The Participle

The participle is a non-finite form of the verb which has verbal, adjectival
and adverbial features.
There are two participles in Modern English – Participle I (called the Present
Participle) and Participle II (called the Past Participle).
Participle I is formed by adding the suffix –ing to the stem of the verb.
Participle II is formed by means of adding the suffix –ed to the stem of the
verb.
Its adjectival or adverbial character is manifested in its syntactic functions as
an attribute and an adverbial modifier.
* A broken child’s toy lies upon the floor (attribute).
* Having taken the key from the lock, she led the way upstairs (adv. mod).

The verbal characteristics of the participle are as follows:

1. Participle I of a transitive verb can take a direct object:
* Opening the door, he went out to the terrace.
2. Participle I and Participle II can be modified by an adverb:
* Leaving the room hurriedly, he ran out.
* Deeply affected, she rose and left the room.
3. Participle I has tense distinctions; Participle I of transitive verbs has also
voice distinctions. In Modern English Participle I has the following forms:
Indefinite Active: writing
Indefinite Passive: being written
Perfect Active: having written
Perfect Passive: having been written.

Participle I Indefinite Active and Passive usually denotes an action

simultaneous with the action expressed by the finite verb, so it may refer to the
present, past or future.
 *When reading The Pickwick Papers, one can’t help laughing.
*When reading The Pickwick Papers, I couldn’t help laughing.
*When reading The Pickwick Papers, you will roar with laughing.
Sometimes Participle I denotes an action referring to no particular time.
*The last turning had brought them into the high-road leading to Bath.

Participle I Perfect Active and Passive denotes an action prior to the action
expressed by the finite verb.
*Having translated the text, he gave it to the teacher.
* Having been translated long ago, the novel is likely to be retranslated.
NB! With some verbs of sense perception and motion, such as to see, to
hear, to come, to arrive, to seize, to look, to turn, Participle I Indefinite is used
even when priority is meant.
* Hearing a footstep below he rose and went to the top of the stairs.

Participle II has no tense distinctions; it has only one form which can
express an action simultaneous with, and prior to (more occasional), the action
expressed by the finite verb.
* His sister eyes fixed on him made him look at Fleur.
* I remembered a portrait seen in the gallery.
Participle II of transitive verbs has a passive meaning: a broken glass, a
shaven head. Participle II of intransitive verbs has no passive meaning; it has no
independent function in the sentence: faded leaf, withered flower.
The functions of Participle I in the sentence
Participle I may have different syntactic functions.
1. Participle I as an attribute.
Participle I Indefinite Active can be used as an attribute. * The fence
surrounding the garden is newly painted.
Забор, окружающий сад, недавно покрашен.
 *We admired the stars twinkling in the sky.
Мы любовались звездами, мерцавшими на небе.
In some cases Participle I in the function of an attribute rendered in Russian
by a clause.
*He came back and stood on the steps leading down to the street.
Он вернулся и стоял на лестнице, которая вела на улицу.
In the function оf attribute Participle I can be in pre-position and in post-
position, i. e. it can precede the noun it modified and follow it.
Participle I Perfect Active and Passive is not used attributively. Attention
should be paid to the fact that Participle I in the function of an attribute cannot
express priority; therefore it often happens that when in Russian we have
причастие in English we have a finite verb. Such is the case with the Russian
действительное причастие прошедшего времени expressing priority; it is
rendered in English by an attributive clause.
Татьяна, с великим равнодушием переносившая до того мгновения все
превратности своей жизни, тут, однако, не вытерпела, прослезилась.
Tatiana, who had until that moment borne all the ups and downs of her life
with great indifference, broke down, however, on this and burst into tears.
BUT!! Reference to no particular time:
Заря уже занималась на небе, когда Соломин постучался литку
высокого забора, окружавшего фабрику.
Dawn was already beginning in the sky when Solomin knocked at the gate
in the high fence surrounding the factory.
2. Participle I as an adverbial modifier.
All the forms of Participle I may be used as an adverbial modifier. Participle
I can be an adverbial modifier:
a)of time.
Approaching Malta Street, Soho, Soames thought with wonder of those
years in Brighton.
Приближаясь к Мальта Стрит в Сохо, Сомс с удивлением думал о
годах, проведенных в Брайтоне.
Having closed the drawing-room door on him, Isabel awaited a little,
absorbed in her own thoughts.
Закрыв за ним дверь гостиной, Изабелла подождала немного,
погруженная в свои мысли.
b) of cause.
Being of a more slender figure than Mr. Jarndyce, and having a richer
complexion, Mr. Skimpole looked younger.
Так как мистер Скимпоул был стройнее мистера Джарндайса и так
как цвет лица у него был лучше, он выглядел моложе.
*Having once heard him lie, she couldn’t believe him any more.
с) of manner and attendant circumstances.
In this function Participle I Indefinite is mostly used.
She was busy cooking in the kitchen (manner).
The girl was sitting in the corner weeping bitterly (attendant circumstances)
d) of comparison.
In this function Participle I is introduced by the conjunction as if or as
though.
*This was said as if thinking aloud.
Это было сказано так, как будто он думал вслух.
3. Participle I as a predicative.
In this function Participle I is used but seldom; it is usually rendered in
Russian by an adjective.
The effect of her words was terrifying. Впечатление, произведенное ее
словами, было страшно.
*The whole damned day had been humiliating. Весь этот ужасный день
был унизительным.
4. Participle I as part of a complex object.
I saw that young man and his wife talking to you on the stairs.
Я видел, как этот молодой человек и его жена разговаривали с вами на
лестнице.
5. Participle I as part of a compound verbal predicate.
Presently other footsteps were heard crossing the room below.
6. Participial phrase as parenthesis: generally/frankly speaking, judging
by appearances: Putting bluntly, she had no chance of winning.

