C2 · 習熟 チャプター 6

Professional and Formal Nuance

4 トータルルール
47 例文
6 分
このチャプターのルール クイック練習

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the sophisticated syntax that defines the most articulate speakers in professional English.

  • Employ the mandative subjunctive to issue formal mandates.
  • Integrate high-level pivots to navigate complex, contrasting arguments.
  • Construct elegant, concise clauses that streamline your professional communication.
Refine your voice for the boardroom and beyond.

学べること

Ready to elevate your English to a truly professional level? This chapter empowers you to express complex ideas with elegant precision, mastering sophisticated structures like

Be That As It May
and the powerful mandative subjunctive. You'll soon sound impeccably articulate in any formal setting.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: confidently employ the mandative subjunctive in formal written reports.

チャプターガイド

Overview

Congratulations on reaching the C2 level in English! You're now poised to unlock the highest echelons of linguistic sophistication. This chapter isn't just about avoiding errors; it's about mastering English professional and formal nuance, allowing you to express complex ideas with elegant precision and authority.
We'll delve into structures that distinguish true mastery from mere fluency, enabling you to command respect and clarity in any high-stakes interaction.
As a C2 English speaker, you're ready to move beyond simply being understood to being profoundly articulate. This guide will introduce you to powerful tools like the mandative subjunctive, refined formal pivots such as
Be That As It May,
concise verbless clauses, and descriptive absolute constructions. By integrating these advanced grammar points, you'll not only enhance your written and spoken communication but also project an image of impeccable professionalism.
Get ready to elevate your English to a truly expert level.

How This Grammar Works

At C2, the goal is to refine your expression, making it more precise, concise, and appropriately formal. The grammar points in this chapter work together to achieve this, offering alternatives to more common, less impactful phrasing.
First, the mandative subjunctive empowers you to express demands, recommendations, or necessities with a distinctly formal and authoritative tone. Unlike the more common 'should' or indicative forms, it uses the base form of the verb, often after expressions of requirement or suggestion. For example, instead of
I suggest that he *should be* informed,
a professional would say,
I suggest that he be informed.
This subtle shift immediately elevates the formality, making your directives clear and unambiguous in contexts like legal documents, formal reports, or high-level discussions.
Next, formal pivots like
Be That As It May
are indispensable for diplomatic, yet firm, communication. These are essentially 'frozen' subjunctive phrases that allow you to acknowledge a preceding point or fact formally before introducing a counter-argument or a different perspective without sounding confrontational. For instance, in a negotiation, you might say,
Be that as it may, our primary concern remains the long-term sustainability of the project.
This structure lends gravitas and intellectual fairness to your argument, showing you've considered the other side.
Then we have verbless clauses, which are champions of conciseness and sophistication. By omitting redundant subjects and 'be' verbs after conjunctions like 'if,' 'though,' 'when,' or 'while,' you create punchy, efficient sentences. Instead of
If it is possible, please submit the report,
you can say,
If possible, please submit the report.
Or,
Although *she was* tired, she continued her work
becomes
Although tired, she continued her work.
This streamlines your prose, making it more elegant and professional, especially in written communication where brevity is valued.
Finally, absolute constructions provide a powerful way to add descriptive depth and contextual information to your sentences. They consist of a noun or pronoun followed by a participle (or sometimes an adjective/prepositional phrase), acting as an independent grammatical unit that explains a circumstance or cause for the main clause. For example, instead of
The weather was fine, so we decided to go for a walk,
you can write,
The weather being fine, we decided to go for a walk.
Or, "Her presentation completed, the committee moved to Q&A." This structure allows you to present background information smoothly, enriching your narrative without interrupting the flow of your main statement, showcasing a truly advanced command of sentence structure.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: The committee recommends that she *reviews* the proposal.
✓ Correct: The committee recommends that she review the proposal.
*Explanation:* The mandative subjunctive requires the base form of the verb (review), not the third-person singular present tense, after verbs like 'recommend,' 'suggest,' 'insist.'
  1. 1✗ Wrong: The project failed, though *it was* a good idea.
✓ Correct: The project failed, though a good idea.
*Explanation:* To form a verbless clause, you omit the redundant subject and 'be' verb (it was) after the subordinator (though), achieving conciseness.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: We began the meeting, *the agenda having distributed* beforehand.
✓ Correct: We began the meeting, the agenda having been distributed beforehand.
*Explanation:* Absolute constructions require careful attention to the participle form. Here, 'the agenda' is the recipient of the action, so a perfect passive participle ('having been distributed') is needed to accurately convey the sequence and passive voice.

