Exercises

Ex.1. On the basis of the following sentences FORM participial phrases with P I and P II, as in the model:

The sun burned the hikers	à the burning sun
	à the sunburned hikers

1. Vampire stories frighten children. 2. The guide’s suggestion excited the tourists. 3. The comedians amused the audience. 4. The ten-mile walk exhausted the hikers. 5. The exam results disappointed the student. 6. The award surprised the nominee. 7. The three-hour bus drive tired the passengers. 8. The math problem confused the class. 9. The exhibition review pleased the artist. 10. The amateurish singing bored the listeners.

Ex.2. DEFINE the form of participle and STATE its grammatical meaning.

A. 1. The little restaurant struck me as exotic, having a filthy floor and obviously dirty tables, but the happiest waiters and waitresses as well as clientele. 2. The FBI have dug up half of New Orleans trying to find it, but they’ve never thought about my house. 3. Take and separate all these grains, putting all of the same kind in a parcel by themselves, and see that you get it done before evening. 4. Her comely smile stopped him cold, and her first words left him flabbergasted. 5. “They’ve got me surrounded,” Luther muttered to himself parking in his garage. 6. They left him standing near the toilet, leaning on the wall for support, more confused than ever, scared to death. 7. I want Mark examined by a psychiatrist. 8. Immediately after his election to the crown, Arthur found himself opposed by eleven kings and one duke. 9. I got home late last night and found the raft gone. 10. I heard them laughing together as I passed through the Music-room. 11. Having already believed one confession you wouldn’t care to believe another that contradicted the first one.

B. 1. Here, taking my seat on the remains of a crumbling tower, I enjoyed a grand and varied landscape, beautiful in itself, and full of stories and romantic associations. 2. The path led to a large deserted house that seemed going to ruin. 3. Who, being loved, is poor? Oh, no one (O. Wilde). 4. We had ascended the kitchen stair and entered the suite of rooms upon the first floor. One was a dining-room, severely furnished and containing nothing of interest. 5. There was a nasty outbreak of cholera at Nuddea, and the Bengal Government, being short-handed, as usual, had borrowed a surgeon from the Punjab. 6. Pegasus, being the horse of the Muses, has always been at the service of the poets. 7. Being a serious fan of thriller and mystery novels, she thought it was worth a look to see who else went that way. 8. She walked to her window and enjoyed the view of a cold rain falling on the city. 9. Driving away, she phoned Larry with the news of their latest victory. 10. There are many acts, which, if done publicly, are a violation of good manners.

Ex.3. SUBSTITUTE a finite verb for Participle I where possible making all other necessary changes:

1. When he arrived at the gallery, he paid his entrance fee, picked up a catalogue and entered. 2. As they were promised assistance they felt more assured. 3. We shall drop you a line as soon as we have settled at the new place. 4. When she was going down the steps she suddenly stopped as she remembered that she left the gas burning. 5. After he was shown in he was asked to wait a while. 6. The portrait that used to hang in that corner was sold last week. 7. They started the construction of the dam early in spring and completed it before cold weather set in. 8. The parks and gardens that are being laid out in the city will very soon form a green belt all around it. 9. It has been planned to dig out a new canal here, which will supply the whole area with water for irrigation. 10. He stood at the counter and hesitated, he didn’t know what to choose. 11. As he had long been a resident of the city and knew the family very well, he at once recognized the young man whom he remembered as a boy. 12. He knows the language better than a foreigner usually does, for he has been living in France for a long time. 13. After they had finalized the program, they proceeded to the discussion of the items that dealt with financial matters. 14. Though he had lived here for a long time, he knew very few people in the neighbourhood. 15. He lit a cigarette, leaned against the porch rail and looked at the trees and the rain that was pouring down steadily and monotonously.

Ex.4. OPEN the brackets using the correct participle. MIND the form of PI. DIFFERENCIATE between the meaning of the PI and the PII: e.g.: interesting films – interested spectators.

