PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTIONS

Both Participle I and Participle II can be used in participial constructions. These constructions may be of two kinds:

1. The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction, e.g.

The novel having been read, Jane put it down. = Когда роман был прочитан, Джейн отложила его в сторону.

Joe having left the room to ring for a taxi as arranged, Mary sat down again to wait for him. = Когда Джо вышел из комнаты, чтобы вызвать такси, как и было договорено, Мэри снова села, чтобы подождать его.

The lamp having been lit, the mother started to read her son’s letter. = Включив лампу, мать начала читать письмо от сына.

The door and the window of the vacant room being open, we looked in. = Поскольку (Так как) дверь и окно пустой комнаты были открыты, мы заглянули в нее.

Andrew was sitting in one of the armchairs, his eyes closed. = Эндрю сидел в одном из кресел c закрытыми глазами.

We began to talk, but my attention distracted by my surroundings, I took small notice of him. = Мы начали разговаривать, но поскольку мое внимание было отвлечено тем, что меня окружало, я не придал ему большого значения.

2. The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction

This construction is always introduced by the preposition ‘with’, e.g. 

Andrew went into the house with his heart beating fast. = Эндрю вошел в дом; его сердце учащенно билось.

       I won’t speak with him staring at me like that. = Я не буду говорить с ним, когда он так смотрит на меня.

       It is unhealthy to sleep with all the windows shut. = Спать с закрытыми окнами – плохо для здоровья.

       Bella was speaking to me with her eyes fixed on the door, waiting for someone to come. = Белла разговаривала со мной, но ее глаза были прикованы к двери; она ожидала, что кто-то войдет.

TASK 27. Translate the sentences below into Russian/ Ukrainian, paying special attention to p articipial constructions.

1. The work being finished, the two girls brushed their dresses and went out of the shop.

2. Ice having thus been broken, the two former rivals grew still more affectionate.

3. The preparations completed, we started off.

4. Jim was sitting on the sofa, his legs crossed.

5. She was smoking now, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

6. The officer sat with his long fine hands lying on the table perfectly still.

7. Sheila went on reading, with her eyes fixed on the pages of the book.

8. It is unhealthy to sleep with all the windows shut.

9. It being pretty late we took the candles and went upstairs.

10.  Weather permitting we shall start tomorrow.

11.  Breakfast finished, Hugh went back to his butterflies and bugs.

12.  Mathew went home alone, his heart full of strange emotions.

13.  The hunter stood up and went towards the forest, all his dogs following him.

14. He was a gentleman, but he was passionate, the cup once sipped, would he be consent to put it down?

15. The next day I observed you – myself unseen – for half an hour.

16. The kitchen clean and tidy, Mrs. Fowls heavily sat on the chair and wiped her swollen hands.

TASK 28. Paraphrase the sentences given below so that to use either of the participial structures. Follow the example.

Example. The necessary sum of money was saved up; now they could buy the cottage they wanted. = The necessary sum of money having been saved up, now they could buy the cottage they wanted

              The girl sat still; her eyes were fixed on the fire. = The girl sat still with her eyes fixed on the fire.

1. The sun had set; we could not continue our way.

2. The room was dark, we couldn't see anything.

3. There was nobody at home; I had dinner alone.

4. The room at the hotel had been booked beforehand; we had no reason to worry.

5. The secretary had fallen ill; I couldn't get my paper typed in time.

6. It was late and the children were sent to bed.

7. The telephone was out of order, I had to go out.

8. The TV set was repaired; the old man could watch TV programmes all day long.

9. Her daughter sat motionless by the fire; her hands were crossed on her knees.

10. He could sit so for hours; his book was closed and lying beside him.

11. They went down the stairs; Alice was lingering behind a little.

12. The boy stood silent; his head was bent.

13. He was running along the street; his raincoat was thrown over his left arm.

14. David began to answer his lesson; Miss Murdstone was watching him closely.

15. The child lay on the bed; his eyes were shut and his face was flushed and sweating.

MISRELATED PARTICIPLES

1. A participle (or participial construction) is considered to belong to the noun or pronoun that immediately precedes or follows it, and which usually, but not necessarily, is the subject of the sentence.

e.g. Tom, horrified at what he had done, could at first say nothing.

  Romeo, believing that Julia was dead, decided to kill himself.

A man, carrying a large parcel, came out of the bus.

The boy, climbing the tree to get birds’ eggs, had a bad fall.

Climbing the tree to get birds’ eggs, the boy had a bad fall.

2. Note that the participle may be separated from the noun or pronoun it belongs to by a predicate (a predicate group),

       e.g. Jones and Smith came in, followed by their wives.

         My wife had a long walk with Sally, explaining why she didn’t want the children to play together.

3. Sometimes this principle is disregarded and confusion results when a participle is linked to the wrong noun or pronoun, e.g. 

Climbing down the tree, one of the eggs broke. (The impression is that ‘one of the eggs’ was ‘climbing down the tree’.)

The right sentence: When he was climbing down the tree, one of the eggs broke.

Looking out of the window of our hotel room, there were lots of mountains. (It sounds like the mountains were looking out of the window.)

The right sentence: When we looked out of the window of our hotel room, we saw that there were lots of mountains.

Waiting for a bus a brick fell on my head (The impression is that ‘the brick was waiting for the bus’.)

The right sentence: As I was waiting for the bus, a brick fell on my head.

  Compare with Russian, e.g. 

          Лежа в канаве, у него слетела шляпа.

       Подъезжая к станции, на платформе стояло много людей.

4. In complex sentences a participial clause can have its own subject, e.g. 

           Nobody having any more to say, the meeting was closed.

         All the money having been spent, Paul started looking for work.

                A little girl walked past, her doll dragging behind her on the pavement.

 

TASK 29. Correct the sentences given below.

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