Real Conversations

A

A

The board insists that all new hires be trained by senior staff within their first month.
B

B

Yes, I agree that it’s crucial for integration. Be that as it may, we also need to consider the current workload of our senior team.
A

A

I’ve just finished drafting the report. If approved, we can send it out by end of day.
B

B

Excellent. The data collected, we're in a strong position to present our findings.
A

A

Management requires that every department head attend the quarterly review.
B

B

Understood. Though slightly inconvenient for some schedules, the importance of these reviews cannot be overstated.

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use the mandative subjunctive in C2 English?

You should use the mandative subjunctive in formal contexts, especially after verbs like 'suggest,' 'recommend,' 'insist,' 'demand,' or 'propose,' to express a requirement or necessity. It’s common in official reports, legal language, and formal recommendations.

Q

Are formal pivots like

Be that as it may
still common in business communication?

Absolutely. Phrases like

Be that as it may
are excellent for acknowledging a point gracefully before introducing a contrasting view, maintaining professionalism and courtesy in negotiations or disagreements, particularly in written communication or high-level meetings.

Q

Can verbless clauses make my writing sound unnatural or too abrupt?

Not if used correctly. Verbless clauses are a mark of sophisticated, concise writing. Overuse or incorrect placement might make prose feel choppy, but when used appropriately, they enhance elegance and efficiency, especially after common subordinators.

Q

What's the main difference between an absolute construction and a dependent clause?

An absolute construction has its own subject and acts independently, modifying the entire main clause by providing context (cause, time, condition). A dependent clause, however, usually has a conjunction and relies on the main clause for its meaning, often functioning as an adverb, adjective, or noun.

Cultural Context

These advanced structures are hallmarks of highly educated or professional discourse in English. While the mandative subjunctive is more common in American English formal writing, it's understood and used for emphasis across all English varieties. Formal pivots and absolute constructions lend a sophisticated, sometimes academic, tone.
Verbless clauses are widely used for conciseness in both written and spoken formal English. Using these patterns signals mastery and respect for the gravity of the communication, though they might sound overly formal in casual, everyday conversation.

重要な例文 (8)

1

The committee recommended that he submit his revised proposal by Friday.

委員会は、彼が金曜日までに修正案を提出することを勧告した。

命令形接続法：プロのように話す（彼がいるべきだと主張する）
2

It is essential that every team member be aware of the new security protocols.

全チームメンバーが新しいセキュリティ規定を認識していることが不可欠です。

命令形接続法：プロのように話す（彼がいるべきだと主張する）
3

The committee acknowledged the budget constraints; however, be that as it may, the project needs full funding to succeed.

委員会は予算の制約を認めましたが、それはそれとして、プロジェクトの成功には全額の資金提供が必要です。

フォーマルな転換句：「そうは言っても」など
4

The research provides strong evidence for the theory. Having said that, further investigation into the anomalies is crucial.

その研究は理論を裏付ける強力な証拠を示しています。そうは言っても、異例な点についてのさらなる調査が不可欠です。

フォーマルな転換句：「そうは言っても」など
5

The meeting, if necessary, will be rescheduled for next week.

La reunión, si es necesario, se reprogramará para la próxima semana.

動詞のない節（もし可能なら、疲れていても）
6

Although tired, she pushed through the final edits of her dissertation.

Aunque cansada, ella terminó las últimas ediciones de su tesis.

動詞のない節（もし可能なら、疲れていても）
7

`The meeting concluded,` everyone dispersed to their offices.

会議が終了し、全員が自分のオフィスへと散っていった。

絶対構文 (天気が良いので...)
8

`His phone vibrating incessantly,` he struggled to focus on the lecture.

スマホが絶え間なく震えていたので、彼は講義に集中するのに苦労した。

絶対構文 (天気が良いので...)

ヒントとコツ (4)

💡

「BE」の違和感に注目！

普通なら is や are が来るはずの場所に be があったら、それは仮定法現在かもしれません。フォーマルなスピーチでの決定的な目印です：
It is important that he be present.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 命令形接続法：プロのように話す（彼がいるべきだと主張する）
💡

表現のバリエーションを増やそう

Be that as it may
ばかりに頼らず、 Having said that や Notwithstanding を使い分けて、ダイナミックで洗練された印象を与えましょう。
Having said that, consider this alternative.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: フォーマルな転換句：「そうは言っても」など
🎯

The 'It Is' Test

If you're unsure if a verbless clause works, try adding 'it is' or 'he was' back in. If it makes sense, the verbless version is likely correct.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 動詞のない節（もし可能なら、疲れていても）
🎯

「ミニ文章」だと考えよう

独立分詞構文は、メインの文に情報を足すための、ギュッと凝縮された文章のようなものだよ。独自の主語を持つのが特徴なんだ。
The sun setting, the temperature dropped.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 絶対構文 (天気が良いので...)

