The objective participial construction with participle I
[Kobrina]
§ 137. Participle I may function as part of a predicative construction, entering into a predicative relationship with some nominal element and forming a syntactical unit with it.
THE OBJECTIVE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTION WITH PARTICIPLE I consists of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case and participle I forming a syntactical complex, the two main components of which are in predicative relationship. Since the construction always follows transitive verbs, its syntactical function is that of a complex object. Thus in its meaning it corresponds to a subordinate clause and is usually translated into Russian by a subordinate object clause:
I saw John/him playing tennis. - Я видел, как Джон играет в теннис.
We heard them singing - Мы слышали, как они поют.
The nominal element usually refers to a person or a thing different from that denoted by the subject of the sentence. If it refers to the same person as the subject, a reflexive pronoun is to be used, as in:
He heard himself uttering the words.
The objective participial construction is mainly used:
a) with verbs of sense perception,
b)with various verbs of causative meaning, or inducement.
c) occasionally with verbs expressing wish.
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a) |
to see to hear to feel to watch |
to notice to observe to perceive to smell |
to find to catch to discover to look (at) |
to listen (to) |
We saw (watched, heard, listened to) the train approaching the station.
Do you smell something burning?
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b |
to have to get to keep |
to leave to start to set |
I won’t have you smoking at your age!
They soon got (started) things going.
Don’t keep me waiting. I’m in a hurry.
c) to want, to like
I don’t want you talking back to me.
They didn’t like me leaving so early.
PRACTICE
Exercise 1. a) Use the participles given below as parts of complex objects: [Klys p192 ex4]
going, dozing, passing, turning, wondering, moving, opening, waiting, setting, looking.
1. Please start the clock ...
3. He turned and saw a pair of large dark eyes ... at him through the window of the cab.
4. "I just happened to be in the neighbourhood," she said, "and found myself ... by."
5. As they danced they watched Crisp and Mark's mother ... about the room.
6. He glanced up to see the door ...
7. I found him ... under a tree.
8. They left me ... outside.
9. The news left me ... what would happen next.
10. They turned to see the sun ...
b) Complete the sentences using Participle I as part of a complex object.
1. Did anyone see you (to enter) the house?
2. I last saw him (to go towards) the riverbank.
3. Where's my umbrella? I thought I left it (to hang) with my coat.
4. Did you hear voices (to call) for help?
5. When Mary opened her eyes she saw Nina (to stand) by her side.
6. We could feel the sun (to beat) on our necks.
7. We all sensed danger (to approach).
8. Can you feel something (to burn)?
9. I noticed Tom Wells (to stand) in the shadow of the fountain.
10. She liked to see him (to do things, to dig, to plant).
11. Did you see Mary (to look) into a shop window?
12. He found them (to sit together and to talk peacefully).
13. She felt her voice (to tremble) and tried to control herself.
14. She watched him (to pass the gate and to walk down the street).
15. I saw him (to put) his case right here.
Exercise 2. Complete these sentences using Participle I as part of a complex object.
[Simkhovich p224 ex9]
MODEL: I could hear the wind. (whistle all night)
I could hear the wind whistling all night.(complex object)
1. A huge crowd watched the firemen (fight the blaze). 2. "Don't worry", said the doctor. "I'll soon have you (fell better)". 3. We all suddenly sensed danger (approach). 4. Kate doesn't like to see animals (treat cruelly). 5. Did the news leave you (not to wonder what would happen next)? 6. I was surprised to see my friends (carry off by the police). 7. The assistant kept the customer (wait a very long time). 8. Because of Japan's success, European and US manufacturers have found their own markets (diminish drastically). 9. Many people fear these days that the loss of secrecy might result in money (withdraw from the banks). 10.Some western firms have found themselves (be unable to compete with Far Eastern manufacturers). 11. Some major objections to the new highway scheme led to it (cancel).
Exercise 3. You spent the night in a house where strange things happened. Use the ideas below to make sentences about what you saw, heard and felt. [Simkhovich p224 ex10]
MODEL: Someone screamed from time to time.
I heard someone screaming from time to time. (complex object)
1. Someone was crying in the next room. 2. A figure was dancing in the garden. 3. The stairs started creaking at midnight. 4. A cold hand touched me several times. 5. Something was floating in the air above my head. 6. A door slammed suddenly. 7. A white face appeared and then disappeared. It happened several times. 8. Something was crawling up my arm. 9. The wind was howling outside. 10. Someone tapped me on the shoulder. 11. Someone called my name. 12. Voices called for help.
Exercise 4. I've seen a ghost! [Verbals p.70 ex48]
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Some people say they have seen a ghost. What did they see, feel, hear etc.?
molly I saw a white figure. It moved silently up the stairs. Molly saw a white figure moving silently up the stairs. joe I heard a woman's voice. It called my name, quite clearly. ted I felt a cold wind. It blew through the closed door of my room. I saw a dark shadow. It passed through the bedroom wall. bill In the cellar I saw a pale yellow ball of light. It moved around silently. tom I was having dinner in the dining- room. There was another guest. He was wearing old-fashioned clothes. hilda I was looking round a graveyard. Suddenly I felt a cold hand. It touched my cheek. martha I heard a child. It was shouting for help. There were no children anywhere.
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Exercise 5.Write a ghost story [Verbals p.70 ex49] : Invent a ghost story. Say where you were and what you saw, felt, noticed or heard. Write a short paragraph similar to the ones in exercise4. Read your story to the class and for the most mysterious or most imaginative one.
Exercise 6. Translate into English using complex objects with Participle I. [Klys p192 ex5]
1. Я видел, как они открывали дверь.
2. Том увидел, как в воде что-то быстро движется.
3. Дойдя до середины, я почувствовал, что мост движется.
4. Я наблюдала за тем, как внимательно он читает письмо.
5. Я видеть не могу, когда плохо обращаются с животными.
6. Ты не видел, как они играли в теннис?
7. Я слышал, как Джек приглашал их на пикник.
8. Мы слышали, как водитель извинялся перед пассажирами.
9. Я заметил, как она входила в магазин.
10. Он чувствовал, что кто-то наблюдает за ним.
11. Она открыла окно и наблюдала, как ее дети играли в саду.
12. Стены нашего дома тонкие, и я слышу, как соседка играет на пианино.
13. Он нашел ее на платформе в ожидании поезда.
14. Когда Том увидел, как Джек переходил улицу, он помахал ему рукой.
15. Я видела, как вы проехали мимо нашего дома в своей машине.
16. Он чувствовал, как у него дрожали руки.
17. Мы слышали, как она спускалась по лестнице.
18. Учительница наблюдала, как дети входили в школу.
19. Они спросили, не заметил ли я, чтобы кто-нибудь выходил из дома.
20. Мы наблюдали, как дети играли в футбол.