The general characteristics, forms and grammatical categories of

the Participles

Principal ideas:

1. The Participles (PARTs) – Participle I – (PI) and Participle II – (PII) share their forms with the
verb (the grammatical categories and the elements of their forms are therefore verbal), but most
of their syntactic functions (such as Attribute, Predicative, Adverbial Modifier) they share with
the Adj. and Adv.

2. The grammatical meaning carried by the participles is action, process or event (which is also
of verbal character), but it is presented by the participles as the feature or property of some
object or event.

3. Like the Adj., the PARTs characterize inanimate objects or people:

falling leaves, fallen leaves, smoking chimney, smoked salmon, writing students, written docume
nt; I found him standing in the corner; In despair, we watched our house being destroyed by the
fire; Little Sam was caught smoking a cigarette; We are going to have our house decorated next
year.

4. Like the Adv., the PARTs characterize events or actions:

Having told his story once before, he didn’t like to retell it. Smiling to everybody in the room, she
began her lecture.

5. Verbal features of PARTs are displayed also in the elements of their form: the suffixes –ed, -
ing, the auxiliary verbs be and have, and in the forms of grammatical categories of Voice and
Time correlation (with PI).

The forms and categories of the Participles

 Voice and Time Correlation distinctions can be expressed in the forms of
PI:

Voice: Active PI – taking, going, Passive PI of transitive verbs – being taken.

Time Correlation: Non-Perf. PI – taking, going, Perf. PI – having taken, having gone; Perf.
[Link] – having been taken.

PII doesn’t possess forms of verbal grammatical categories, but it is capable of expressing the
grammatical meaning of Voice, Aspect and Time Correlation in the context of the sentence:

 I saw him taken away by the police (=The police were taking him, I saw it.) – the
meaning of Passive Voice and Continuous Aspect;

 Viewed from a distance, the island looked like a cloud (=When it was viewed from a
distance, the island looked like a cloud) – the meaning of the Passive Voice;

 I had the carpet cleaned (=Somebody had cleaned the carpet for me) – the meaning of
the Perfect form of the category of Time Correlation and the meaning of Passive Voice;
  We now have the problem solved (=The problem has been solved by somebody) – the
meaning of the Perfect form of the category of Time Correlation and the meaning of the
Passive Voice.

PII used as an attribute (before or after the noun) almost always has a passive meaning:

a broken window is a window that has been broken by somebody; the problems discussed means
the problems that were, have been or are discussed.

However, there are a few participles II that have active meaning in the position of an attribute,
e.g. fallen, vanished, retired, grown-up, escaped, faded:

a retired general (=a general who retired),

faded colours (coloures that faded),
an escaped prisoner (=a prisoner who escaped from the prison),
vanished civilizations (=civilizations that vanished).

Some other participles II can be used in this way with an ADV or adverbial particle:

a well-read person, a much traveled man, recently arrived immigrants, a burnt-out match.

 The grammatical category of Voice (expressed only in PI) is based on the

opposition of Active and Passive.

The Active PI denotes an action directed from its agent: Do you know the students translating
the text now (= ... the students who are now translating the text).

The Passive PI denotes an action directed to smb./smth.: Are you familiar with the problem being
discussed here? (=The problem is being discussed).

Pass. PI may carry the idea of priority of the action to the event of the predicate: She offered
herself at the palace as a servant, and being admitted, threw off her disguise and appeared as
the goddess, surrounded with thunder and lightning.

 The grammatical category of Time Correlation is manifested by the Non-Perf. and Perf.
forms of PI. The Non-Perf. PI suggests that the action is:

simultaneous to the event of the predicate:

 Walking in the park I saw a bird building its nest (= I was walking, the bird was building
a nest) – reference to the past;

 Walking in the park on a spring day I see many birds building nests (=Whenever I walk
in this park in spring I see birds that build their nests) – reference to the present;

 Walking in the park on a spring day you will be able to see birds building their
nests (=When you are in this park in spring, you will be able to see birds that will be
building their nests) – reference to the future.

or sequential (that which follows the main action, that is posterior to it):

 This road is going to be completed next year connecting Norbergville and Richtown.
The time reference of the event is clear only in the context of the whole sentence.

The Non-Perf. PI can also render the meaning of immediate priority – i.e. the action is slightly
prior to that of the finite predicate:

Opening the door to the kitchen, I encountered our neighbour Mrs. Drumm;

The Perf. PI indicates the priority of its action to the event named by the main predicate in the
sentence (note, that the time reference of the form is also created in the sentence as a whole):

 Having married very late, my father was only a year short of fifty when I was born (=My
father was nearly fifty when I was born because he had married very late) – reference to
the past;

 Having discussed the plan in every detail , we are now going to see the ways to put it in
action (=We have discussed the plan and now are going to speak about its fulfillment) –
reference to the present;

 Next week we are discussing the new school for the community. Having discussed the
idea, we shall be able to plan the finance resources. (=When we have discussed the idea
of the new school, we shall be able to find finance for it). – reference to the future.

Note that Perf. PI is not used to express priority in the function of Attribute – that-clause of the
complex sentence is used instead: *Where are the men having stood here? à Where are the men
who/that stood here?

 The combination of PARTs with their Obj. or AM can be used as an Attr. before another
N (especially when the phrase expresses a permanent quality and thus is very close to an
ADJ):

+a well-known trademark (=known well), home-grown vegetables (=grown at smb.’s home), the
long-expected call (=the call expected long), English-speaking countries (=where people speak
English), a long-playing record (=that can play long), self-winding watch (=winding itself), etc.

Exercises
Ex.1. DEFINE the form of participle and STATE its grammatical meaning.

A. 1. The little restaurant struck me as exotic, having a filthy floor and obviously dirty tables, but
the happiest waiters and waitresses as well as clientele. (Active, Provides additional information
about the restaurant.)

2. The FBI has dug up half of New Orleans trying to find it, but they’ve never thought about my
house. (Active, Indicates simultaneous actions or events.)

3. Take and separate all these grains, putting all of the same kind in a parcel by themselves, and
see that you get it done before evening. (Active, Provides additional information about the
process of taking and separating grains)

4. Her comely smile stopped him cold, and her first words left him flabbergasted. (Participle
phrase - Present participle; Function - Describes the actions of her comely smile and first words.)
5. “They’ve got me surrounded,” Luther muttered to himself parking in his garage. (Participle
clause - Present participle; Function - Indicates simultaneous actions or events.)

6. They left him standing near the toilet, leaning on the wall for support, more confused than
ever, scared to death. (Participle phrase - Present participle; Function - Describes the state of him
standing near the toilet.)

