19.6 Независимый причастный оборот

(The Absolute Participle Construction)

Независимый причастный оборот – это сочетание существительного в общем падеже (или местоимения в именительном падеже) с Participle I или Participle II, в котором существительное (или местоимение) выполняет роль подлежащего по отношению к причастию и не является подлежащим всего предложения.

На русский язык переводится, как правило, придаточным предложением с союзами так как, когда, если, после того как (независимый причастный оборот находится в начале предложения) и с союзами а, и, причем, но (независимый причастный оборот стоит в конце предложения).

The weather being fine, we went for a walk.

He works hard to pass his examination, his sister doing her best to help him.

Translate into Russian paying attention to the Absolute Participle Construction

1. Certain volcanoes throw out very little solid matter, their products being molten lavas. 2. The slopes of the main ridge are forested, conifers predominating in the north and deciduous in the south. 3. The southern part of the Crimea being protected by mountains from the cold wind of the steppes, the climate is mild enough to grow vines. 4. The forests having been cleared, farming became one the principle occupation of the people of this area.

Compare grammar constructions in each pair of sentences

1. New specimens having been secured, the scientists sorted them. Having secured new specimens the scientists sorted them. 2. The drill cuttings having been examined, we could determine the nature of the rock. Having examined the drill cuttings we could determine the nature of the rock. 3. The students having been shown some specimens, the teacher began his lecture. Having shown some specimens to the students the teacher began his lecture.

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19.7 Герундий (The Gerund)

Герундий – неличная форма глагола, имеющая грамматические особенности как глагола, так и существительного и выражающая действие как процесс.

Таблица 6 – Формы герундия

Active		Passive
Indefinite	writing		being written
Perfect	having written		having been written

Функции герундия:

Seeing a good film is а pleasure. (подлежащее)

His favorite occupation is seeing a good film. (часть составного сказуемого)

I like seeing an interesting film. (прямое дополнение)

We thought of seeing a film after supper. (предложное дополнение)

We went home without seeing the film. (обстоятельство)

I’m glad to have the opportunity of seeing this film. (определение)

Translate into Russian paying attention to the different functions of the Gerund

1. Forecasting weather with great accuracy is no easy matter. 2. Cooling may be caused by radiation, by contact with cold surfaces, by mixing masses of air of different temperatures. 3. The sole object of our expedition was exploring the floor of the Pacific Ocean. 4. The most important thing in contemporary weather analysis is studying the properties of individual, discrete masses of air and the changes resulting when they meet. 5. The students insisted on being sent to the mine. 6. The students were against being helped with their work. 7. Improved methods of observing atmosphere are developed. 8. There are reasons for believing that the floor of the Pacific is composed of basalt. 9. A seismograph is an instrument for recording vibrations of the earth’s crust. 10. Nobody knew of their having returned from the expedition. 11. By analysing satellite cloud photographs, meteorologist may even estimate the maximum wind speed of different storms. 12. On leaving the Strait Florida, the Gulf Stream is several hundred feet deep and about one hundred miles wide. 13. When large ice masses reach the warmer lower altitudes they stop advancing and begin to melt.

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