批判ばかりしていてもしょうがないので、自分の実践例から。
On の用法に関して1989年に授業用に作成したハンドアウトがある。
当時は教員になって３年程がすぎた頃。教材への不満があったため、CGELと政村秀實氏の『図解英語基本語義辞典』（桐原書店、1989年）、さらには米国語法を反映させるために Meyer, G.A.のThe Two-Word Verb (1975, The Hague: Mouton) を参考に、前置詞と不変化詞を20ほど選び、ハンドブックを自分で作ったのだが、その抜粋といえばよいだろうか。93年までは例文の差し替えを頻繁にやっていたが、その後インターネットの普及、コーパスの利用など、ハンドブックそのものの利用価値が相対的に低下し、メモを書き込むだけになっている。今見るとかなり無理があるなあ、と思うが一青年教師がどんなことをしていたかが垣間見られると思うので和訳や解説を省き、例文だけ転載する。
- 1. We met a famous singer on the street.
- 2. There is a cockroach on the ceiling.
- 3. There are still apples on the tree.
- 4. She is wearing a ring on her middle finger.
- 5. I don't have any money on me tonight.
- 6. That dress looks very good on you.
- 7. Go straight, and you'll see the hospital on your left.
- 8. My hometown is situated on the coast.
- 9. This sweater is a bit on the large side.
- 10. We have a party on Saturday evening.
- 11. I was born on April 8.
- 12. What a shame you have to work on a Saturday.
- 13. We arrived at the theater on time.
- 14. On seeing a policeman, the criminal ran away.
- 15. On examination, we found his diagnosis was true.
- 16. I paid for the video camera on the spot.
- 17. It rained on and off.
- 18. You are wanted on the phone.
- 19. I have gone abroad on business.
- 20. Nobody was on duty last night.
- 21. The airplane was on fire.
- 22. Winter wear is on sale now.
- 23. My father is on the road now.
- 24. Keep on doing what you are doing.
- 25. The troops were planning on attacking Poland exactly one week later.
- 26. All right. The drink is on me.
- 27. The theory is based on the facts.
- 28. Not a few college students depend on their parents.
- 29. She's homeless, but at least I have my parents to fall back on.
- 30. On account of rain, the final was called off.
- 31. The teacher has a bad influence on children.
- 32. I'll work on her, and I'm sure she will agree.
- 33. Don't be so hard on the children.
- 34. I've finally found what to write on.
- 35. I am writing a report on apartheid.
- 36. I'll drop in on him tomorrow.
- 37. Finance Minister Fujii looks in on bureaucrats preparing the annual budget.
- 38. It's not wise to spend money on all that junk.
28の例に見られるonは一般には「依存を表す」などと説明されるが、あくまでも「依存」や「根拠」などに関係した動詞・形容詞と共起することによってできる意味である。過度の単純化や都合のよい一般化には慎重でなければならない。
