Неличные формы глагола (Practical tasks)

8. Нет смысла держать его здесь. 9. Я привык к тому, что у меня всегда есть наличные деньги. 10. Она не хотела беспокоить родителей, звоня в парадную дверь.

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THE PARTICIPLE

The participle is a non-finite form of the verb. There are two forms of the participle – participle I and participle II.

Participle I

Participle I is a non-finite form of the verb with some adjectival and adverbial features. It is formed by adding the suffix –ing to the stem of the verb.

The verbal character of participle I is manifested morphologically in the categories of voice and perfect and syntactically in its combinability. Thus, like the other non-finites, it may combine:

a)with a noun or a pronoun as direct, indirect or prepositional

object;

b)with an adverb or a prepositional phrase as an adverbial modifier;

c)with a noun or adjective as a predicative:

e.g. a) Signing the letter the manager asked the secretary to send it off at once.

b)Packing his things quickly, he hurried to the station.

c)Being absent-minded, he went into the wrong room. Participle I is used as a pure verb form in the formation of the

continuous aspect forms.

The adjectival and adverbial features of participle I are manifested in its syntactical functions as an attribute and an adverbial modifier:

e.g. We visited one of the largest plants producing cars in our country (attribute).

Arriving at the station, she saw him at once, leaning against the railing (adverbial modifier of time, detached attribute).

When they lose their verbal character, participles may be modified by adverbs of degree used with adjectives, such as very, so, too, as in very (greatly, exceedingly, etc.) amusing, too boring, most exciting:

e.g. My job is with one of the ministers – too boring and distasteful to discuss.

All this was extremely gratifying.

Like an adjective, participle I forms adverbs with the suffix –ly: laughingly, jokingly, surprisingly, admiringly, appealingly, feelingly:

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e.g. You surprise me, she said feelingly.

The Grammatical Categories of Participle I

Participle I, like the gerund, has two grammatical categories, those of voice and perfect.

The forms of participle I are summed up in the following table:

The category of perfect

The category of perfect in participle I finds its expression in the contrast of the non-perfect and perfect forms.

The non-perfect form suggests that the action denoted by participle I is simultaneous with that of the finite verb. Thus the time-reference of the action expressed by participle I can be understood only from the context, that is it is not absolute, but relative:

e.g. She is looking at the woman sitting at the window.

When I entered the room, I gave the letter to the woman sitting at the window.

When you enter the room, you will give the letter to the woman sitting at the window.

The perfect form of participle I indicates that the action denoted by the participle is prior to that denoted by the finite verb:

e.g. Having learnt the elements of English we started upon French. Like that of the other non-finites, the perfect form of participle I

invariably expresses priority, whereas non-perfect participle I varies in its meaning according to the context, expressing either a prior or a simultaneous or a posterior action.

Non-perfect participle I regularly expresses immediate priority and denotes an instantaneous action if it is formed from terminative verbs, such as verbs of motion (to come, to enter, to arrive, to turn, to leave), of sense perception (to see, to hear, to find) and verbs of certain specific actions associated with motion (to put, to put on, to take, to take off, to seize, to grasp, to open):

e.g. Arriving at the station, he found his train gone.

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Hearing a noise in the garden, I looked out of the window. Taking off our shoes, we tiptoed into the nursery.

The perfect participle of the same verbs is used when there is a lapse of time between the two actions, or when the action denoted by the participle is durative. Compare the following examples:

e.g. Seeing Jane I rushed to greet her.

But: Having seen the girl only once, I didn’t recognize her.

Non-perfect participle I may denote a posterior action, immediately following the first action, forming its part or being its result, as in:

e.g. Lizzy left the room, banging the door shut. John fell, hurting his knee.

As seen from the above examples non-perfect participle I denoting a prior action usually precedes the finite verb. When it denotes a posterior

action, it stands always after the finite verb. In both cases it corresponds to the Russian perfective adverbial participle (деепричастие) (приехав,

услышав, сняв, хлопнув, повредив).

The category of voice

Participle I of transitive verbs, both non-perfect and perfect, has voice distinctions, which are realized in the contrast of active and

Participle I active denotes an action directed from the doer of the action, while participle I passive denotes an action directed towards it.

The carrier of the action may coincide with the subject of the sentence, as in the above examples. It may also be a noun modified by participle I used attributively, in whatever function the noun is used:

e.g. Do you know the students translating the text?

Have you read the text being translated by the students?

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Syntactical Functions of Participle I

Participle I performs the syntactical functions characteristic of the adjective and the adverb, and can therefore be used as attribute, predicative, or as adverbial modifier.

It may be used (a) alone or (b) as headword of a participial phrase, or else (c) as part of a predicative construction:

e.g. a) Let sleeping dogs lie.

He drank his coffee standing.

b) There are some other people waiting for you.

The youth looked at him curiously, never having seen a Forsyte with a beard.

c) We found him working in the garden.

