Participle I as an adverbial modifier

№	Adverbial Modifier	Questions	Conjunctions/ particles	Examples
1	Of time	When?	conjunctions: while when	While waiting for the water to boil, Kate warmed her hands over the kettle. Mind your English when speaking to the professor. When laughing she half closed her eyes and a dimple danced on her cheek. That being understood, the conference was over. We strolled back to the camp, it being then about twenty minutes to six. (old fashioned)
2	Of reason (cause)	Why? For what reason?		Being extremely tired, Isabelle ignored all the questions and went to bed. Still hoping to catch the train, Boris took a taxi to the station. Having made her mind on this question, she was difficult to persuade of the opposite.
3	Of manner and attendant circumstances	How? In what manner?		Jeanie sat silently looking down at her hands. The children burst into the room jumping excitedly. The postman came into the house carrying a big parcel.
4	Of comparison	No identifying questions	Conjunctions: as if as though	John said it as if thinking aloud. As if obeying me he turned and looked into my eyes.
5	Of condition	In what case? On what condition?		She ought to be there and her absence might be resented, but being there, she wouldn’t know what to say. (= even if she was there)
6	Of concession	No identifying questions	Conjunction: though	Somebody was waiting: a man, who, though moving irregularly, was making quite a speed in my direction.

Notes:

1. All four forms of Participle I can be used in this function.

2. Adverbial modifier of time.

• In this function mostly Non-Perfect Active participle is used with conjunctions while and when, e.g.

While watching TV Moira ate all the chocolates.

When reciting poems the boy always looked at the ceiling.

• Though usually Perfect Participle denotes the priority, Non-Perfect Participle can also show it with certain groups of verbs if there is no big lapse of time. Compare:

Verbs of motion: to come, to enter, to arrive, to turn, to leave

Arriving at the station, Philip found his train gone.

Having arrived at the station three hours before the train, Philip had much time to kill.

Verbs of sense perception: to see, to hear to find

Hearing the news, I phoned the professor immediately, e.g.

5. Having heard from him only once in three years, I stared to forget him.

• Passive and Perfect participles usually show priority, e.g.

Being left alone, the child burst out crying.

Having closed the door, Mary leaned on it and closed her tired eyes.

• !!! The participle of the verb ‘to be’ is never used as an adverbial modifier of time. Instead an adverbial clause of time is used, e.g.

Будучи в Лондоне, он забыл зайти в издательство. = When he was in London, he forgot to call at the publishing house.

3. Adverbial modifier of reason (cause)

The most frequently used participles are of the verbs ‘to be’ and ‘to have’ and of the verbs denoting mental perceptions and emotions,

being having knowing realizing remembering

expecting hoping fearing

Hoping to find Bella at home, Ted hurried to her house.

Knowing Professor carter as a sensible man, Richard decided to turn to him for help.

Steve stopped speaking expecting me to express my agreement.

4. Adverbial modifier of manner and attendant circumstances

It is one of the most typical uses of Participle I in general and the main grammatical meaning of Non-Perfect Participle I, e.g.

The strange tall man stood up and left the room closing the door behind him with a bang.

5. Adverbial modifier condition and concession

Participle I in the functions of adverbial modifiers or condition and concession are rare and are recognized only in context.

TASK 5. Sort out the sentences below into the corresponding column of the table. The first one is done for you.

Adverbial Modifier	Number of the sentence
Time	1,
Reason (cause)
Manner and attendant circumstances
Comparison
Concession

1. Having said all he wanted to say, the general turned to the map of the battle field.

2. Tessa looked at me as though seeing me for the first time.

3. Being slightly embarrassed Terry moved to the other side of the sofa.

4. Not knowing if John had seen her brother or not and if he knew the truth, Bella didn’t know what to say.

5. Grandma’s fingers were constantly moving as if knitting an invisible shawl.

6. Carrying a suitcase in either hand, the boy stepped to the platform where he was already being waited for by his uncle.

7. Intending to wait by the gate, I slowly walked down the drive away from the house.

8. Flushing darkly Mary looked at the picture Stuart had given to her and quickly gave it back.

9. Walking to the edge of the verandah, Edward leaned over and looked intently into the magic of the night.

10. Hailing the taxi, Peter didn’t stop talking to me without noticing that I was not listening to him.

11. Writing to Mary I always sent regards to her parents.

12. The little boy walked along the alley whistling a joyful tune.

13. Mrs. Barnaby sighed heavily as if regretting what she had done.

14. Not having received Mike’s letter, she sent him a telegram.

15. The girl continued to sit still as if waiting for something.

16. Being pressed for time, I couldn’t even have breakfast.

17. Martha paused as if waiting for Robert to answer.

18. Though rapidly balding, Mr. Stout took more care of his hair than usual.

19. A week later I returned from school and found the house empty, my mother being at the shops.

TASK 6. Paraphrase the sentences given below, replacing the adverbial clauses by the necessary form of participle I. Follow the example.

Example. After the doctor had forbidden me to go out, I had to stay at home for a week. = Having been forbidden by the doctor to go out, I had to stay at home for a week.

Part 1.

1. When my son wrote compositions he always forgot about punctuation marks.

2. When Patrick looked up he saw the teacher standing over his desk.

3. The Drakes were travelling in the East when they met Paul and his new wife.

4. The student made a lot of phonetic mistakes when she was reading the poem aloud.

5. The boys were playing in the street when they heard their mother call them.

6. When Grandma sits at the window she can see her grandchildren playing in the yard.

7. When you buy a new coat don't forget to try it on first.

8. When Nelly skated yesterday she sprained her ankle.

9. Henry turned off all the lights when he left the house.

10. When we write a telegram we must use as few words as possible.

11. While Mum was talking to Nora she continued to cook dinner.

12. When I was going home I thought about my future trip to London.

13. While Jane was waiting for her bus she read the book I gave her.

14. While Jack was attempting to lock the door he broke the key.

15. When she was brushing her hair she examined her face.

16. While Stuart was talking to his friend he kept thinking about the new girl.