Participle I

Participle I is a non-finite form of the verb with some adjectival and adverbial features. It is formed by adding the suffix -ing to the stem of the verb.

The verbal character of participle I is manifested morphologically in the categories of voice and correlation (see table XIV) and syntactically in its combinability. Thus, like the other non-finites, it may combine with a noun or a pronoun as direct, indirect or prepositional object. It may also combine with an adverb or a prepositional phrase as an adverbial modifier, or with a noun or adjective as a predicative.

Seeing Jane, I rushed to greet her.

We didn't utter a word while listening to the story.

Rising early, you'll make your days longer.

Do you know the man sitting in the middle of the first row?

Being absent-minded, he went into the wrong room.

Participle I is used as a pure verb form in the formation of the continuous aspect.

The adjectival and adverbial features of participle I are manifested in its syntactical functions as an attribute and an adverbial modifier.

Non-perfect participle I active has synonymous adjectives formed from the same verb stem, such as resulting-resultant, convulsing-convulsive, abounding-abundant, deceiving—deceptive. Some participles border on adjectives when used as attributes or predicatives, and have qualitative adjectives as synonyms; for example amusing-funny, boring-dull, deafening (very) loud. There are even some deverbal adjectives that have completely lost their verbal meaning, for example interesting, charming.

When they lose their verbal character, participles may be modified by adverbs of degree used with adjectives, such as very, so, too, as in very (greatly, exceedingly, etc.) amusing, too boring, most exciting.

My job is with one of the ministers— too boring and distasteful to discuss.

All this was extremely gratifying.

Like an adjective, participle I forms adverbs with the suffix -ly: laughingly, jokingly, surprisinly, admiringly, appealingly, feelingly.

You surprise me, she said feelingly.

Forms of participle I

Correlation- voice	active	passive
Non-perfect	Going Taking	- Being taken
perfect	Having gone Having taken	- Having been taken

The category of correlation in participle f finds its expression in the contrast of the non-perfect and perfect forms.

The non-perfect form suggests that the action denoted by participle I is simultaneous with that of the finite verb. Thus the time-reference of the action expressed by participle I can be understood only from the context:

Learning foreign languages	you know your native tongue better.
	I used to begin my day with repeating new words
	you will learn a lot about your native tongue

The perfect form of participle I indicates that the action denoted by the participle is prior to that denoted by the finite verb.

Having learnt the elements of English	I shall start upon French
	our students start upon French or German
	we started upon French

The meaning of priority may be accompanied by the notion of completion or duration, depending on whether the meaning of the verb is terminative or durative.

Eg. Dinny took the little packet, and having brought no bag, slipped it down her dress.

Having waited several hours in the snow to see me, he was not likely to show much patience when the house was thrown into darkness.

Like that of the other non-finites, the perfect form of participle I invariably expresses priority, whereas non-perfect participle I varies in its meaning according to the context, expressing either a prior or a posterior action.

Non-perfect participle I regularly expresses immediate priority and denotes an instantaneous action if it is formed from terminative verbs, such as verbs of motion (to come, to enter, to arrive, to turn, to leave), of sense perception (to see, to hear. to find) and verbs of certain specific actions associated with motion (to put, to put on, to take, to take off, to seize, to grasp, to open).

Arriving at the station, he found his train gone.

Leaving the house, Andrew continued his round.

Turning the .corner, you'll see the house you are looking for.

Hearing a noise in the garden, I looked out of the window. :

Taking off our shoes, we tiptoed into the nursery.

The perfect participle of the same verbs is used when there is a lapse of time between the two actions, or when the action denoted by the participle is durative. Compare the following examples:

Seeing Jane, I rushed to greet her. But: Having seen the girl only once, I didn't recognize her.

Not having seen her for a long time, I didn't recognize her.

Sometimes the perfect participle is used to emphasize priority. Compare these examples:

Her husband, finding the right key, fits it into the lock of the bureau.

Having found the place he sought, Bateman sent in his card to the manager.

Non-perfect participle I may denote a posterior action, immediately following the first action, forming its part or being its result, as in:

Lizzy left the room, banging the door shut.

John fell, hurting his knee.

There may be a lapse of time between the first and the second posterior action. This is evident from the context.

I then hired a car and went home, arriving just before twelve o'clock.

We left at dawn, returning late.

As seen from the above examples non-perfect participle I denoting a prior action usually precedes the predicate verb. When it denotes a posterior action, it stands always after the predicate verb. In both cases it corresponds to the Russian perfective adverbial participle (деепричастие) (приехав, повернув, услышав, сняв, поднявшись, найдя, хлопнув, вернувшись).