7. I want Mark examined by a psychiatrist. (Past Participle, passive)

8. Immediately after his election to the crown, Arthur found himself opposed by eleven kings
and one duke. (Participle phrase - Past participle; Function - Indicates the state or condition after
Arthur's election.)

9. I got home late last night and found the raft gone ( Past participle, passive )

10. I heard them laughing together as I passed through the Music-room. (Participle clause -
Present participle; Function - Indicates simultaneous actions or events.)

Ex.2. SUBSTITUTE a finite verb for Participle I where possible making all other necessary
changes:

1. Arriving at the gallery, he paid his entrance fee, picked up a catalogue, and entered.

2. Having been promised assistance, they felt more assured.

3. Settling at the new place we shall drop you a line.

4. Going down the steps, she suddenly stopped as she remembered that she left the gas burning.

5. Being shown in, he was asked to wait a while.

6. Hanging in that corner the portrait was sold last week.

7. Having started the construction of the dam early in spring and completed it before cold
weather set in.

8. The parks and gardens being laid out in the city will very soon form a green belt all around it.

9. Having been planned to dig out a new canal here, it will supply the whole area with water for
irrigation.

10. Standing at the counter and hesitating; he didn’t know what to choose.

Ex.3. OPEN the brackets using the correct participle. MIND the form of PI.
DIFFERENCIATE between the meaning of the PI and the PII: e.g.: interesting films –
interested spectators.
 1. You look (interested) in the lecture. – I am. It is very (exciting). The one last week was
quite (boring).
2. After seeing a (frightening) horror movie, the (frightened) children would not go to sleep.

3. (Finding) the treasure, they quarreled about how to divide it.

4. She became nervous when (asked) to explain the word of whose definition she was not
sure.

5. (Burnt) by the enemy, the village presented a (devastating) sight.

6. Why does he look so (worried)? – He has just had a (worrying) phone call.

7. Have you a seat (left) on the flight to Toronto? – Did you call to have it (reserved) for
you, sir?

8. “Oh, how extremely (touching) of you to come here to see me,” said Phil, really
(touched) and (impressed).

9. The passengers (leaving) for London are invited to platform two for an express train
(departing) at 22.30.

10. A crowd of (disturbed) neighbors was watching the fire brigade (trying) to save the
Willsons’ (burnt) house.

Ex.4. COMBINE two sentences into one following the rule: the main idea is expressed by a
complete sentence and a qualifying (additional) one is added in a participial phrase.
REMEMBER to place the proper name in the statement that expresses the more important
idea.

Model: Henry picked over the apples. He chose only the ripest.

- Henry picked over the apples, choosing only the ripest.

1. He heard his name called, breaking into a wide grin.

2. Sitting next to me, Henry puzzled over the test questions.

3. Lingering at the window, Emily watched the last sailboat sink beneath the horizon.

4. Ignoring the question they were asked, the actress and her husband paused for only one
picture.

5. Split into halves, the logs fitted more conveniently into the fireplace.

6. Fascinated, the children stopped their quarreling and paid attention to their father.

7. Being less annoyed than her brother, Teri merely turned her back on us.

8. Founded before the territory became a state, San Benito is proud of its Indian and
Mexican heritage.

9. Getting irritated, Mr. Benson slammed shut the account book.

 10. Invited to comment, other students identified themselves only by their first names.

11. Expecting to see some of her former pupils, she looked down the line of soldiers.

12. Smiling because there was nothing else to do, she stepped aside and let them pass.

Ex.5. USE the appropriate form of the participles.

1. Just then I heard somebody coming down the stairs, back behind me.
2. Being Written five centuries ago, this manuscript was a real find for historians.

3. Sitting in the reception, he wondered how long his visit would be.

4. Having left the message on the answering machine the day before and received no reply,
he decided not to call again.

5. I remember hearing this idea touched upon at the previous meeting.

6. We changed the subject, not wishing to continue useless talk.

7. She looked at him attentively, as though wishing to make out the cause of his confusion.

8. There seemed to be a thousand waiting for the 7 p.m. flight to Miami.

9. His situation, if taken seriously, was too appalling to face.

10. He breathed hard and rapidly, and emitted a dull, aching moan.

11. He played the piano, thinking about his last trip to Boston.

12. Being Given the unexpected answer, we felt awkward.

13. All of them appeared frozen as if witnessing a horrible event.

14. In the two envelopes containing holiday cards, she saw something that stopped her cold.
Airmail, from Peru. Spanish words stamped on the front.

15. “I hate to see my country divided,” he exclaimed.

16. He sat in the darkness, too scared to move or say anything.

17. He stopped, not knowing what to say next.

18. The frightened animals huddled around the bull.

19. The story created a row, not known to the audience.

20. At last, she heard her name called.

The functions of the Participles in the sentence

Principal ideas:

+PARTs perform the functions characteristic of the Adj. and Adv. – they can be used as
Attribute, Predicative, Adverbial Modifier, and Parenthesis. In the sentence participles appear
either alone, as single participial forms (Smiling, he greeted us at the door), as the headword of a
participial phrase (He began his talk, smiling to everyone sincerely), or as the non-finite element
of two types of predicative constructions – Complex Object (Very soon we had all the repair
work done. We noticed him leaving before others) and an Absolute Participial
construction ("Silence," she said, her lips trembling, the blood tears having left their streaks on
her pale cheeks. With the work done, they all started for their homes).

 Participles in the functions of Attribute, Predicative, and Parenthesis.

Attribute expressed by PART can appear in front of the modified N (when it’s a single PI – non-
perfect, active, or a single PII):

Britain is an ageing society. Increasing prices are making food very expensive. A bored student
complained to his teacher. The bird had a broken wing;

or after it (when PARTs make phrases with dependent words; sometimes a single PII is used
after the noun modified by it):

He gestured towards the box lying on the table. I think the idea suggested by Tim is the best one.
Most of the people questioned refused to answer. Most of the people singing were students.

Single Participles as attributes do not always take the position before Ns: it is not normal to
say the climbing man, and it is not possible to say *the discussed problem. A participle before a
noun usually expresses some more permanent characteristic: it’s more like an adjective than a
verb Similarly, when we refer to a broken window, we are not necessarily thinking of the action;
we may just be thinking of the way the window looks. On the other hand, if we talk about a man
climbing on a rock, or about the problems discussed at the meeting, or the window broken last
night, we are thinking more of the actions (the meaning of the PART is closer to the verbal
meaning), and the PART is like a V as well as an ADJ. Compare:

He doesn’t want to spend his life surrounded by dirty washing and screaming
children (screaming is presented as permanent characteristic) – The child screaming so loudly as
to wake everyone was probably very hungry (screaming presents a single action).

