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 (невизначено-особове речення).

The 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. This construction is chiefly used after verbs of sense perception:

e.g. They were heard talking together.

Було чути, як вони розмовляли.

The horse was seen descending the hill.

Було видно, як кінь спускався з гори.

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 pronoun is not the subject of the sentence:

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

Оскільки двері і вікно кімнати були відчинені, ми зазирнули в неї.

In the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction Participle I (in all its forms) or Participle II is used. This construction is generally rendered in Ukrainian by means of an adverbial clause. It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier. It can be an adverbial modifier:

a) of time

e.g. This duty completed, he had three months' leave.

Коли ця робота була завершена, він отримав тримісячну відпустку.

b) of cause

e.g. It being now pretty late, we took our candles and went upstairs.

Оскільки було доволі пізно, ми взяли свічки й пішли нагору.

c) of attendant circumstances

In this function the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction is mostly placed at the end of the sentence. In rendering it in Ukrainian a coordinate clause or дієприслівниковий зворот is used:

e.g. He got up and walked gently across the room, his boots creaking at every step.

Він підвівся і тихо пройшов кімнатою; чоботи у нього рипіли при кожному кроці.

One morning he stood in front of the tank, his nose almost pressed to the glass.

Одного ранку він стояв перед вітриною, майже приліпивши носа до скла.

d) of condition

In this function the Nominative Absolute Par­ticipial Construction occurs but seldom and is almost exclusively used with the participles permitting and failing:

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

Якщо погода (час, обставини) дозволять, ми поїдемо завтра.

Conciliation failing, force remains.

Якщо не вдається досягнути примирения, доводиться застосовувати силу.

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