Non-perfect Participle I Active

Non-perfect Participle I Active can be used in the function of attribute, predicative, part of the compound verbal predicate, parenthesis and adverbial modifier of time, reason, attendant circumstances, manner, comparison, concession or condition.

1.The function of an attribute is peculiar to non-perfect participle I in its main sense, that of a process simultaneous with the action denoted by the main verb or with the moment of speech. In the function of an attribute non-perfect Participle I Active is used:

1) before the modified noun:

e.g. The rising sun was hidden by the clouds. They looked at the flying plane.

2) after the noun it modifies:

e.g. The man smoking a cigarette ( = who is smoking a cigarette) is my brother.

I picked up the letter lying on the floor ( = which was lying on the floor).

2.In the position of predicative (part of the compound nominal predicate) only Non-perfect Participle I Active occurs, its adjectival character being predominant. Although keeping the form of the participle, it is treated as an adjective.

The participle in this position is used after the link-verb to be and gives the qualitative characterization to the person or thing used as subject:

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e.g. The story is amusing. Your answer is surprising.

3. Non-perfect Participle I Active can be part of the compound verbal predicate of double orientation. Within this type of predicate participle I follows verbs of sense perception, such as to see, to hear, to feel, to find, to catch, also some causative verbs, such as to keep, to leave in the passive voice:

e.g. Jane was heard playing the piano. The boy was caught teasing the cat. I was left standing on the stage.

The predicate of double orientation consists of two parts: the first is oriented on somebody implied, and the second refers semantically to the doer of the action expressed by the subject. Thus the first example means that somebody heard Jane was playing the piano. Therefore sentences with this type of predicate are translated into Russian by indefinite personal or impersonal sentences, complex or simple,

depending on the verb in the passive voice:

Слышали (слышно было), как Джейн играет на рояле.

4. Non-perfect Participle I Active can function as adverbial modifiers of different types (time, reason, attendant circumstances). The semantic type of the adverbial modifier is clear from the context and the predicate group, as in:

e.g. Being a newcomer, he felt ill at case. (adverbial modifier of reason)

1) Non-perfect Participle I Active as an adverbial modifier of time may denote a simultaneous action. Very often to make the semantical relationship clearer, certain conjunctions are employed, such as: when and while:

e.g. While discharging the ship (= While we were discharging the ship) we found a few broken cases.

When going home (= When I was going home) I met my

brother.

Non-perfect Participle I Active as an adverbial modifier of time may also denote a prior action when there is no need to underline that the action expressed by participle I precedes the action expressed by the finite verb. Moreover in this case the two actions are followed by one another:

e.g. Arriving at the station (= When I arrived at the station) I called a porter.

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2)The most frequently used Non-perfect Participles I Active in the function of an adverbial modifier of reason are those of verbs denoting mental perception and emotions, for example, knowing, realizing, remembering, expecting, hoping, fearing; also the participles being and having:

e.g. Knowing English well (= As he knew English well) he translated the article without a dictionary.

Having plenty of time (= As we had plenty of time) we decided to walk to the station.

3)The adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances is considered to be the main grammatical meaning of Non-perfect Participles I Active. In this case participle I denotes some action or event parallel to the action or state denoted by the finite verb:

e.g. He sat in the armchair reading a newspaper.

The customs officer stood on deck counting the cases.

Another characteristic feature of participles functioning as adverbials of reason consists in their combinability with negation (no matter what it is expressed by):

e.g. I turned back, not knowing where to go.

4)Non-perfect Participles I Active as an adverbial modifier of manner is akin to an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances. The difference consists in the fact that an adverbial modifier of manner characterizes the action of the finite verb, whereas that of attendant circumstances denotes a parallel action or event:

e.g. He came in carrying a big parcel.

5)Occasionally Non-perfect Participles I Active occurs as an

adverbial modifier of comparison, concession or condition.

As an adverbial of comparison the participle is always preceded by the conjunction as if, as though:

e.g. As if obeying him, I turned and stared into his face.

When participle I is used as an adverbial modifier of concession the conjunction is not obligatory and then the idea of concession may be understood from the context. However the conjunction though will make the semantic relationship clearer:

e.g. Somebody was waiting: a man who, though moving irregularly, was making quite a speed in my direction.

In the same way participle I as an adverbial modifier of condition is recognized by its syntactical surroundings. It is either the subjunctive

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mood or the future tense form which allows a participial phrase to function as an adverbial modifier of condition:

e.g. She ought to be there and her absence might be resented, but being there she wouldn’t know what to say (… но, если бы она была

там …, … но будучи там …).

Well, we’ll be in Scotland afore we know where we are, going at this speed (… если будем двигаться с такой скоростью).

