Unit 5 The Participle

1. There are two participles in the English language: Participle I (the ‘–ing’ form) and Participle II (discussed, done). Participle I can have simple, perfect and passive forms. The forms of Participle I correspond to the verb forms with the first element taking the ‘-ing’ suffix. Compare:

When we read his poems, we feel … When he has written the letter, he ...

Reading his poems, we feel … Having written the letter, he …

As we had been asked to stay, we … The man who is being interviewed is …

Having been asked to stay, we … The man being interviewed is …

2. Participle II has only one form: interviewed, done, written.

The tenses of Participle I are relative and show whether the action named by the participle took place before the action denoted by the finite verb or was simultaneous with it.

E.g. They talked for hours trying to find a way out. (Simultaneousness)

Having found a way out, they issued a joint statement. (Priority)

3. Different forms of the participle can have different functions in the sentence. Participle I active and passive can be used as an attribute or an adverbial modifier.

E.g. The police investigating the case refused to meet the reporters. (Attribute)

The case being investigated is quite complicated. (Attribute)

Being asked personal questions he refused to answer. (Adverbial modifier)

Perfect active and passive participles can only be adverbial modifiers.

E.g. Having avoided the accident he felt relieved.

Having been invited for a job interview she was happy.

Thus, the equivalents of Russian participles used as attributes are:

1. строящий – The architect building the theatre is very talented.

2. строящийся – The theatre being built is something special.

3. построивший – The architect who built the theater is very talented.

NB. Note the word order in structures with participles used as attributes. When the participle is used like an adjective proper, it is placed before the noun.

E.g. falling leaves, developed states, English-speaking countries

When the participle is used more like a relative clause, it is placed after a noun.

E.g. We couldn’t agree on any of the problems discussed. (= the problems that were discussed.)

I got the only ticket left. (NOT … the only left ticket.)

There can even be a change in meaning if some participles are placed before or after a noun. Compare:

A concerned expression = a worried expression

The people concerned = the people who are affected (involved)

4. Participles can combine with other words into participle clauses. They can replace relative clauses or adverbial clauses.

E.g. Who is the girl dancing with your brother? (= the girl who is dancing …)

Anyone touching the wire will get a shock. (= anyone who touches …)

Half the people invited to the party didn’t turn up. (= the people who were invited …)

Used economically, one tin will last for six weeks. (= If it is used …)

Having failed my medical exam, I took up teaching. (= As I had failed …)

5. Misrelated participles. Normally the subject of an adverbial participle clause is the same as the subject of the main clause in the sentence.

E.g. My wife had a long talk with Sally, explaining why she didn’t want the children to play together. (My wife had a talk, my wife explained.)

It is often a mistake to make sentences in which an adverbial participle clause has a different subject form the main clause.

E.g. Looking out of the window, there was a wonderful range of mountains.

(This sounds as if the mountains were looking out of the window.)

However, ‘misrelated participles’ are normal in some expressions referring to the speaker’s attitude.

E.g. Generally speaking, men can run faster than women.

Broadly speaking, dogs are more faithful than cats.

Considering everything, it wasn’t a bad holiday.

6. A participle clause can have its own subject. This happens most often in formal style.

E.g. Nobody having any more to say, the meeting was closed.

(Так как никому больше нечего было сказать, совещание было закрыто.)

All the money having been spent, we started looking for work.

(Когда все деньги были потрачены, мы начали искать работу.)

The subject is often introduced by ‘with’ when the clause expresses accompanying circumstances.

E.g. She was coming down the slope with Buck following close behind her.

(Она спускалась по холму, а Бак следовал попятам.)

How can I do any work, with children making so much noise?

( …, когда дети так шумят?)

7. The verbs ‘see, hear, feel, watch, notice’ can be followed by an object plus -ing form or infinitive (without ‘to’).

E.g. I heard him go down the stairs.

I heard him going down the stairs.

The infinitive is used to say that we see or hear the whole of an action or event. The participle is used to suggest that we see an action in progress.

E.g. I saw her cross the road. – Я видел, как она перешла улицу.

I saw her crossing the road. – Я видел, как она переходила улицу.

Participle I passive or Participle II can also be used in this structure.

E.g. I heard my name mentioned several times.

I watched the tree being cut down.

8. The structure ‘have (get) something done’ can be used to talk about arranging things to be done by other people. ‘Have something done’ is more formal than ‘get something done.’

E.g. I must have (get) my watch repaired. = I want my watch to be repaired.

(Мне нужно починить часы.)

I won’t have my house turned into a hotel. = I won’t allow …

(Я не позволю, чтобы мой дом превратили в гостиницу.)

‘Get something done’ can also be used to mean ‘finish doing something’.

E.g. It’ll take another hour to get the job done.