Here are more expressions in which the PART must go after the noun: the only place left, the
people taking part, any person objecting, the success just obtained.

PARTs in postposition can modify pronouns – everyone concerned (everyone who was
concerned), those taking part (the people taking part), those selected (the people or things
selected).

PII of many verbs may be placed before a noun only if they combine with an adverb to make a
compound attribute composed of PII and ADV: we cannot say *a built house or *a mentioned
point, but we can say a recently-built house, or the above-mentioned point.
A few PARTs can change their meaning depending on their position and the semantics of the
noun:

the people concerned (=the people who were affected by what was
happening); a concerned expression (=a worried expression); the people involved means the
same as the people concerned, an involved explanation means “a complicated explanation”; the
solution adopted (=the solution chosen by the participants), an adopted child (=one who lives
with people who are not his biological parents).

When a prior action is meant, no participle I can be used as an attribute – only an attributive
clause is used: Look at the people plowing in the field (they are doing it now). Where are the
farm workers who were plowing in this field in the morning? (See Note to 15.4.)

A detached attribute expressed by PART is separated by commas (or dashes) in writing and
pauses in speech, when it gives some additional characterizing to its noun. It can be used in any
part of the sentence:

The candle, wasted at last, went out. He gave me one of his old smiles – knowing and searching.

The detached character of PART is mostly obvious when it modifies a personal pronoun,
e.g. Still smiling, he rose to leave the room.

In the function of predicative PI is used only in the Non-Perf. Act. form. The meaning of PI is
qualitative characterization of the person/thing named as the Subj. PII denotes a state:

The present situation is terrifying. He seems/looks depressed. The movie is rather touching. I
felt touched by the movie.

Although keeping the verbal form, PARTs are often treated as deverbal Adjectives – The
Brazilians are pleased with the football match score. She was scared that they would find her.
They remained standing. Greg became interested in what was discussed.

Occasionally we come across PII with active meaning used as predicative: Evening is come.
Everybody is gone. The sun is not risen. The meaning of be+PII here is very similar to the
grammatical meaning of the perfect forms – the action is completed before some moment of
time.

As an independent element of the sentence, PI and PII perform the function of Parenthesis,
whose meaning is a comment to the whole sentence or its part. PI is more frequent in this
function: generally (broadly, honestly, strictly, personally, roughly, etc.) speaking, putting it
mildly, allowing for …, judging by (from) …, talking of/about …, taking … into consideration,
supposing ..., taking it all in all, present company excepting, etc.

Social psychology, generally speaking, deals with the behavior of people in groups. We’ll have
to leave for the station to be able to see him off in forty-five minutes, allowing for traffic delays,
of course.

However, PII can be used as an independent element, too: all told, present company excepted, all
things considered, stated bluntly, etc.
Yet, all things considered, both movie and book (‘2010 Odyssey Two’) stand up quite well in the
light of these discoveries, and it is fascinating to compare the Jupiter sequences in the film with
the actual movies from the Voyager cameras.

 Participles in the Functions of Adverbial Modifier.

PII
the meaning of AM is
often context dependent
PI and in most cases PII is
preceded by a
conjunction of specific
semantic type

After
For simultaneous (Non-Perf. Act. PI) or prior (perfect or
conjunctions when/until:
passive PI) action. Walking along the park alley, she was
He is rather
A.M. of time: names an deep in reminiscences. Being left alone, we kept silent for
friendly, when spoken
event that marks the time some time. Having said that, I feel I need to say everything
to, but naturally
period of the main action else.
reserved. Until
Note: The idea of simultaneity is more explicit with
interrupted, he can talk
conjunctions when/while: While saying this, he felt horrible.
for hours.

All four forms of PI are used. Verbs of cognition and

emotions are most frequently used in the form of PI: Deprived of his wife and
A.M. of reason: names an
One day at Oxford, wanting to show off to Anthony, I son by the Spanish
event which serves the
introduced him to Jane. Having married very late, my adventure, Jolyon found
cause of the action of the
father was only a year short of fifty when I was born. the solitude at Robin Hill
finite predicate
Note: PI often combines with negation: Not knowing what intolerable.
to say, he just stared blank at Don.
Note: As PII highlights
mostly the meaning of
AM of attendant
result of some action, it is
circumstances: names an
Non-Perf. PI: He wandered helplessly around the flat trying usually not used to
event parallel, or
to decide whether he should sell it. denote a parallel,
simultaneous to the action
simultaneous event
of the predicate
happening at the time of
the main event.
AM of manner: describes He will spend the entire
Non-Perfect PI: He had spent all afternoon trying to get a
how the action of the weekend buried in the
complete list of persons who had been seen around.
predicate is fulfilled library.

After the conjunctions as if/as though

AM of
comparison: characterizes He looked at her as if
the main action by Romey relaxed again and closed his eyes as if trying surprised by the
comparing it to another desperately to take a nap. She looked at him attentively, as question. "Well, then,"
event though wishing to make out the cause of Johnson said, looking
his confusion. away as though
embarrassed.
AM of With the supporting context
concession: expresses an as well as after the conjunctions though/although
event contrasting to the
action of the predicate “Are we going hunting?” I asked, knowing full well that I This place still retains its
would not get an answer. ancient Oriental
character, though
stamped
 with the traces of decline.
Mostly after the
conjunctions if/unless:
AM of In the syntactical surroundings of either Subjunctive Margaret was a small
condition: expresses an Mood or Future Tense forms: woman who tried too
action that serves as the She ought to be there and her absence might be resented, hard and who said
condition for the action of but being there she wouldn’t know what to say (=if she nothing unless spoken
the predicate were there). to. His situation, if taken
seriously, was too
appalling to face.
As the grammatical
AM of subsequent events: meaning of PII often
expresses an event She slept soundly at night waking up at dawn fresh and renders the idea of
posterior to the action of completely rested (= and woke up…). complete (fulfilled)
the predicate action or its result, it is
not used in this function

Exercises
Ex.1. DEFINE the functions of the participles. TRANSLATE the sentences into Ukrainian.

