The first half "The typhoons are coming" sounds very dramatic to me, though. It almost sounds like there is an army that is marching up to your front door. "There are typhoons coming" sounds more reasonable to me. I know it's a very small change ><
今週土曜のITセミナーに行くのが難しいかもしれません。
I might have trouble going to an IT seminar this Saturday.
(No correction needed.)
とにかく、10月下旬に台風が来るのは非常に珍しいことです。
Anyway, it's very rare that we have typhoons in late October.
(No correction needed.)
We had a lot of snow last weekend.
Feb 14, 2014
先週末、東京では雪が 30cm 積もりました。
Last weekend, we had 30 cm of snow in Tokyo.
(No correction needed.)
45年ぶりの大雪だったそうです。
It was said the heaviest snow fall in 45 years.
It was said to be the heaviest snow fall in 45 years.
You could also say "They said it was the heaviest snowfall in 45 years."
天気予報によると、今週末にも先週末と同じくらい大雪になるということらしいです。
The weather forecast said it was going to snow this weekend as much as last weekend.
The weather forecast said it is going to snow this weekend as much as it did last weekend.
You need to use "is" instead of "was" because this is future tense.
This might be a confusing sentence in terms of tense. You correctly used "said" because the weather forecast information was in the past, but the "is going to snow" part is in the future.
I added the "it did" part near the end because it sounds more natural with this phrase in there.
今週末に散髪に行きたかったのですが、家から出れないかもしれません。
I wanted to have a haircut this weekend, but I might have to stay at home.
(No correction needed.)
It had been snowing a lot.
Feb 15, 2014
昨夜ずっと雪がたくさん降りました。
It had been snowing a lot during last night.
It snowed a lot last night.
There are a few ways to say this:
1. It was snowing a lot last night
2. It snowed a lot last night.
3. It has been snowing a lot recently.
4. It has been snowing all night.
All 4 of these are correct.
You can't naturally use "has been snowing" with a specific time like "last night." I could not think of a way to use all of the elements of your original sentence correctly, so I just gave a few different possibilities.
朝、地面に膝の高さまで雪が積もっているのに気付きました。
In the morning, I found there was deep snow up to knee level on the ground.
In the morning, I found there was knee level snow on the ground.
Here I use "knee level" to describe snow without the word deep. It is more natural this way.
In the morning, the snow accumulated so much, it was as high as my knee.
道を歩くのが大変だろうと予想されたので、今日は散髪を延期することにしました。
Because I anticipated difficulty in walking on a snowy street, I decided to put off my haircut today.
Because I anticipated difficulty
inwalking on a snowy street, I decided to postpone my haircut today.I'm not sure if this is what you meant.
午前中ずっと雨が降ったのですが、半分ほど溶けてしまいました。
It rained all morning, and about half of it melted.
It rained all morning
,and only about half of it has melted.
来週明けの通勤には影響はほとんどなさそうです。
It is likely to have little impact on our commute at the beginning of next week.
(No correction needed.)
季節
The blooming of the cherry blossoms
Mar 18, 2013
昨日、東京で桜の開花宣言がされました。
The blooming of the cherry blossoms was declared in Tokyo yesterday.
(No correction needed.)
開花宣言というのは、ある地域の50％から60％の桜の花が咲き始めたことを意味します。
It means that about 50 to 60% of cherry blossoms in a certain area start blooming.
It means that about 50 to 60% of cherry blossoms in a certain area have started blooming.
予報に依ると、東京は来週満開になるそうです。
The forecast says that Tokyo will be in full bloom next week.
(No correction needed.)
これは、例年より1週間ほど早いのです。
This is one week earlier than usual.
(No correction needed.)
友人達と一緒に、桜の木の下で飲みたいです。
I'd like to drink under them with my buddies.
(No correction needed.)
桜の木の下で飲むことを、日本では「花見」と呼びます。
Drinking under cherry blossoms is called "Hana-mi" in Japan.
(No correction needed.)
花見は、人間関係を強化するのに役に立つのです。
It is useful to strengthen our relationship.
(No correction needed.)
I caught a cold.
Apr 25, 2013
何年かぶりに風邪を引いてしまいました。
I have a cold for the first time in years.
I caught a cold for the first time in many years.
This is a more natural way to say this.
風邪を引いて病院に行こうと思ったときにはもう夜遅かったので、残念ながら開いている病院はありませんでした。
Unfortunately there were no clinics that opened at that late time when I caught a chill and I intended to see a doctor yesterday evening.
Unfortunately there were no clinics that were open when I caught my cold as it was very late.
andI intended to see a doctor yesterday evening but I didn't.I hope this helps, the end of your sentence was a little odd so I tried to make it sound more natural by adding "but I didn't".
なので、オフィスから、風邪で震えながら家に帰りました。
So, I went home from the office shivering from cold.
