1. Of time

With the verbs of sense perception and motion Participle I Perfect is not used in this function. Participle I Indefinite is used even when priority is meant.

E.g. Then, sitting down, she lit a cigarette.

To express the simultaneity of the actions denoted by Participle I and the finite verb the conjunctions when and while can be used.

Participle I Indefinite of the verb "to be" is not used in this function and is replaced by the phrases of the type: When a child, When in London, or by the subordinate clause of time.

E.g. When at Rome, do as Romans do.

2. Of cause

All the forms of Participle I can be used.

E.g. He approached, looking first for the key which always hung there, but not seeing it, looked at the lock.

3. Of manner and attendant circumstances

As a rule, Participle I Indefinite is used.

E.g. She dressed by the light of the stars, taking the first things that came to hand. He sat there smiling to show that he was pleased...

4. Of comparison

The conjunction as if or as though is used to introduce Participle 1 in this function.

E.g. He pronounced the words slowly, as if carefully selecting them.

3. The function of a predicative.

E.g. She was so happy, so enjoying herself.

It didn't sound promising, but she thanked the clerk all the same.

4. The function of the parentheses.

In this case a participial phrase is used.

E.g. Frankly speaking, it is not exactly what I wanted.

Besides, Participle I can be used as a part of a complex object and a com­plex subject and in predicative constructions performing various syntactic func­tions.

E. g. We saw him writing this letter.

He was seen writing this letter.

Syntactic functions of participle II

1. The function of an attribute.

Participle II as an attribute can be in pre-position and in post-position to the word it modifies. If it has accompanying words it is mostly used in post­position.

E.g. The unopened letter was from my father.

Kitty, unmoved, wondered what exactly his wife had told him.

Participle II has no tense distinctions, so it is used when time correlation is either irrelevant or is expressed by other means. To show time correlation a subordinate clause is to be used.

E.g. Twenty-four hours later, she left the town with a certified check from my father for ten thousand dollars and her bags filled with the ward­robe the town people had donated.

Participle II of transitive verbs has passive meaning, however not necessarily.

E.g. a married man, a retired teacher.

There are some cases when Participle I and Participle II practically show no difference.

E.g. A spy, hidden in the bushes, kept watch on the house.

A spy, hiding in the bushes, kept watch on the house.

2. The function of an adverbial modifier:

1. of time (with the conjunction when or while)

E.g. When pronounced the words sounded harsh and hurting.

2. of condition (with the conjunction if)

E.g. If discovered, this information will upset their plans.

3. of comparison (with the conjunction as if or as though).

E.g. As if persuaded, she was suddenly silent.

4. of concession (with the conjunction though).

E.g. Though carefully, avoided, this subject came out in their conversation again and again.

5. of manner (with the conjunction as)

E. g. Take the medicine as prescribed.

3. The function of a predicative:

E.g. He tried to enter, but the door was locked and nobody answered his knock.

Besides, Participle II can be used in predicative constructions as a part of a complex object performing various syntactic functions.

THE PARTICIPLE AND THE GERUND

1. Unlike the gerund the participle cannot be used as a subject or an object.

2. In the function of a predicative there is some difference in meaning between the gerund and participle I.

E. g. (1) Your aim is enjoying yourself (Gerund).

(2) She looks so happy, so enjoying herself. (Participle I).

In the first example the gerund explains the subject, while participle I in the second example denotes a state of the subject.

3. In the function of an attribute and of an adverbial modifier a gerund is always preceeded by a preposition.

E. g. She had a way of making you tell things you never thought you'd share with another human being (gerund).

The kids playing in the garden and making so much noise distracted her from writing (participle). You help me most by staving with your mother (gerund). But she managed one more piece of advice before hanging up,(gerund)

She drove one more block, still searching for house numbers (participle)

4. In compound nouns such as living room, writing table etc. the gerund is used in pre-position and is not preceeded by a preposition. In such cases the gerund denotes the function or the purpose, while the participle denotes a state or an action.

E.g. They think the murder weapon was a hunting knife, (gerund)

There were voices of people hunting in the wood, (participle)