1. The actress starring in the film is very young. ( attribute) 2. The grass crackled softly and the
weeds shook a little and Mark was next to him again, panting and sweating and, oddly, smiling
to himself. (attribute) 3. She spent all spare time training for the contest. ( AM of manner) 4. We
tried all the methods recommended. (attribute) 5. They looked at her in surprise as though not
believing her story. (AM of comparison) 6. He never spoke unless spoken to. ( AM of condition) 7.
Entering the room, the detective found it empty. ( A.M. of time) 8. A burnt child dreads the fire. (
attribute) 9. Being a foreigner, she found it difficult to understand English spoken outside the
classroom. (A.M. of reason) 10. The first performance of this symphony was rather disappointing.
predicative 11. His autographed sketch of the painting now hangs on my office wall. ( attribute)
12. We’re now at an altitude of three thousand metres, coming up over the west coast of Africa.
AM of manner 13. You could have passed me by unnoticed. (Parenthesis) 14. In the center of the
room, fixed to an upright easel, stood the full-length portrait of a young man of extraordinary
personal beauty. ( attribute) 15. He entered, puzzled but interested. ( attribute) 16. The studio
was filled with the rich odour of roses. (predicative) 17. She never gets confused over her dates,
and I always do. (Predicative) 18. The painter has been busy mixing his colours and getting his
brushes ready. (AM of manner)

Ex.2. JOIN the sentences, using participles as adverbial modifiers. FOLLOW the rule:
keep the main idea in the finite-verb clause, and express the less important idea by a
participial phrase.

Models:

1. She stood by the window. She heard an unfamiliar voice.

- Standing by the window she heard an unfamiliar voice.
2. They broke the vase in a mock fight. They began quarrelling about who was to blame.
- Having broken the vase, they began quarrelling about who was to blame.
3. He felt completely broken. He went to bed at once.
- Feeling completely broken, he went to bed at once.

1. Realizing that he had been left alone, he began to look for the papers.
2. Not wanting to see the movie again as they had seen it before.

3. Getting out of the car, he helped his wife out.

4. Entering the room, I was struck at what I saw there.

5. "Having been to the gallery, we'd like to have lunch somewhere now."

6. Kindly offering to tell us the way to the hotel, the lady thought we were lost.

7. Constructed with great skill and care, the mansion has been used by the family for
centuries.

8. Asking me for help, she realized that she couldn’t move the table herself.

9. Deciding to terminate the search, the police considered it hopeless to continue until the
fog cleared.

10. Knowing the garden needed weeding, I didn’t like to sit down.

11. Written in pencil, the letter was hard to read.

12. Having explained everything to you, I want to tell you how sorry I am.

13. Hearing the footsteps downstairs, he went to open the front door.

14. Having settled this problem, you will find something else to worry about.

15. Quieting the baby, she went on to cook dinner.

16. Losing the feel of his job when a higher position became vacant, Tony was not promoted.

17. Having being Written two hundred years ago, the manuscript was not very difficult to
understand.

18. Mad when he knew his car was damaged, he had had it serviced only a week before.

19. Staying at home that night, we were watching TV and playing Scrabble.

20. Away on the day of the big fire, I could not have helped with the rescue of animals.

 Participle I and the Gerund compared

The form of PI and GER are identical and they have certain common morphological and
syntactic characteristics. They share some verbal morphological and syntactic features, such as:
a) verbal grammatical categories of Time Correlation and Voice;

b) combinability of verbs (they can take Objects, Adverbial Modifiers, and may be followed by
infinitives);

Some functions in the sentence are common for both PI and GER: they can be used as Attr.,
Predicative, Adv. Mod. (which is typical of Adjectives and Adverbs), but their use in these
functions differs syntactically and semantically.

The difference between PI and GER concerns mainly their non-verbal features:

a. non-verbal combinability: GER in the functions of Attr. and AM follows prepositions,

Participle I is never used with prepositions in these functions, but it can follow some
conjunctions as an Adverbial Modifier (when, while, as if, if, as though);
b. the use in the functions of Attr., AM, Predicative : gerunds display mostly nominal
tendencies in these functions, participles have mostly adjectival and adverbial features
(which is revealed mostly in their functions of Attribute and Predicative):

Gerund Participle I

Like a N, GER takes prepositions when used

after the modified word:
art of teaching, talent for dancing;
Like an Adj., PI is used before/after the
Like an Adj., it can be used before the modified
modified word without prepositions:
Attribute word without prepositions (but easily
running children, rising sun, any
paraphrased to take one):
person objecting.
dancing lesson à lesson of dancing); boiling
kettle à kettle for boiling; swimming
competitions à competitions in swimming;

Like an Adj., PI provides qualitative

features (mostly of temporary character) to
Like a N, GER discloses the meaning of the
the Subj.:
Subj., mostly by identifying it with some
The story was reassuring. The bullfighting
Predicative activity, process or event, thus giving, in most
looked disgusting. The castle had
cases, permanent characteristics to the Subj.:
remained standing for several hundred
His hobby was horse-riding/singing.
years, in defiance of storms and
earthquakes.

In contrastive phrases such as a dancing lesson/hall/party – a dancing couple/person/girl;

boiling kettle – boiling water; climbing equipment – a climbing man, etc. one can see the
semantic difference between GER and PI in the function of an Attr. GER names permanent
qualities or features of the thing/person named by the modified N: a dancing hall is a hall for
dancing, a boiling kettle is a kettle for boiling water, and climbing equipment means equipment
used fro climbing. PI expresses temporary (in many cases, perceived or observed) features of the
object/person named by the N: a dancing girl is a girl who is dancing (now), boiling
water means water that is boiling when it is mentioned, and a climbing man is a man who is
climbing when the speaker sees him or thinks about him.

In the function of AM GER always takes prepositions: upon seeing the enemy, instead of slowing
down the car, after finishing the story, etc. PI is used alone or with some conjunctions: when
reading, while saying the prayer, as if struck by lightning, as though having trouble
speaking, etc.

As AM of attendant circumstances with negation, GER takes the preposition without, PI is used
with the negator not, producing a synonymous expression.

He stood and glared at her without moving a muscle. He sat with his head dropped, not moving
a muscle.

Note: Without+GER can be used as AM of condition: You can’t make an omelet without
breaking the eggs.

Not+PI can be used as AM of attendant circumstances and AM reason:

He bowed, still not taking his eyes from the group of the dog and child. Not knowing what to say,
he turned and left.

The difference between GER and PI as AM of attendant circumstances may be in their

grammatical meaning: by saying what did not happen at the time of the main event, GER focuses
on the Subject’s action or physical activity (it is more like an Adverb):

Why do you always enter without knocking (= You don not knock when you enter); Without
saying a word, she walked up with a cordial face, shook hands with him, and patted him on the
arm (=She walked up, shook hands, patted him and did not say anything).

