23. Objective participial constructions (complex object)

USAGE

EXAMPLES

PARTICIPLE I

PARTICIPLE II

After the verbs of sense perception

I smell the pie burning.

She heard herself called.

After the verbs of mental activity

I prefer you hair curled.

After the verbs of declaring

He reported the dog lost.

After the verbs of wish and intention, liking and disliking

I don’t want you talking back to me.

The photographer wanted his film developed.

After the verbs with the causative meaning: to have, to hold, to keep, to leave, to start, to set, to catch, etc.

Don’t keep me waiting.

The task left the students exhausted.

After the verbs: to have, to get

She had her blood tested.

USAGE

EXAMPLES

PARTICIPLE I

PARTICIPLE II

After the verbs of sense perception

He was heard mentioning the matter.

The matter wasn’t heard mentioned.

After the verbs: to keep, to find, to catch, to leave, etc.

We were kept waiting.

The door was left locked.

After the verbs: to seem, to appear

He seemed absorbed by the book.

GERUND

PARTICIPLE I

CHARACTER

Nominal

Adjectival/Adverbial

FUNCTION

SUBJECT

There is no translating this text without a dictionary.

OBJECT

He suggested translating this text without a dictionary.

PREDICATIVE

My dream is translating this text every day.

Note: The Gerund does not qualify the subject but identifies the subject by revealing its meaning.

The sound was deafening.

Note: Participle I gives qualitative characteristics to the subject.

ADVERBIAL MODIFIERS

On entering the room, he closed the door.

Note: The Gerund is always used with prepositions.

Entering the room, he closed the door.

When entering the room, he stumbled over the threshold.

Note: Participle I is used without prepositions. It can be used with conjunctions.

ATTRIBUTE

1. He liked the idea of going to Hungary.

(preceded by the preposition “of”)

2. a reading hall

(=a hall for reading)

a hunting dog

(=a dog for hunting)

The Gerund does not denote the performer of the action.

a reading boy

(=a boy who is reading)

a hunting dog

(=a dog that is hunting)

Participle I denotes an action that the person or thing performs or experiences.

ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTIONS

4. PREPOSITIONAL ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTION

Mr Black was eating ice cream with his hat on his head.

3. PREPOSITIONAL ABSOLUTE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTION

Mr White went for a walk with his dog following him.

John was listening to the radio with his eyes closed.

NOTE: An additional idea of time, cause or condition may be prompted by the context:

I can’t read with everyone looking at me.

2. NOMINATIVE ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTION

The lesson over, the students went home.

Everything ready, I had nothing to do.

The weather good, everyone will be happy.

Mr Brown was walking along the street, his hands in his pockets.

1. NOMINATIVE ABSOLUTE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTION

The work being finished, Mr Brown went home.

Examinations passed, the students were happy.

It being very late, there were no buses in the street.

The work completed, I was able to take a month’s holiday.

The weather permitting, I will go to work.

The students were writing а test paper, their hands trembling.

The students were writing a test paper, their books closed.

Adverbial modifier of time

Adverbial modifier of cause

Adverbial modifier of condition

Adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances