The Subjective Participial Construction

Function: Complex Subject or according to another point of view – the nominal component is ‘the subject’, the verbal component is ‘part of a compound verbal predicate’.

The Subjective 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 nominative case.

In the sentence the Subjective Participial Construction has the function of a complex subject (or another point of view: one component of the construction has the function of the subject, the other component is part of a compound verbal predicate.) In Ukrainian it usually corresponds to a complex sentence.

• He was seen crossing the street. Бачили, як він переходив вулицю.

(‘He … crossing’ is the Subjective Participial Construction in the function of a Complex Subject or according to another point of view – the nominal component ‘He’ is the subject, the verbal component ‘saying’ is part of a compound verbal predicate.)

• But I hear you are constantly seen drunk in the middle of the afternoon. (‘You …

drunk’ is the Subjective Participial Construction.)

►The Subjective Participial Construction may be found:

• (1) after the verbs denoting sense perception, such as: to see, to hear, to notice,

to watch, to observe (with Participle I and Participle II )

• She was seen trying on hats.

• A minute ago he was seen engaged in a lovely conversation with a charming girl.

• (2) after the verbs to find, to leave, to keep, to catch, to report, to show (with

Participle I and Participle II)

• She was found waiting for her turn. Её застали ожидающей свою очередь.

• She was found dressed for the party.

• Then he was found barricaded in a little hut.

• He was left reading.

• The things were left undone.

• (3) after the verbs of mental activity: to consider, to believe, to think, (with Participle II )

• The picture was considered stolen.

• The problem is believed solved.

Exercises The Subjective Participial Construction (with Participle I and Participle II)

Exercise 89. Point out the Component Parts of the Subjective Participial Construction. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

1. He was heard saying this before. Слышали, как он говорил об этом прежде. (‘He … saying’ is the Subjective Participial Construction in the function of a Complex Subject or according to another point of view – the nominal component ‘He’ is the subject; the verbal component ‘saying’ is part of a compound verbal predicate.)

2. Smoke could be seen rising from the village. 3. Through the window Florence was seen packing a suitcase. 4. The taxi could be seen waiting outside. 5. The children were seen running to the water. 6. He was seen following her with his eyes. 7. My elder sister was seen laying the table. 8. A man could be seen going from the outskirts towards them. 9. The ship was seen approaching the coast. 10. They were seen leaving the room. 11. The flight attendant was heard explaining the conditions of our flight. 12. “Go home, Joan,” people could be heard saying in one house or another. 13. It was some ten minutes later that a voice was heard calling his name. 14. Jane was heard playing the piano. 15. At that moment footsteps were heard coming across the hall. 16. The students were heard discussing a new film. 17. The old man was heard talking to himself. 18. This night my aunts could be observed running back and forth in the hall. 19. The baby was found sitting on the floor. 20. The man was found grovelling on the floor. 21. In the evening Gertrude was found sitting on the porch of the neighbouring house. 22. Peter was found

working in the garden. 23. When the door closed, Monteith and I were left looking at each other. 24. They were caught stealing peaches. 25. These very important details were found missing from a later description of the manuscripts. 26. His name was often heard mentioned.

Exercise 90. Re-word the following sentences into sentences with the Subjective Participial Constructions.

1. I could see the visitor walking restlessly backwards and forwards. →► The visitor could be seen walking restlessly backwards and forwards.

2. We have often heard his name mentioned. →► His name was often heard mentioned.

3. I’ve often heard his sister singing some popular tune.

4. We observed them walking down the street.

5. One summer morning they found him painting the door of his house green.

6. I hope she hasn’t noticed me leaving the house so late.

7. The girl watched him going slowly and cautiously up the stairs.

8. The rescue helicopters found the ship drifting in the North Sea.

9. They considered the picture stolen.

10. They consider her cured.

11. They found her dressed for the party.

12. We have often seen dogs killed on the road.

13. They found the door locked.

Exercise 92. Point out the Component Parts of the Objective Participial Construction and the Subjective Participial Construction. State the function. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.

1. She had her kitchen painted light green.2. His face clouded when he heard his

name spoken. 3. All the while she felt her heart beating with a vague fear. 4. The

darkness found him occupied with these thoughts. 5. The darkness found Mr.

and Mrs. Plornish knocking at his door. 6. Somewhere a long way off a telephone

bell rang and a voice could be heard speaking. 7. For their New Year’s Eve party she had all the furniture moved out of the parlour. 8. Get your things packed. 9. The two men were heard descending. 10. Two days later she heard sleigh bells coming up the drive. 11. They wanted the Committee convened at the weekend. 12. She had her bed moved to the corner of the porch. 13. Mary could feel Elizabeth reviewing their hopes and dreams, their relationship as sisters. 14. She averted her eyes each time she found herself being stared at. 15. The din in the entrance hall continued, and more vehicles could be heard arriving at the door. 16. They were seen dancing in the street. 17. She heard the musicians tuning up in the back parlour. 18. She went downstairs and he was left feeling a little uneasy, even guilty.

The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction

Function: Adverbial modifier.

The Nominative Absolute 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 nominative case; the noun or pronoun is not the subject of the sentence; in the

sentence this construction has the function of an adverbial modifier. In Russian it

usually corresponds to an adverbial clause. In the Nominative Absolute Participial

Construction Participle I (in all its forms) or Participle II is used.

► The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction can be an adverbial modifier:

a) of time

• The sun having risen, they continued their way. (=After the sun had risen, they

continued their way.)

• The work being finished, the two girls brushed the shreds (лоскуток ткани) and threads from their dresses and went into the shop. (=When the work was finished, the

two girls brushed …)

• Friendship restored, we walked along together.

• The choice made, she ran up to him.

b) of cause

• The professor being ill, the lecture was put off. (= Because the professor was ill,

the lecture was put off.).

• There being no vacant seats, I had to stand. (= As there were no vacant seats, I had to stand.)

• It being late (= As it was late), we made up our minds to finish testing the new motor.

d) of condition (this use is rare, exclusively with the participles: permitting, failing.)

• Weather (time, circumstances) permitting, we shall start tomorrow.

• The experiment failing, we will have to make it once again.

The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction very often occurs in fiction and scientific language; the use of this construction in colloquial English is rare.