PI focuses on the state, condition, inactivity of the Subj., perception or cognition (it is more like
an ADJ):

She gazed at him, not taking her eyes off him, and smiling and holding her breath. "That's bad,"
one murmured to the other, not thinking that the words could be heard by the group at the door-
wicket. "Yes, he's a very dear, good man," she thought several times, not hearing what he
said, but looking at him and penetrating into his expression.

+In Russian, however, such difference is not obvious – both GER and PI as AM of attendant
circumstances are translated into Russian ether by деепричастие, or by a finite verb-
clause: Она смотрела на него, не сводя глаз … (и не сводила глаз…).

Exercises
Ex.1. USE not+PI or without+GER instead of the indicated verbs. MIND the form of the
verbal.

1. Marius went away without saying where he was going.

2. “How could I go out of the room without saying anything to her?” without is gerund

3. “Oh, what nonsense!” Anna went on, without seeing her husband.

4. She gazed at him, not taking her eyes off him, and smiling and holding her breath.

5. He died without uttering a sound, without moving a limb, without twitching a muscle.
 6. Without knowing how to get to the station, I had to ask for directions several times.

7. “I still can’t understand what you are afraid of,” said Prince Andrew slowly, without
taking his eyes off his wife.

8. When you have mastered the action, you are able to do these things without thinking of
them.

9. Without moving the table and the wall units, you won’t find the proper place for the sofa.

10. The girl wouldn’t go to bed without saying ‘good-night’ to her father.

11. At last, the coach arrived; and it arrived without making the slightest noise, for its wheels
were bound round with tow and rags.

12. She would meet Jurgis and Ona in the evening, and the three would walk home together,
often without saying a word.

13. Still groping for the revolver, he stretched out to the other side, and not being strong
enough to keep his balance, fell over, streaming with blood.

14. Beneath his coat, his shirt showed almost black with dirt, not changing for months.

15. I looked around for his birds, and not seeing them, asked him where they were.

16. Perhaps, however, seeing me, and forgetting I was ahead, they may have gone back in
search of me.

17. He found some dry moss, and by striking together two pebbles, he obtained some sparks,
but the moss, not being inflammable enough, did not take fire.

18. “I don’t take your meaning, sir,” he answered, not having words at command to express
the mingled feelings with which he had heard Mr. Cass’s words.

19. “Not having seen you for four or five years, I believed you to be dead.”

Predicative constructions with the Participles

Principal ideas:

+Participial predicative constructions are formed of the PART and the nominal element
preceding it. The relations between nominal element (expressed by the N, Pron. or N Phrase) and
the participle are predicative – like those between the Subj. and the Pred. of the finite clause.
There are two types of predicative constructions with PI and PII – Objective Participial
Construction (Complex Object) and Absolute Nominative Participial Construction. The
predicative constructions with PARTs function as syntactic complexes.
  Complex Object with the Participles

Objective Participial Constructions are formed by a Noun in the Common Case or a Pronoun in
the Objective Case and P I or P II. The syntactic function of this construction is Complex Object
– it follows transitive verbs of specific groups.

With Participle I With Participle II

After verbs of sense perception

See, hear, feel, watch, notice, observe, perceive,

smell, find, catch, discover, spot, look (at), listen
(to): See, hear, feel, find:
We saw Jackie (her) playing tennis with her We found the door unlocked. We heard the news
sister. We heard (listened to) the music being repeated twice. I never heard him spoken of
played outside the library. Can you smell something badly. Immediately after his election to the crown,
burning? I found him walking in the garden. Treen Arthur found himself opposed by eleven kings and
decided he would lie in ambush somewhere, maybe one duke.
catch Krank speeding or sneaking through a stop
sign.

After verbs expressing wish

Wish, want, like, prefer:

Want, like: I want the answer sent at once. We prefer the
They didn’t like me leaving early. I don’t want you payment made in cash. He wished his tea served at
talking back to me. noon. “And you want the kid released?” –
“Immediately.”

After verbs of mental activity consider, believe, expect, find:

He considers the state of things satisfying us so far.

I find the book overestimated. I believe the dispute
I find this tale amusing. I expect him hiding from us
settled. I consider the problem solved.
somewhere there.
Note: This structure seems to be the result of dropping the infinitive of be out of the Complex-Object
phrase with INF and is semantically identical to it: I find this tale (to be) amusing. I consider the problem
(to be) solved.

After verbs of causative meaning (verbs of inducement):

Have, get, make, keep:

Have, keep, leave, get, start, help, set: I must have my watch mended; it doesn’t keep good
They soon started the car moving. They left him time. You must get your ticket registered. The
standing near the toilet, leaning on the wall for speaker made himself heard with the help of a
support. I won’t have you using foul language in my microphone. Will you keep me informed?
house! Then he laughed at her, and left her lying
there. The next day a letter arrived from Ricky – Note: After have or get this complex can express
Grandpa had it lying on the kitchen table when we unfortunate experience of the person named as
came through the back door. Subject: He had his wallet stolen during the
It was Greg who set the fire going. They kept us festival. I had my leg broken in the car crash. I
working from morning till night. thought Jerry Sisco got himself killed because he’d
finally met his match.
  Complex Subject with the Participles

PI can be used in the Complex Subject after passive voice forms of sense perception verbs see,
hear, notice, perceive, observe, feel, find, catch, and also after some causative verbs in the
passive such as keep, leave:

The boy was caught smoking a cigarette. We were kept/left standing. The victim was found lying
on his side with his eyes closed. Jazz was heard being played in the garden. And I was
left brooding over my memories again. I felt like I’d been caught committing a crime.

PII is used in the same contexts, but less frequently:

This will was found destroyed in the grate of her bedroom the following morning, but evidence
had come to light which showed that it had been drawn up in favour of her husband. I said the
door was bolted, meaning that it was fastened, and I could not open it, but I believe all the
doors were found bolted on the inside. The casket was left unopened, much to the disappointment
of the mourners, most of whom still clung to the ancient Southern ritual of viewing the deceased
one last time in a strange effort to maximize the grief.

 Absolute Participial Constructions

The Nominative Absolute Participial Constructions (absolutives) are formed by two

interdependent elements: a Common Case Noun (a Noun Phrase) or Pronoun in the Nominative
Case (Subject form of the Pronoun) and Participle I or Participle II. The two elements have
predicative relations and function as a detached adverbial modifier. This type of construction has
loose grammatical connection with the finite-verb clause of the sentence and therefore is called
absolute. Thus this syntactic complex bears mostly semantic relation to the verb-predicate of the
sentence.

