14. Translate the sentences paying attention to the use of the Abso­lute Participle Construction:

A. 1) The problem being very simple, everybody understood it at once. 2) It being Saturday, everyone went out of town. 3) There being a strong wind that day, it was impossible to go boating. 4) Time permit­ting, they will discuss the matter tomorrow. 5) The conference being over, he returned to the office. 6) My brother having taken the key, I could not enter the house. 7) The letter having been delayed, the news reached us too late. 8) All the questions having been discussed, the meeting was over.

B. 1) He works hard to pass his entrance examinations, his sister doing her best to help him. 2) They all went away, he remaining at home. 3) Some of the students want to study French, the rest prefer­ring to study English. 4) The professor walked into the lecture hall, the students following him. 5) He spoke on the development of power stations, the lecture being illustrated by diagrams. 6) The partici­pants came from ten countries, with Britain being represented by Pro­fessor Arthur Thornton. 7) The negotiations between the American and British representatives were conducted behind closed doors, measures having been taken that no correspondent should receive any information.

15. Transform these complex sentences into simple ones using the Absolute- Participle Complex.

A. Model: As my friend lives far from here, I go to his place by bus. – My friend living far from here, I go to his place by bus.

1) As it is rather cold, I put on my coat.

2) As his mother teaches English, he knows the language very well.

3) As her son was ill, she could not go to the theatre.

B. Model: As our teacher had visited India, we asked him to tell us about the country. – Our teacher having visited India, we asked him to tell us about that country.

1) When the match had ended, the people went home.

2) As my friend had bought the tickets beforehand, we didn't need to hurry.

3) After the sun had risen, we continued our way.

C. Model: As the bridge was destroyed, we couldn't cross the river. – The bridge being destroyed, we couldn't cross the river.

1) As all shops were closed, we couldn't buy anything.

2) As the waiting - room was being cleaned, the passengers were not let in.

3) As the book was being printed, we hoped to get it soon.

D. Model: When the work had been done, they went home. – The work having been done, they went home.

1) When the house had been built, we got a new flat.

2) As all the tickets had been sold out, we couldn't see the performance.

3) As the key had been lost, she couldn't get into the room.

16. State the functions of the nominative absolute participial constructions:

1. That police business having been accomplished, he had come to call on Mr. Poirot. 2. It being a hot day, and all of us thirsty, she suggested that we should have a glass of beer. 3. She never was a great talker. Often when, the night being fine, we decided to walk back from the music-hall at which we had been spending the evening, she never opened her mouth. 4. “You know any of them?” I whispered. “Yes,” he said, his voice trembling a little. 5. It was quite light. A few miners were already in the street: the first of the night shift moving out. 6. As Andrew walked with them, spent and slow, his footsteps echoing with the others under the morning sky, he kept thinking blindly: “I’ve done something…” 7. All being settled, she went to bed and slept soundly. 8. He found that Ann had advanced into the hall, her hands folded under her apron, her eyes contemplating him. 9. They walked silently through the street, Tom grave, Liza weeping bitterly. 10. The Strand, it being the hour when the theatres began to empty themselves, was a roaring torrent of humanity and vehicles.