3.4. The functions of participle II.

Participle II is used as

3.4.1. An attribute

A broken toy lay on the floor.

Note 1. An attribute expressed by participle II is often detached. In this case it refers both to the noun (pronoun) and to the verb, thus acquiring an adverbial meaning:

Arrived at this point (=when we arrived at this point) we halted. (S.L.)

Note 2. Participle II of intransitive prepositional verbs retains the preposition:

a child properly looked after;

a man stared at;

an unhoped-for pleasure

Note 3. To express a negative meaning un- is added:

an unfinished article

Participle II may form a compound with the words well, badly, half:

a well- (badly-, half-) built house

Note 4. There are some adjectives in English formed from nouns with the help of the suffix

-ed: aged, bearded, crooked, ragged, wretched.

They are pronounced with [-d] at the end:

An aged [eıd3ıd] man; a crooked [krukıd] street, etc.

3.4.2. A predicative

Everybody's gone.

She looked embarrassed.

Note 1. Sometimes participles II used as attributes or predicatives lose their verbal character and become mere adjectives:

I am very worried about you. (adjective)

We were worried by mosquitoes all night. (participle II) (R.A.Close)

Such adjectives homonymous with participle II may be used with prepositions other then by:

alarmed at; amazed at; bored with; distinguished for; embarrassed about, at, over; excited about, at, over; frightened about, at, of; given to (склонный); interested in; pleased about, at, with; opposed to; shocked at; tired of; worried about;

Participle II used as part of a passive construction is followed by the preposition by:

I am surprised by the knock at the door. (R.A.Close)

Note 2. Adjectives homonymous with participle II can be modified by the adverbs too, very, more, less:

I am no less embarrassed about it than you are.

Participles are modified by such adverbs as (very) much, well, badly, completely, greatly, highly:

Her performance was (very) much admired.

The pedestrian was badly (seriously) injured. (R.A.Close)

Note 3. Some participles II which turned into adjectives, when used attributively, have a form different from that of the participle:

participle II	adjective
blessed [blest]	blessed [blesıd]
drunk	drunken
lit	lighted
melted	molten
rottet	rotten
shaved	shaven
shrunk	shrunken
sunk	sunken

Look at these drunken people!

These people have drunk a lot.

Note 4. Some participles II change their meaning according to the position:

a concerned (=worried) expression – the people concerned (=affected) (M.Swan)

Note 5. Some participles II can be used only in compounds with adverbs:

a well-read person, a much-travelled man, recently-arrived immigrants (M.Swan)

3.4.3. an adverbial modifier of

3.4.3.1. time

When finished, the story turned out to be quite thrilling.

3.4.3.2. condition

If discovered, they'll be sent home at once!

3.4.3.3. comparison

He walked quickly, as if pressed for time.

3.4.3.4. cause

Exhausted and hungry, they decided to return home.

3.4.3.5. concession

Though frightened, she kept smiling.

Even if posted now, the letter won't reach him in time.

3.4.4. part of a compound verbal predicate (after intransitive verbs which denote position)

She stood surprised before the closed door.

The telegram lay unopened the whole day.

3.5. Predicative constructions (complexes) with participle II.

In predicative constructions the relations between the nominal element (a noun or a pronoun) and participle II are those of secondary subject and secondary predicate.

3.5.1. The accusative with participle II.

This construction has the function of a complex object. It is used with verbs:

3.5.1.1. expressing physical perception

I had never heard my mama spoken of. (Ch.D.)

I can see it written, as it will be, in the newspapers. (S.L.)

3.5.1.2. expressing mental activity

We consider the matter settled.

3.5.1.3. expressing wish

We kept that quiet. Nobody wants that known. (M.P.)

3.5.1.4. having causative meaning (to have, to get, to make, to order)

… he could have his clothes made by the best tailor in London. (S.M.)

"Otherwise, how would we ever get anything done?"

It was he who decided that Inez Guerrero was harmless and had ordered her taken to the airport general manager's office. (A.H.)

3.5.1.5. with the verbs to find, to leave, to keep

They'll find themselves mistaken this time. (E.G.)

He wanted to keep Brenda happy and amused. (A.Chr.)

… Sarah leaves the door unlocked when she goes out. (E.Q.)

3.5.2. The nominative with participle II.

This construction has the function of a complex subject. It is used with verbs:

3.5.2.1. expressing physical perception

The child was seen carried by a tall Negro.

3.5.2.2. expressing mental activity

She is considered cured.

3.5.2.3. with the verbs to find, to leave, to keep:

The papers were found signed.

The dinner was left untouched.

The door was kept locked.

This construction is rarely used in Modern English.

3.5.3. The nominative absolute construction with participle II.

This construction has the function of an adverbial modifier of

3.5.3.1. time

Everything settled, he felt calmer.

3.5.3.2. manner or attendant circumstances

She sat silent, her eyes closed.

3.5.4. The absolute construction with participle II introduced by with.

This construction fulfils the function of an adverbial modifier of manner or attendant circumstances:

She fell asleep with the window open.

3.5.5. The nominative absolute construction without a participle.

This construction consists of the nominal element expressed by a noun or pronoun in the common case, the second element being an adjective, an adverb or a prepositional phrase. It fulfils the function of an adverbial modifier of time or attendant circumstances:

He ran home, his heart full of joy.

Breakfast over, she went to work.

He stood by the door, his cap in his hand.

Note. There is a difference in the meaning of the constructions: "Dinner over" and "Dinner being over". The former has a temporal meaning, whereas the latter as a rule has a causal meaning: "Когда обед закончился", "Так как обед закончился".