There are two subtypes of this complex: non-prepositional and prepositional. The non-
prepositional Nominative Absolute construction is separated from the sentence by a comma or
dash. Prepositional Absolute Participial Constructions are introduced by the preposition with. It
is seldom set off by any punctuation mark.

The non-prepositional absolute with PARTs is used as AM:

With (any form of) PI With PII

AM of attendant circumstances
He looked through the window, his glance
She was smoking now, her eyes narrowed
travelling towards the bridge. Marble hurried
thoughtfully. The next day I observed you
out of the car and walked away, tears streaming
– myself unseen – for half an hour.
down her face.
AM of reason
But I was a little on edge, there being something
We began to talk but, my attention distracted by
to report. It being Sunday, everybody was going
my surroundings, I took small notice of him.
to the church.
AM of time
Note: The meanings of reason and time often combine.
The work being finished, the two girls went into The duster refolded and restored, he threw his
the shop. Ice having thus been broken, the two legs across the saddle. The novel finished, she
former rivals grew still more affectionate. put the book aside.
AM of condition
“Other things being equal,” said Holmes, “one He was a gentleman, but he was passionate, the
would suspect the person at whose head the cup once sipped, would he consent to put it
master threw a decanter.” down?
AM of manner
He sat on the sofa, his legs crossed.

The prepositional absolutive with PARTs is mostly used as AM of attendant circumstances or

manner (sometimes with additional temporal, conditional or causal meaning).

With (any form of) PI With P II

Andrew went into the house with his heart It’s unhealthy to sleep with the windows shut.
beating fast. The officer sat with his fine hands She went on reading with her eyes fixed on the
lying on the table perfectly still. I won’t pages of her book.
speak with him staring at me like that. I can’t walk with my both legs wounded.

Nominative Absolute constructions with the Participles can be reduced to absolute phrases in
case they contain participles of the verbs be, have or some other verbs expressing location such
as place, lie, stand, etc. and time that may be easily omitted, e.g.

- referring to time: The season (being) over, everybody was returning to the city;

+- referring to location: He sat with his legs (being) on the desk. He sat, his legs (being) on the
desk. They danced, their hands (lying/placed) on each other’s shoulders. I sat at the
desk, (having) a pen in hand, thinking over the answer to the proposal.

Exercises
Ex.1. COMMENT on the structure of Complex Object with participles. TRANSLATE the
sentences into Ukrainian.

1. I heard you talking to the visitor, so I decided to wait. 2. I noticed him sneaking out of the
classroom, but I didn’t stop him. 3. If you call on him at noon you’ll probably find him still
sleeping. 4. I suddenly felt my left arm going numb. 5. The family had her pregnancy concealed
from the rest of the world for the sake of her own future. 6. I found him lying on the floor, barely
showing signs of life. 7. Can I have my jacket dry-cleaned in this shop? 8. We heard
Beethoven’s sonatas performed by an outstanding artist. 9. If I ever catch you doing this again,
you shall get what you deserve. 10. Outside the hotel I found myself surrounded by a number of
local reporters. 11. I wonder who set the fire going in the hearth. 12. We finally managed to start
the van moving.

1. Я чув, як ти розмовляв з відвідувачем, тому я вирішив зачекати.

2. Я помітив, як він вибирався з класу, але я його не зупинив.
 3. Якщо ви відвідаєте його опівдні, ви, ймовірно, знайдете його ще сплячим.

4. Раптом я почув, як ліва рука стає немовлячою.

5. Родина приховувала її вагітність від решти світу на користь її власного

майбутнього.

6. Я знайшов його лежачим на підлозі, ледве виявляючи ознаки життя.

7. Чи можна в цьому магазині віддати свій пальто на хімчистку?

8. Ми чули сонати Бетховена виконані видатним артистом.

9. Якщо я ще раз попаду тебе на цьому, ти отримаєш те, що заслуговуєш.

10. Поза готелем я виявив себе оточеним численною групою місцевих журналістів.

11. Я дивуюся, хто підпалив вогонь у каміні.

12. Нам нарешті вдалося почати рух фургону.

Ex.2. PARAPHRASE the sentences by using complex object phrases with infinitives or
participles, where possible.

1. We saw the old man finishing his scotch.

2. They heard us quarrelling the other day.

3. I know him to have been an outstanding hockey player.

4. I felt him able to speak against our proposal.

5. I could see an old lady crossing the street in front of a bus.

6. We listened to the music playing in the city's main square.

7. Did you hear that Timothy leaving for Austria to work as a car mechanic?

8. I will try and catch him reading my mail.

9. “You’d better have your watch repaired shop for mending; it keeps being late.”

10. Have you noticed him came in?

11. I see that you not reading the assigned paragraphs for our class.

12. He used to watch older boys playing football.

13. I’ve noticed your preference for Mozart over any other composer.
14. I found the car left by the house across the street.

15. We left them peacefully chatting about the holidays.

16. He didn’t like my leaving so early.

17. Have you ever heard her singing Italian songs?

Ex.3. PRACTICE the construction Have+Object+PII to say that people arrange for
someone else to do something for them or to say that something unexpected happened to
someone. See the models.

Model 1: I have my coat cleaned every month.

They are having the house painted at the moment.

How often do you have your car serviced?

Model 2: He had all his money stolen.

George had his nose broken in a fight.

A. ANSWER the questions using Model 1, as in the example: Did Anne make the dress
herself?

– No, she had it made.

1. Did you clean your house yourself?

 No, I had it cleaned.

2. Did Jim cut that tree in his backyard himself?

 No, he had it cut.

3. Do you repair your car yourself?

 No, I have it repaired.

4. Are they painting their house themselves?

 No, they are having it painted.

5. Does she also write the lyrics to her songs?

 No, she has them written.

6. Did you cut your hair yourself?

  No, I had it cut.

7. Do you make yourself all these injections?

 No, I have them made.

8. Did Anne clean all the windows?

 No, she had them cleaned.

9. Was it you who moved all the furniture here?

 No, I had it moved.

10. Do you or your son cut the grass on the lawn?

 No, we have it cut.

B. DEVISE sentences using Model 2 on the basis of the suggested sentence elements. MIND
the articles, word order and the tense-aspect forms of the finite verb.

