Prepositional absolute participial construction with participle I

A prepositional absolute construction differs from a non-prepositional participial construction in that it is introduced by the preposition with. Its nominal part is usually a noun in the common case, or very rarely a personal pronoun in the objective case. It is not necessarily set off by a comma:

Andrew went into the house with his heart beating fast.

The main syntactical function of the construction is an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances, as in:

The officer sat with his long fine hands lying on the table perfectly still.

The meaning of attendant circumstances may be combined with temporal or causal ones:

I won't speak with him staring at me like that.

Just now, with the harvest coming on, everything looks its richest.

It (St. John's Wood) is ever so pretty with all the trees coming out.

The construction is usually translated into Russian by a coordinate or a subordinate clause, and sometimes by means of a prepositional phrase, or an adverbial participle (деепричастие).

(Когда) Эндрю вошел в дом, сердце его сильно билось (с бьющимся, сердцем).

Теперь, когда приближается время жатвы, все так красиво.

THE NOMINANATIVE ABSOLUTE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTION WITH

PARTICIPLE II

[Коbrina]

§151. The construction consists of the nominal element (a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case) and participle II which form a syntactical complex, the nominal element and the participle being in subject-predicate relation. The preparation completed, we started off.

The nominative absolute participial construction with participle II has the syntactical function of a detached adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances (a), manner (b), time (c), reason (d), condition (e).

a) The next day I observed you - myself unseen - for half an hour. She was smoking now, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

b) He sat on the sofa, his legs crossed.

3. The duster refolded and restored, he threw his legs across the saddle. "Give it to Harriet, please," was then the direction, "and she can put it away." This said, he turned and fixed his eyes on Mrs. Bretton.

4. We began to talk, but my attention distracted by my surroundings, I took small notice of him.

5. He was a gentleman, but he was passionate, the cup once sipped, would he consent to put it down?

§ 152. The prepositional absolute construction with participle II.

This construction diners from the discussed above in that it is introduced by the preposition with and its nominal element is hardly ever presented by a pronoun; it is more closely related to the predicate verb and is seldom set off bу a comma.

She went on reading with her eyes fixed on the pages of the book. It is unhealthy to sleep with the windows shut.

The main syntactical function of the construction is that of an adverbial modifier of manner or attendant circumstances.

An additional idea of time, reason, or condition may be prompted by the context, as in: I can't walk with my leg broken (reason).

PRACTICE

Exercise 1. Translate the sentences into Russian. Comment on the use of the constructions. [Golitsynsky p 288 ex366]

1. Our horses being weary, it was agreed that we should come to a halt. 2. It having been decided that they should not go out on account of the weather, the members of the party were busy writing their notes. 3. The wind stirring among trees and bushes, we could hear nothing. 4. About 11 o’clock, the snow having thawed, and the day being finer and a little warmer that the previous one, he went out again. 5. Dinner being over, we assembled in the drawing-room. 6. The 5^th of June arriving, they departed. 7. She remembered him talking, his glasses magnifying his round blue eyes. 8. She sat staring into the fire, the sock forgotten on her knee. 9. The speaker faced the audience, his hand raised for silence. 10. He sat down quickly, his face buried in his hands. 11. Then, with her heart beating fast, she went up and rang the bell. 12. Little Paul sat, with his chin resting on his hand.

Exercise 2. Paraphrase the sentences using Absolute participial constructions. [Golitsynsky p 293 ex371]

1.He stood leaning against the wall, his arms were folded. 2. There was very little time left; we had to hurry. 3. Of an evening he read aloud; his small son sat by his side. 4. The new engines were safely delivered, all of them were in good order. 5. Our efforts to start the car had failed, and we spent the night in a nearby village. 6. As our work was finished, we went home. 7. If the letter is posted today, the news will reach them tomorrow. 8. If mother permits us, we shall go to the theatre. 9. When the working day was over, she went straight home. 10. As a storm was aris­ing, the ship entered the harbour. 11. When the packing had been done, the girls left for the sta­tion.

Exercise 3. Translate into English. [Golitsynsky p 2 ex372]

1. Так как было очень поздно, собрание было закрыто. 2. Если погода позволит, мы пойдем на каток. 3. Так как все было готово, она решила отдохнуть. 4. Так как было уже поздно, они никуда не пошли. 5. Так как погода была холодная, Джек спрятал руки в карманы. 6. Так как быстро темнело, она поспешила домой. 7. Когда солнце зашло, сразу стало темно. 8. Так как наш разговор был закончен, я пошел домой. 9. Когда письмо было написано, она быстро побежала на почту отправить его. 10. Так как оставалось еще полчаса до отхода поезда, мы решили поужинать на вокзале. 11. Если погода будет благоприят­ной, спортсмены могут показать хорошие резуль­таты. 12. Мы долго разговаривали: он задавал мне вопросы, а я охотно на них отвечал. 13. Если условия позволят, я приеду к вам на лето. 14. Так как было очень тепло, дети спали на открытом воздухе. 15. Когда все приготовления были за­кончены, мы отправились в поход. 16. Корабль медленно плыл вдоль берегов Белого моря; сотни птиц кружились над ним. 17. Было очень темно, так как на небе не было ни одной звездочки. 18. Когда солнце село, туристы развели костер.