5. Non-perfect Participle I Active as parenthesis forms the headword of a participial phrase, the meaning of which is a comment upon the contents of the whole sentence or sometimes part of it. The comment may take the form of a logical restriction or personal attitude. Here we find such participial phrases as generally (properly, roughly, legally, strictly) speaking, putting it mildly, judging by (from), allowing for, taking everything into consideration, etc.:

e.g. Judging from what you say, he ought to succeed.

Strictly speaking, this is illegal.

Perfect Participle I Active

Perfect Participle I Active can be used in the function of an adverbial modifier of time or reason and it always denotes a prior action:

e.g. Having lived in Moscow for many years (= As he had lived in Moscow for many years) he knew that city very well. (adverbial modifier of reason)

Having collected all the material (= After he had collected all the material), he was able to write a full report on the work of the commission. (adverbial modifier of time)

Non-perfect Participle I Passive

Non-perfect Participle I Passive can be used in the function of an attribute and an adverbial modifier of time or reason.

1. In the function of an attribute:

e.g. The large building being built in our street (= which is being built in our street) is a new school-house.

Yesterday the professor told us about the experiments now being carried on in his laboratory (= which are now being carried on in his laboratory).

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2. In the function of an adverbial modifier of time or reason:

e.g. Being packed in strong cases (= As the goods were packed in strong cases), the goods arrived in good condition. (adverbial modifier of reason)

Being asked (= When he was asked) whether he intended to return soon, he answered that he would be away for about three months. (adverbial modifier of time)

Perfect Participle I Passive

Perfect Participle I Passive can be used in the function of an adverbial modifier of time or reason and it always denotes a prior action:

e.g. Having been sent to the wrong address (= As the letter had been sent to the wrong address) the letter didn’t reach him. (adverbial

modifier of reason)

Having been dried and sorted (= After the goods had been dried and sorted) the goods were placed in a warehouse. (adverbial modifier of time)

► FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES

Exercise 1. State the form of participles I:

1. I turned to go indoors when I saw a girl waiting in the next doorway. (G. Greene) 2. She thought him rather wonderful, never having met anyone like him. (D.H. Lawrence) 3. His confusion was touching. (W.S. Maugham) 4. At the end of it he paid me a great compliment: he asked me (not having heard my name) what was my profession. (W.S. Maugham) 5. I saw that she was doing her hair differently, allowing it to fall black and straight over her shoulders. (G. Greene) 6. His father, having retired, lived in an unpretentious, but not mean, house. (W.S. Maugham) 7. I had at that moment given up waiting, and I could see Vigot taking those two facts in. (G. Greene) 8. And you,

having suffered from other hands than his, answer at once with the name of the first book you ever wrote… (W.S. Maugham) 9. Philip perched

himself on the books, and the Vicar, having said grace, cut the top off his egg. (W.S. Maugham) 10. Now it was two in the morning and he sat tired and depressed in the cigarette smoke and the heavy heat, wearing a green eye-shade, and he had a volume of Pascal open on his desk to

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while away the time. (G. Greene) 11. Sally saw the advertisement of a

play being acted at the neighbouring town. (W.S. Maugham) 12. She is working in a laundry on the East Side, trying to keep her child’s body

and soul together. (W.S. Maugham) 13. Through the open door came a low, groaning sound, being issued out of the dark mist which covered shore and sea alike. (W.S. Maugham)

Exercise 2. Give all possible forms of participle I of the following verbs:

to sleep, to read, to give, to take, to wait, to think, to come, to see, to cover, to go, to look, to write.

Exercise 3. Choose the proper form of participle I in brackets:

1. “Nonsense”, said Caroline in reply… “You’ll see. Ten to one she’s left a letter (confessing, being confessed) everything.” 2. (Turning,

having turned) slowly, holding on to the wall, he dragged his way back

into his room. 3. The following evening, (refusing, having refused)

Elliot’s telephoned order to fetch me; I arrived quite safely at Mrs.

Bradley’s house. 4. (Pushing, having pushed) the people aside, he made his way through the crowd. 5. And for a moment they all three stood silently (looking, being looked) at one another. 6. Quickly (taking, having taken) her handkerchief, she hid her face in it and began to sob broken-heartedly. 7. (Entering, having entered) his own room, he

returned speedily with a heavy bound volume. 8. And (seeing, being seen) Collings now through Tony’s eyes she realized … . 9. He paused,

(looking, being looked) from one to the other.

10.Nick looked at the moon, (coming, having come) up over the hills.

11.I got a telegram from Bill’s uncle (asking, being asked) me to come.

12.(Getting, having got) his son back like this, he felt he must know what was his financial position.

Exercise 4. Use the appropriate form of participle I of the verb in brackets:

1. I had seen him last September (to come across) the square towards the bar of the Continental… (G. Greene) 2. She sat there (to

look at) the two of us and I thought she had not yet understood. (G.

Greene) 3. (to work) on a newspaper one does not learn the way to break bad news, and even now I had to think of my paper and to ask her, “Do you mind stopping at the cable office?” (G. Greene) 4. She held the

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