Самостоятельный причастный оборот/ the nominative absolute participial construction

Самостоятельный причастный оборот – это конструкция (оборот), в которой причастие находится в предикативных отношениях с существительным в общем падеже или местоимением в именительном падеже, при этом ни существительное, ни местоимение не являются подлежащим.

The door being open, we looked in. Так как дверь была открыта, мы заглянули внутрь.

The letter having been written, he went out to post it. Так как письмо было написано, он вышел, чтобы отправить его.

Самостоятельный причастный оборот на письме всегда выделяется запятой. Он может содержать любые формы причастий. В английском предложении оборот имеет синтаксическую функцию обстоятельства, а на русский язык он переводится придаточным предложением (времени, условия, причины). Например:

Time permitting, we’ll go for a walk. Если время позволит, мы пойдем гулять. (Придаточное условия.)

The operation having been successful, the patient was sent home. Так как результаты операция прошла успешно, пациент был отправлен домой. (Придаточное причины.)

The lecture being over, we went for a walk. Когда закончилась лекция, мы пошли домой (Придаточное времени.)

The work completed, he went home. Когда работа закончилась, он пошел домой. (Придаточное времени.)

Если самостоятельный причастный оборот выступает в функции сопутствующих обстоятельств, то он, как правило, переводится на русский язык придаточным предложением, вводимым словами «при этом», «причем», союзом «а»:

He turned and went away, we following him. Он повернулся и ушел, а мы последовали за ним.

Vitamins are essential for our health, vitamin D being of vital importance. Витамины имеют существенное значение для нашего здоровья, причем витамин D имеет жизненно-важное значение.

EXERCISES

Exercise 19. Translate the sentences paying attention to the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

1. The weather being cold, we decided to stay at home. 2. It being Sunday, we decided to have a rest. 3. The fuel exhausted, the car stopped. 4. The conference being over, the students went home. 5. Dinner being over, the students got back to work. 6. Circumstances permitting, we’ll start our experiments tomorrow.

Exercise 20.Replace the clauses with the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

Model:

As the book was translated into Russian, it could be read by everyone. The book being translated into Russian, it could be read by everybody.

1. As we were given dictionaries, we managed to translate the article easily. 2. As soon as I have done my homework, I’ll go for a walk. 3. As soon as I have bought the book, I’ll start reading it. 4. As it was Sunday, the library was closed. 5. As the Professor was ill, the lecture was cancelled. 6. As the weather was fine, they went for a walk.

Exercise 21. Rephrase the following sentences using the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

1. When the greetings were over, we started the conference. 2. The question was rather difficult to answer, and I asked for permission to think it over. 3. When she finished her test, she went straight home. 4. If mother permits us, we’ll get ready for the exam together. 5. When he accomplished his experiments, he made a report on his discovery. 6. When the exam was over, she called me to know the results.

NB Самостоятельный причастный оборот может начинаться с предлога, тогда он называется предложным самостоятельным причастным оборотом - Prepositional Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

The cat looked at the dog, with its back arched. Кошка смотрела на собаку, выгнув спину.

Exercise 22. Translate from Russian into English paying attention to Prepositional Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

1. She went into the operating room, with her heart beating fast. 2. She was listening to the lecturer, thoughtful, with her chin resting on her hand. 3. The girl ran away, with tears running down her cheeks. 4. He sat motionless, with his eyes fixed on the book. 5. She finished her report, with her cheeks burning and her hands trembling.

Exercise 23.Fill in the gaps with the appropriate form of the Participle for the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

1. The abdominal pain … by nausea and vomiting of 20 hours’ duration, the patient was hospitalized for an emergency surgery.

a) accompanied

b)being accompanied

c)having accompanied

d) having been accompanied

2. There … permanent dryness in the mouth, nausea and constipation, the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis may be suggested.

a) being

b) been

c) having been

3. The severity of jaundice … , a considerably elevated amount of bilirubin was found in the blood on the following analysis.

a) increasing

b) being increased

c) having increased

d)having been increased

4. The postoperative course was smooth for a week, no recurrence of bleeding … .

a) observed

b) being observed

c) having observed

d) having been observed

Exercise 24. Translate from English into Russian paying attention to the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

1. Everything being ready, I ordered the assistants to begin the operation. 2. Liver transplant operations are most complicated, with more patients undergoing operation. 3. The amount of phosphorus being small in food, animals may develop general health impairment (ухудшение). 4. The patient developed severe haemorrhage, it being caused by perforated duodenal ulcer (прободная язва двенадцатиперстной кишки). 5. The disease may occur at all stages, it being less common in adults. 6. Jaundice being caused by obstruction, the bile (желчь) cannot pass to the intestines and the stools are of white color. 7. The period of survival was 6 months, with only one third of patients surviving longer. 8. Rupture of tissue may be associated with massive haemorrhage, with death occurring almost invariably.

Exercise 25. Translate from Russian into English, using the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction.

1. Если погода позволит, мы пойдем гулять. 2. Так как было поздно, он пошел домой. 3. Так как все было готово, хирург пошел в операционную. 4. Когда домашнее задание было сделано, она стала читать книгу. 5. Когда все приготовления были закончены, мы начали эксперимент. 6. Когда боль усилилась, он решил вызвать врача. 7. Так как конференция закончилась, студенты пошли домой. 8. Так как боль была сильной, мы вызвали врача.

Exercise 26. Find the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction. Translate the sentences.

1. The abdominal incision having been made and the stomach opened, the ulcer was found to involve the posterior wall of the stomach. 2. There being profuse external haemorrhage, the patient was immediately taken to the hospital. 3. The digestion being considerably impaired, the patient constantly complained of epigastric pains. 4. The patient having survived the operation well, the danger of complications was eliminated. 5. The patient suffering from a continuous bleeding, severe anaemia developed. 6. Digestion disturbances having been present for a long time, the patient was prescribed a strict diet without any fat. 7. There being no characteristic clinical manifestations of gastritis, the patient was allowed to vary the diet. 8. We performed many experiments, the last being the best.