1. We are having the bedroom decorated now.

2. When did you have the flat repaired last?

3. The director had the desks replaced with computer desk-units.

4. Marsha had her wallet stolen in the market place.

5. She has already had her hair cut.

6. Where can you have your coat made?

7. I do not have this poster hung on this wall.

8. Here, you can have your coat cleaned overnight.

9. She had the kitchen painted yellow.

10. I need to have a photo taken as soon as possible.

11. Where can I have my car washed fast?

12. He could really get himself wounded? – Yes, he had broken both his arms in a car
accident.

Ex.4. POINT OUT Nominative Absolute constructions with the Participles or without
them, and ANALYSE what their elements are expressed by. State the functions of the
absolutives.
1. Pale-lipped, his heart pounding in his side, Andrew followed the secretary back into the
committee room. 2. The visit over, they would set forth home, walking very slowly in the high
narrow streets. 3. I sit at my desk, pen in hand, and trace figures. 4. Jack sat silent, his long face
impassive and his long legs stretched out. 5. Then the bird fluttered away, running, trailing the
broken wing with him in pursuit. 6. The air being cleared, the stars began to appear. 7. There was
no moon at all, it not having risen yet, when Maryann entered Rick’s room. 8. The Carnatic, its
repairs being completed, left Hong Kong twelve hours before the stated time; and we must now
wait a week for another steamer. 9. My curiosity being aroused, I opened the mysterious door,
and found myself in a narrow, blind corridor. 10. The Sun being the centre, the planet or world
nearest the Sun is Mercury.

Ex.5. PARAPHRASE the sentences by replacing the underlined fragments by the

nominative absolute constructions. GIVE variants, where possible.

1. As the room was dark, I couldn’t see him. 2. Every child from the neighbourhood could enjoy
skating and hockey since the pond got frozen rock-solid. 3. This town is known as one of the
busiest junctions – a number of railroad lines are passing through and near it. 4. Having written
the letter he went out to post it. 5. When Dorian bowed to him shyly from the end of the table, a
flush of pleasure stole into his cheek. 6. He stood up holding his hands behind him. 7. Within an
hour he left but his thoughts were still confused and troubled. 8. When the table was laid, mother
invited us to a holiday meal. 9. We set off; the rain was still coming down heavily. 10. He lay
quietly on his sofa; he had a book in his hand but didn’t seem to be reading.

1. The room being dark, I couldn’t see him.

2. With the pond frozen rock-solid, every child from the neighbourhood could enjoy skating and
hockey.

3. A number of railroad lines passing through and near it, the town is known as one of the busiest
junctions.

4. The letter having been written, he went out to post it.

5. Dorian bowing to him shyly from the end of the table, a flush of pleasure stole into his cheek.

6. His hands being held behind him, he stood up.

7. Having his thoughts still confused and troubled, he left within an hour,

8. The table having been laid, mother invited us to a holiday meal.

9. The rain still coming down heavily, we set off

10. Having a book in his hand, he laid quietly on his sofa, but didn’t seem to be reading.

 Participle II as part of complex object

In this construction Participle II is used only after certain groups of verbs denoting the action in
progress. These verbs are:

1. verbs of sense perception

to see to hear to notice to feel to watch

to observe to smell to find to catch to look at to discover to perceive to listen to

e.g. The gardener saw Mrs. Bloomsfield addressed by a stranger.

Have you ever heard this writer’s name mentioned before?

The police discovered the kidnapped child hidden in the docks.

On arriving at the cottage Mary found it locked.

2. verbs of emotions

to want to wish to desire to prefer to like

e.g. The director wanted the answer sent at once.

He preferred the letters answered by his personal assistant.

The governor desired it done quick.

3. verbs of causative meaning (побудительное значение)

to have to get to make

e.g. Why don’t you have your hair waved?

We must get our tickets registered.

You must have your photo taken.

The speaker made himself heard with the help of a microphone.

4. verbs of mental activity

to consider to believe to understand

e.g. The old foreman considered himself sacked without any reason.

Exercises
Ex. 1. Replace the underlined phrases with the structure ‘have something done’. Follow the
example.

Example. I didn’t recognize Sheila. The hairdresser dyed her hair. = She had her hair dyed.
 1. I’ve been getting a lot of annoying calls, so the telephone company is going to change my
number.
2. Gabrielle broke her leg six weeks ago but she’s much better now. In fact the doctor
should be taking the plaster off tomorrow.

3. Since Rowland made a lot of money, he’s not content with his little cottage, so an
architect’s designed him a fine new house.

4. This room gets too hot when the sun shines so I’m getting someone to fit the blinds on
the windows.

5. I heard that Mrs. Green didn’t trust her husband so she hired a detective to follow him!

1. I’ve been getting a lot of annoying calls, so I'm going to have my number changed by the
telephone company.

2. Gabrielle broke her leg six weeks ago but she’s much better now. In fact, the doctor should be
having the plaster taken off tomorrow.

3. Since Rowland made a lot of money, he’s not content with his little cottage, so he's having a
fine new house designed by an architect.

4. This room gets too hot when the sun shines, so I'm having someone to fit the blinds on the
windows.

5. I heard that Mrs. Green didn’t trust her husband, so she hired a detective to have him
followed!

Ex. 2. Decide which of the activities in the sentences below you can do yourself and which you
must ask someone to do for you. Add one more sentences to show who will do it. Follow the
example.

Example. Your hair needs cutting. – I’m going to have it cut tomorrow.

Look, how dirty his car is. – I know, I promise, I’ll wash it at the weekend.

1. Your shoes need mending. - I'll take them to the cobbler to have them repaired.

2. The wallpaper in your room needs changing. - I'm going to hire a decorator to have it replaced.

3. Your vacuum cleaner needs repairing. - I'll call a technician to have it fixed.

4. Your friend has an awful hairdo. - I'll suggest they go to a hairstylist to have it redone.

5. Your watch goes wrong. - I'll take it to a watchmaker to have it repaired.

6. Your father’s car needs servicing. - He's taking it to the mechanic to have it serviced.

7. The grass on your lawn wants cutting. - I'll ask the gardener to come and have it mowed.
8. The carpet in the sitting room is rather dirty. - I'm hiring a professional cleaner to have it
cleaned.

9. Here is the roll with the film you took yesterday. - I'll take it to the photo lab to have it
developed.

10. Your mum’s hair wants dying. - She's planning to visit the salon to have it dyed.

 Participle II as part of a compound verbal predicate (Complex Subject)

In this function Participle II is found very seldom and is used after certain verbs in the passive
voice. The most frequent verbs are:

to see to hear to make to feel to find

e.g. The treasure was found hidden under an old oak tree.

Mr. Brown was constantly seen drunk in the middle of the afternoon.

I am afraid this information will have to be made known.

Participle II as a predicative

In this function Participle II denotes a state.

link verb + Participle II

e.g. You seem surprised.

The door remained locked.

The audience was shocked.

Robert felt thoroughly disappointed.