So, I went home from the office shivering from my cold.
家に帰ってすぐにベッドに入り、朝起きたらずいぶん調子が良くなっていました。
I went to bed soon after arriving home and then I felt rather well when I got up this morning.
I went to bed soon after getting home, and when I woke up I felt much better!
Just a few notes
Native speakers do not usually say "I felt rather well" when talking about their health, they will often say "I felt better" or "I felt great" or even "I felt much better" but you won't hear them use the word "well" when talking about their own health. You usually say "I don't feel well" when telling another person you are ill, but we don't actually use "well" when describing feeling better. Sorry if this is confusing!
I completely recovered from my cold.
Apr 28, 2013
先週木曜に風邪を引いてしまいましたが、今はもう完全に治りました。
I caught a cold last Thursday and I have completely recovered from it.
(No correction needed.)
気温の急激な変化によって風邪を引いたんだと思います。
I think much change in temperature made me sick.
I think the big change in temperature made me sick.
具合が悪くなったときは夜遅かったので、病院に行けませんでした。
I didn't see a doctor because it was too late that I felt sick.
I didn't see a doctor because it was too late when I felt sick.
だから、家に帰ってすぐにベッドに潜り、布団を何枚も重ねて寝ました。
Therefore, soon after I got home, I went to bed covered with heavy layer of blankets.
Therefore, soon after I got home, I went to bed covered with a heavy layer of blankets.
その結果、翌日朝起きるとずいぶん良くなっていました。
As a result, I felt better when I got up the next day.
(No correction needed.)
The day to change clothes
May 31, 2013
日本には、6月1日に新しい季節の服に入れ替えるという習慣があります。
There is a custom that June 1st is the day to change clothes for new season in Japan.
There is a custom that June 1st is the day to change clothes for the new season in Japan.
その日は、春と夏のちょうど間に位置しているからです。
Because that day is located just between spring and summer.
(No correction needed.)
それは「衣替え」と呼ばれています。
It is called "Koromo Gae".
(No correction needed.)
ちなみに、「衣」は「服」、「替え」は「変えること」を意味しています。
FYI, "Koromo" means clothes, "Gae" means changing.
(No correction needed.)
タンスから夏服を準備するのに忙しいです。
People are busy to prepare their summer clothes from wardrobes.
People are busy preparing their summer clothes.
"From wardrobes" is a little confusing.
My wife caught a cold.
Sep 18, 2013
季節の変わり目は風邪を引きやすいので、身体に気を付けないといけません。
People tend to get colds just when the seasons change, so we have to watch out ourselves.
People tend to get colds just when the seasons change, so we have to watch out for ourselves.
でも残念なことに、昨日妻が風邪を引いてしまいました。
But, unfortunately, my wife caught a cold yesterday.
(No correction needed.)
加えて、先週、新居の荷解きで忙しくしていたのも原因の一つかもしれません。
In addition, it was possibly because she worked so much hard to unpack packages in our new apartment last week.
In addition, it was possibly because she worked so
muchhard to unpack packages in our new apartment last week.
休息が必要ですね。
She needs some rest.
(No correction needed.)
We decorated a Christmas tree.
Nov 24, 2013
今日、クリスマス・イヴのちょうど 1ヶ月前にクリスマスツリーを飾りました。
We decorated a Christmas tree today because it is just a month before Christmas Eve.
(No correction needed.)
個人体な感覚ですが、日本では、家の中にクリスマスツリーを飾るのは半数以下です。
In Japan, fewer than half of people decorate it in their own house, it is just my personal feeling though.
In Japan, fewer than half the population decorate Christmas trees in their own homes, although that is just my personal feeling.
ところで、これって遅すぎる？
Well, do you feel it is late?
(No correction needed.)
No, not at all.
Today is Christmas.
Dec 25, 2013
今日はクリスマスです。
Today is Christmas.
(No correction needed.)
多くの日本人はクリスチャンではありませんが、不思議なことにクリスマスを自然とお祝いするのです。
Most Japanese people are not Christian, but curious to say, we automatically celebrate Christmas.
Most Japanese people are not Christian
,but curious to say, we still celebrate Christmas.
つけ加えると、私たちはクリスマスは家族のためというよりは、カップルのための日だと考えています。
Plus, we are thinking that Christmas is the day for lovers rather than for families.
Plus, we think Christmas is a day for lovers rather than for families.
今日、銀座を歩いていたら、たくさんのカップルがイチャイチャしているのを見かけました。
Today I walked around Ginza, and I saw many couples acting cozy there.
I walked around Ginza today and I saw many couples acting being cozy there.
私の拙い英語を添削してくれた皆さん、ありがとうございました！
Thanks a lot. It really helps!
次回は、英語・仕事に関する投稿を紹介します。
