Predicative Constructions with the Participle

In Modern English we find the following predicative constructions with the Participle:

_ The Objective Participial Construction

_ The Subjective Participial Construction

_ The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction

_ The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction

The Objective Participial Construction

Function: Complex Object

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. In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object. In Ukrainian it usually corresponds to a subordinate object clause.

• I saw him crossing the street. Я бачив, як він перехов вулицю.

(‘him crossing’ is the Objective Participial Construction, it is used in the function

of a complex object. The participle ‘crossing’ is in predicate relation to the pronoun ‘he’ which is in the objective case - ‘him’; ‘him’ is the doer of the action expressed by the participle ‘crossing’.)

• Note: In many cases, however, the translation depends on the verb it refers to and

on the requirements of the Russian usage.

► (A) The Objective Participial Construction with Participle I may be found:

• (1) after the verbs denoting sense perception, such as:

to see, to hear, to feel, to watch, to notice , to observe, to perceive, to overhear, to

imagine, to smell

• I saw John playing tennis.

• We heard them singing.

• She felt the tears coming into her eyes.

• I watched him leaving the house.

• Did you notice anyone standing at the gate?

• We observed the accused man entering the bank.

• (2) after the verbs: to listen to, to catch, to find, to

keep, to leave, to discover,

• We opened the door for a moment and looked out at the windy night and listened

to the trees groaning.

• Father was supposed to be working, but when I came in I caught him napping.

• (3) after the verbs of causative meaning: to have , won’t

have, can’t have (we refer to circumstances we are not prepared

to tolerate), to get … going, to set

to start

• He had us laughing.

• I’ll have you swimming in a week.

• I won’t have them speaking like that about your father.

▼ Note 1: Cf. somebody doing – somebody do

o I saw him crossing the street. (the -ing form generally refers to an action in progress.)

→ I saw him cross the street. (= I saw the action from beginning to end.)

o I watched a pavement-artist drawing a portrait in crayons. (i.e. the action was

probably in progress when I arrived) → I watched a pavement-artist draw a portrait in crayons. (i.e. I saw the action from beginning to end)

o The crowd watched the fireman climb the ladder, break a window on the first

floor, and enter the building.

_ (For a series of actions, we prefer the bare infinitive.)

Note 2:

● The passive -ing form (being done) may also be used though it is not very common.

Its reference is the same as that of the active voice.

_ (The passive -ing form but not the passive infinitive can follow a verb of

perception.)

o I saw him being taken away by the policeman.

o I could hear furniture being smashed.