1. You look (interest) in the lecture. – I am. It is very (excite). The one last week was quite (bore). 2. After seeing a (frighten) horror movie the (frighten) children would not go to sleep. 3. (Find) the treasure they quarreled about how to divide it. 4. She became nervous when (ask) to explain the word of whose definition she was not sure. 5. (Burn) by the enemy, the village presented a (devastate) sight. 6. Why does he look so (worry)? – He has just had a (worry) phone call. 7. Have you a seat (leave) on the flight to Toronto? – Did you call to have it (reserve) for you, sir? 8. “Oh, how extremely (touch) of you to come here to see me,” said Phil, really (touch) and (impress). 9. The passengers (leave) for St. Petersburg are invited to platform two to an express train (depart) at 22.30. 10. A crowd of (disturb) neighbours was watching the fire brigade (try) to save the Willsons’ (burn) house. 11. (Exhaust) by his work, he threw himself on the bed. 12. (Visit) a strange city I like to have a guide book with me. 13. As the orchestra was under-rehearsed, the concert last night was extremely (disappoint). 14. The audience (disappoint) by the performance were leaving the (crowd) theatre hall.

Ex.5. COMBINE two sentences into one following the rule: the main idea is expressed by a complete sentence and a qualifying (additional) one is added in a participial phrase. REMEMBER to place the proper name in the statement that expresses the more important idea.

Model: Henry picked over the apples. He chose only the ripest.

à Henry picked over the apples, choosing only the ripest.

1. He heard his name called. He broke into a wide grin.

2. Henry sat next to me. He puzzled over the test questions.

3. Emily lingered at the window. She watched the last sailboat sink beneath the horizon.

4. The actress and her husband ignored the question they were asked. They paused for only one picture.

5. The logs were split into halves. They fitted more conveniently into the fireplace.

6. The children were fascinated. They stopped their quarrelling and paid attention to their father.

7. Teri was less annoyed than her brother. She merely turned her back on us.

8. San Benito was founded before the territory became a state. It is proud of its Indian and Mexican heritage.

9. Mr. Benson got irritated. He slammed shut the account book.

10. Other students were invited to comment. They identified themselves only by their first names.

11. She expected to see some of her former pupils. She looked down the line of soldiers.

12. She smiled because there was nothing else to do. She stepped aside and let them pass.

Ex.6. USE the appropriate form of the participles.

1. Just then I heard somebody (come) down the stairs, back behind me. 2. (Write) five centuries ago, this manuscript was a real find for historians. 3. (Sit) in the reception, he wondered how long his visit would be. 4. (Leave) the message on the answering machine the day before and (get) no reply, he decided not to call again. 5. I remember hearing this idea (touch) upon at the previous meeting. 6. We changed the subject (not wish) to continue useless talk. 7. She looked at him attentively, as though (wish) to make out the cause of his confusion. 8. There seemed to be a thousand (wait) for the 7 p.m. flight to Miami. 9. His situation, if (take) seriously, was too appalling to face. 10. He breathed hard and rapidly, and emitted a dull, (ache) moan. 11. He played the piano (think) about his last trip to Boston. 12. (Give) the unexpected answer we felt awkward. 13. All of them appeared (freeze) as if (witness) a horrible event. 14. In the two envelopes (contain) holiday cards she saw something that stopped her cold. Airmail, from Peru. Spanish words (stamp) on the front. 15. “I hate to see my country (divide)”, he exclaimed. 16. He sat in the darkness, too (scare) to move or say anything. 17. He stopped, (not know) what to say next. 18. The (frighten) animals huddled around the bull. 19. The story created a row (not know) to the audience. 20. At last she heard her name (call).

Module 9. The functions of the Participles in the sentence

Principal ideas:

PARTs perform the functions characteristic of the Adj. and Adv. – they can be used as Attribute, Predicative, Adverbial Modifier, and Parenthesis. In the sentence participles appear either alone, as single participial forms (Smiling, he greeted us at the door), as the headword of a participial phrase (He began his talk, smiling to everyone sincerely), or as the non-finite element of two types of predicative constructions – Complex Object (Very soon we had all the repair work done. We noticed him leaving before others) and an Absolute Participial construction ("Silence," she said, her lips trembling, the blood tears having left their streaks on her pale cheeks. With the work done, they all started for their homes).