Sarah looked perplexed and troubled.

Exercises
Ex. 1. Fill in the blank with the correct form of the participle. Follow the example.

Example. (to excite) Last Saturday's game excited the fans. The game was exciting.
The excited fans cheered wildly. It was an exciting game. The fans were excited.

1. (to please) The students' performance in their play pleased their teacher. The students'
performance was pleasing to their teacher. The pleased teacher congratulated them. It was a
pleasing performance. Their teacher was pleased.
2. (to charm) Anne's singing charms her friends. Anne's singing is charming. Her charmed
friends often ask her to sing. Her voice is charming to her friends. Her friends are charmed.

3. (to shock) The mayor's announcement about a lack of money in the treasury shocked his
committee. His announcement was shocking. The shocked committee wondered how to
improve the condition. It was a shocking announcement. The committee was shocked.

4. (to annoy) Some nursery school children annoyed parents and teachers attending the parent-
teacher meeting. The children were annoyed. They created an annoying disturbance. The
annoyed parents and teachers tried to quiet them. The parents and teachers were annoyed.

5. (to thrill) One of the piano students thrilled everyone who attended the graduation
performance. His performance was thrilling. He played to a thrilled audience. It was a thrilling
performance. Everyone was thrilled.

6. (to excite) Last week's hockey game excited the spectators thoroughly. The game was
exciting. The team played to thoroughly excited spectators. It was an exciting game. The
spectators were thoroughly excited.

7. (to appall) News of an approaching hurricane appalled all seashore residents in the vicinity
yesterday. The news was appalling. The appalled residents did not know whether to leave or to
stay. It was appalling news. The residents were appalled.

8. (to please) A plan to clean up litter has pleased our whole neighborhood. Many pleased
neighbors have offered their cooperation. The plan is pleasing. It is a very pleasing plan. The
whole neighborhood is pleased.

9. (to please) Publicity about his heroism in saving a friend from drowning has not pleased Paul.
The publicity has not been pleasing to Paul. Paul's pleased parents, however, have bought copies
of every newspaper that reported the incident. He has not found the publicity pleasing. He has
not been pleased.

10. (to interest) The news on television today has not interested us very much. The news has not
been interesting. The news has not found us an interested audience. It has not been very
interesting news. We have not been interested by the news.

11. (to bore) The grown-up conversation at the children's party yesterday bored the children.
The conversation was boring. It was a boring conversation. The bored children became noisy.
The children were bored.

12. (to tire) Exercise tires some people. Some people find exercise tiring. Some tired people
have lain down on the grass to rest. If exercise is too tiring, it is not beneficial, I am sure. Are
you tired from today's exercise?

13. (to fascinate) Ellen's work fascinates her. She finds her work fascinating. Her fascinated
friends like to hear about her work. It is fascinating work. Ellen's friends are also fascinated.

14. (to enchant) Your new house enchants everyone in the neighborhood. Your house is
enchanting. I have been told so by your enchanted neighbors. It is an enchanting house. The
neighbors are all enchanted by it.
15. (to exhaust) Hot weather exhausts some people. They find hot weather exhausting. They
become exhausted by hot weather. This exhausting weather is fortunately made more bearable
by air conditioning. These exhausted people stay indoors as much as possible during hot
weather.

Ex. 2. This is a composition written by a married American woman. Fill in each blank with
the correct participle or gerund of the verb in brackets to complete the story.

My children are grown and married. When my youngest child got married, I was all alone at
home for the first time, and I felt bored. I wasn't accustomed to having no one to take care of.
Then I decided to find some interesting activities to keep me busy. I enrolled in an adult
education class. I'm taking a home repair class. I used to think that only men could fix things.
But these are changing times. My husband is amazed at how well I can repair things around the
house. I'm thinking about taking more classes next semester. I'm even thinking about starting a
career. An educated woman has many opportunities today. After so many years of being a
housewife, I might like to be a working woman. I would like to find a rewarding career. My
husband is a little surprised, but he's very understanding.

 Participles as parenthesis

As a rule participles in this function are used as participial phrases the meaning of which is a
comment upon the content of the whole sentence or part of it. This commenting may take the
form of a logical restriction or personal attitude.

 Remember the following participial phrases used as parentheses,

 Generally speaking, men can run faster than women.

 Broadly speaking, dogs are more faithful to man than cats.

 Judging from his expression, he is in a bad mood.

 Considering everything, it wasn’t a bad holiday.

 I’ll lend you the money providing you pay it back before Easter.

 Supposing there was a war, what would you do?

 Taking everything into consideration, they ought to be given another chance.

 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.

Joe having left the room to ring for a taxi as arranged, Mary sat down again to wait for him.

The lamp having been lit, the mother started to read her son’s letter.

The door and the window of the vacant room being open, we looked in.

Andrew was sitting in one of the armchairs, his eyes closed.

We began to talk, but my attention distracted by my surroundings, I took small notice of him

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.

I won’t speak with him staring at me like that.

It is unhealthy to sleep with all the windows shut.

Bella was speaking to me with her eyes fixed on the door, waiting for someone to come.

Exercises
Ex. 1. Translate the sentences below into Ukrainian, paying special attention to participial
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.

1. Закінчивши роботу, дві дівчини причепурили сукні й вийшли з крамниці.

2. Коли зламався лід, двоє колишніх суперників стали ще більш прихильними.

3. Підготовка завершена, ми почали.

4. Джим сидів на дивані, схрестивши ноги.

5. Вона зараз курила, її очі задумливо примружилися.

6. Офіцер сидів, а його довгі тонкі руки лежали на столі абсолютно нерухомо.

7. Шейла продовжила читати, дивлячись на сторінки книги.

Ex. 2. 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.

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

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

There was nobody at home; I had dinner alone. - There being nobody at home, I had dinner
alone.

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

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

It was late and the children were sent to bed. - It being late, the children were sent to bed.

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

The TV set was repaired; the old man could watch TV programmes all day long. - The TV set
having been repaired, the old man could watch TV programmes all day long.

Her daughter sat motionless by the fire; her hands were crossed on her knees. - . Her daughter
having sat motionless by the fire, her hands crossed on her knees.

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

They went down the stairs; Alice was lingering behind a little. - They going down the stairs,
Alice lingering behind a little.

The boy stood silent; his head was bent. - The boy standing silent, his head bent.
He was running along the street; his raincoat was thrown over his left arm. - He running along
the street, his raincoat thrown over his left arm.

David began to answer his lesson; Miss Murdstone was watching him closely. - David began
answering his lesson, Miss Murdstone watching him closely.

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