重要な語彙 (5)

Mandate an official order or commission Concession admitting that something is true Elliptical characterized by omission Absolute independent or unconditional Articulate having the ability to speak fluently

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Executive Boardroom Debate

Review Summary

  • Verb + that + subject + base verb
  • Be that as it may, [clause]
  • Conjunction + Adjective/Participle
  • Noun + Participle, [clause]

よくある間違い

The mandative subjunctive requires the base form, not the third-person singular.

Wrong: I insist he goes to the meeting.
正解: I insist he go to the meeting.

While grammatically acceptable, 'Although tired' is more sophisticated in professional contexts.

Wrong: Although he was tired, he worked.
正解: Although tired, he worked.

This creates a comma splice; the absolute construction fixes the link.

Wrong: The weather was fine, we went out.
正解: The weather being fine, we went out.

Next Steps

Congratulations on completing Level C2! You now possess the linguistic tools to navigate any professional environment with authority and grace.

Read an editorial in The Economist or Financial Times

クイック練習 (10)

文を完成させるために、正しい動詞の形を選んでください。

The board requested that the budget ___ approved by next week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: be
'requested that' の後は、仮定法現在として be動詞の原形 'be' を使います。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 命令形接続法：プロのように話す（彼がいるべきだと主張する）

フォーマル・ピボットを正しく使っている文はどれですか？

正しい文を選んでください：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Granted, it's expensive, the quality is unmatched.
譲歩を示す 'Granted' は、通常節の冒頭に置かれ、コンマを伴って対照的なアイデアを導入します。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: フォーマルな転換句：「そうは言っても」など

文の中の間違いを見つけて直してね。

Find and fix the mistake:

`Looking exhausted,` the meeting finally ended.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: `The attendees looking exhausted,` the meeting finally ended.
元の文だと「会議が疲れ果てている」ことになってしまいます。出席者が疲れていることを示すために、 'The attendees' を主語に立てる必要があります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 絶対構文 (天気が良いので...)

Which sentence is correct?

Choose the sentence without a dangling modifier.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: While in the oven, the cake was checked by the chef.
The cake is what is in the oven, so 'the cake' must be the subject of the main clause.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 動詞のない節（もし可能なら、疲れていても）

Fill in the blank with the correct subordinator.

___ possible, I would like to finish this today.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: If
'If possible' is a standard conditional verbless clause.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 動詞のない節（もし可能なら、疲れていても）

文を完成させるのに最も適切な形式を選んでください。

The report highlighted several challenges; ___, the team achieved significant milestones.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Having said that
前の情報を認めた後に、対照的なポイントを導入するには 'Having said that' や 'That being said' が文の流れに最も適しています。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: フォーマルな転換句：「そうは言っても」など

独立分詞構文を完成させるために、正しい形を選んでね。

`___ finished,` the students handed in their exams.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Their work
独立分詞構文には独自の主語が必要です。ここでは 'Their work'（彼らの課題）が主語になり、過去分詞 'finished' が続いています。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 絶対構文 (天気が良いので...)

仮定法現在を正しく使っている文はどれですか？

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They demand that he show his ID.
'demand that' の後は、主語が he であっても動詞は原形の 'show' になります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 命令形接続法：プロのように話す（彼がいるべきだと主張する）

Fix the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Although is tired, she finished the race.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Although tired
You must remove both the subject and the verb 'is'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 動詞のない節（もし可能なら、疲れていても）

文の中の間違いを見つけて直してください。

Find and fix the mistake:

It is essential that she finishes the report before the meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is essential that she finish the report before the meeting.
'It is essential that' の後は、三人称単数の s を付けない原形 'finish' にする必要があります。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 命令形接続法：プロのように話す（彼がいるべきだと主張する）

Score: /10

よくある質問 (6)

要求、提案、勧告、または必要性を表すための「法」です。that節の中で、主語に関係なく動詞の原形を使うのが特徴です。例えば、
I insist he go
のようになります。
'Mandative' は「命令」や「権限」を意味する 'mandate' から来ています。主節が命令や強い提案を表す時に使われるため、この名前がついています：
The rule mandates that you follow protocol.
前の発言や状況の正当性を認めつつ、すぐに対照的な意見や反論を導入することです。丁寧な however や nevertheless だと考えてください。
Be that as it may, we need more data.
よりフォーマルで洗練された印象を与えたい時です。 but がぶっきらぼうに聞こえるようなビジネスや学術的な文脈で使いましょう。
Having said that, there are risks.
Generally, yes, as long as it describes a state that the subject is in. Common ones include possible, necessary, tired, young, and available.
Yes! It is a pro-form verbless clause where so stands in for an entire previous statement (e.g., 'If that is the case').
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