The functions of Participle II in the sentence

1. Participle II as an attribute can be used in pre- and post-position:
Participle II of intransitive verbs has an active meaning: faded, withered,
retired.
Participle II of transitive verbs has a passive meaning, can be used in pre-
position (when they have a permanent meaning or modified by an adverb): a
married man, the newly-born baby, the recently-built plant.
A participial phrase in pre-position is always detached and has an additional
meaning of an adverbial modifier:
Annoyed by his words, she went out of the room (reason).
2. Participle II as an adverbial modifier. .
In this function Participle II is preceded by the conjunctions when, while, if,
as if, as though, though.
Participle II can be an adverbial modifier:
a) of time: When analyzed, the theory proved to be false.
b) of condition: If dropped, this vase can break into very small pieces.
c) of comparison: She nodded as if convinced by what she was saying.
d) of concession: Though discouraged by the lack of support, she went on
trying.

3. Participle II as a predicative: She was disappointed.

4. Participle II as part of a complex object: I have found her changed.

Predicative constructions with the participle

 The participle can form four predicative constructions:
1. the Objective Participial Construction (OPC);
2. the Subjective Participial Construction (SPC);
3. the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction (NAPC);
4. the Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction (PAPC).

The Objective Participial Construction

The Objective Participial Construction is a construction in which the
participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the
objective case.
*I heard them talking loudly.
In the Objective Participial Construction Participle I Indefinite Active or
Participle II is used. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex
object. It usually corresponds to a subordinate object clause in Ukrainian.
The Objective Participial Construction is used after the following verbs:
a) verbs denoting sense perception: to see, to hear, to feel, to find, to
observe, to notice, to watch, to smell etc.
* Then he looked out of the window and saw clouds gathering.
* I heard my wife coming. She could feel her hands trembling exceedingly.
*She found him waiting for her at her journey's end.
b) after some verbs of mental activity: to understand, to consider:
*I consider the case closed.
c) after volitional verbs (denoting wish): to want, to wish, to desire. In this
case only Participle II is used.
*The governor wants it done quickly. *You need your eyesight tested.
d) after the verbs to have and to get; after these verbs Participle II is used.
*I had my coat altered. *Не had several bottles of wine brought.
You can get your clothes made in Europe. Вы можете заказать себе платья
в Европе.
In interrogative and negative sentences the auxiliary verb do is used:
 *Why don't you have your hair waved?

The Subjective Participial Construction.

The Subjective Participial Construction is a construction in which the
participle (mostly Participle I) is in predicate relation to a noun in the common
case or a pronoun in the nominative case, which is the subject of the sentence.
In rendering this construction in Ukrainian a complex sentence is generally
used; the principal clause is of the type which in Ukrainian syntax is called
'indefinite personal' (неопределенно-личное предложение).
Peculiarity of this construction is that it does not serve as one part of the
sentence: one of its component parts has the function of the subject, the other
forms part of a compound verbal predicate.
* They were heard talking together.
This construction is chiefly used after verbs of sense perception.
The horse was seen descending the hill.

The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction

The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction is a construction in which
the participle stands in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a
pronoun in the nominative case; the noun or a pronoun is not the subject of the
sentence.
*The door and window of the vacant room being open, we looked in.
In the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction Participle I (in all its
forms) or Participle II is used. It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier.
It can be an adverbial modifier:
a) of time: * The text having been analyzed, she proceeded to write the
summary.
b) of cause: *The lights having gone out, they had to go to bed.
с) of attendant circumstances: * She slowly opened the door, her leg still
aching.
 d) of condition (with the participles permitting and failing): * Weather
(time, circumstances) permitting, we shall start tomorrow.
The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction
The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction is the Absolute
Participial Construction introduced by the preposition with. In most cases it is used
in the function of adverbial modifier attended circumstances.
* The old woman stood up, with tears running down her face.

Both the absolute construction and the prepositional absolute construction

can be used without a participle; the second element of the construction is an
adjective, a prepositional phrase, or an adverb.
* He rushed out of the room, his cap in his hand.
* He walked by, with his dog by his side.
Absolute Constructions are rare in Modern English and occur mostly in
fiction and scientific literature.