THE PARTICIPLE

FORMS
There are two participles in Modem English: participle I
(the present participle) and participle II (the past participle).

Participle I
Tense Participle II
Active Passive

Non-Perfect writing being written

written
Perfect having written having been written

PARTICIPLE I
The paradigm of participle I shows that its grammatical
forms are homonymous to those of the gerund. The
distinction between participle I and gerund is made on the
basis of meaning and function.
Participle I expresses an action as characterizing a person
or a thing (like an adjective) or as modifying another action
(like an adverb).
The gerund expresses an action in its most general sense,
actually naming it, and, for this reason, looks more like a
noun than an adjective or an adverb.
Both participle I and gerund can be used in the functions
of attributes and adverbial modifiers, the difference being that
participle I is not preceded by prepositions.
(1) As attribute participle I can either precede a noun or
follow it.
It was pleasant to look at the rising sun. The dancing
people were beautifully dressed. She tried to calm the
crying child.
When used in post-position, 1participle I, as a rule, has one

or more accompanying words.
He came up to the policeman standing at the corner.
The room was full of people waiting for the doctor. I
want to write a book summing up the results of my
experiments.
N o t e that the attributive function of participle I is proper
only to its non-perfect active form. Participle I as attribute
corresponds to the Russian present participle of the active
voice: ; ; ,
; , .
The meaning of priority expressed by the Russian past
participle active (, ) is
conveyed by an attributive clause in English.
The conference that recently took place in Paris was
devoted to radio-electronics.
Or compare the following two sentences:
The man making the report is a good speaker. The
man who made the report is a good speaker.
A participial construction used as a postpositive attribute is
synonymous to an attributive clause, the latter being more
conversational.
(2) As adverbial modifier participle I is used to express
relations of:
(a) time
Coming up to the door I found it locked. Having said all
he knew the witness left the box. Having been away so
long he was happy to be coming back.
The forms used here express priority.
Participle I in the function of an adverbial modifier of
time expressing an action simultaneous with the action of the
finite verb is often preceded by the conjunction when or
while.
 While travelling one sees a lot of interesting things.
He came across this expression when reading a newspa-
per.
N o t e that the verb to be in the form of participle I non-
perfect should not be treated as an adverbial modifier of time;
it is used to denote an adverbial modifier of cause.
Being very tired he soon fell asleep. ...
... ...
The clause of time can be
expressed in English by When a student... or When I was
a student....
(b) cause
Being a foreigner she couldnt get accustomed to it.
Having lived in the country for many years, he spoke
English without a foreign accent. Knowing what she did
she couldnt trust him.
Participle constructions used as adverbial modifiers of
time and cause are replaced by adverbial clauses in spoken
English.
Having learnt the sad news she got upset. = She got
upset as she learnt the sad news.
(c) manner
He waited growing more and more impatient. During
the war he had made a name, working in one of the
Admiralty scientific departments.
(d) comparison
When used in this function participle I is introduced by
the conjunctions as if or as though.
He stood still for a minute as if debating with himself.
He stopped at the door-way as if hesitating what to do
next. She looked at me in surprise as though not
believing my story.
 (3) The use of participle I as predicative is rare in Modern
English.
The roar of the engines was deafening.
(4) Participle I of verbs of motion, such as run, jump,
dance, etc. following the verb to come should be treated as
part of a compound verbal predicate.
The boy came running in (). The dog came
jumping to its master ().
(5) Participle I occurs in a number of set-phrases in the
function of parenthesis: judging by..., frankly speaking, etc.
PARTICIPLE II
Unlike all other verbal forms, participle II is
unchangeable. It expresses the result of an action (quality or
state) rather than an action itself.
It has no tense distinctions but in speech it denotes
simultaneousness or priority, which depends on the lexical
meaning of the verb and the context.
I read the note written in French. The children were
playing watched by the nurse. I confined my reports to a
few lines sent every two or three days.
Participle II of transitive verbs has a passive meaning: a
broken chair (), the method used
().
The syntactical functions of participle II are the following:
(1) Attribute
In this function participle II corresponds to the Russian
passive participle and either precedes or follows the noun
modified. It may be used with or without accompanying
words:
The stolen papers were never found. It is a beautifully
written poem. The problem discussed is of great
importance. The news published on the front page is
 very interesting.
A construction with participle II in post-position is more
formal than an attributive clause (The problem we are
discussing...'' or The news that was published...").
(2) Adverbial modifier
In this function participle II is usually introduced by the
conjunctions when, while, if, as if, as though, though, etc.
When used without a conjunction it may be treated either as
an adverbial modifier or as a detached attribute.
Exhausted by the long journey he soon fell asleep.
... (...)
Participle II can be used as an adverbial modifier of:
(a) time
When shown the letter she confessed everything. When
interviewed he refused to answer this question.
(b) condition
He never spoke unless spoken to. The crime, if
discovered, might cost you a death sentence.
(c) manner or comparison
I did as requested. She did not see me as if blinded by
her misery.
(d) concession
Though exhausted by the sleepless night he went on
with his experiment. Her spirit, though crushed, was not
broken.
Participle II in its adverbial function belongs to literary or
formal style.
COMPLEX OBJECT
(THE OBJECTIVE WITH THE PARTICIPLE)
It consists of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in
the objective case + participle I or II.
(a) With verbs of sense perception (see, hear, etc.)
participle I is mostly used.
I saw her smoking a cigarette. We felt the house shaking
in the wind.
N o t e . As is known, the Infinitive can also be found in
this construction. Compare the following sentences.
She heard him come in. She heard him coming in.
There is a slight difference between the two forms. The
infinitive can only be used for a completed action while
participle I is used for both a complete and incomplete action
and is therefore much more often used.
Participle II used in the same construction has a passive
meaning.
I saw the luggage weighed. He heard his name
mentioned in the conversation.
(b) With verbs have and want participle II is used to denote
something done by someone else.
I want it done well. I must have my hair cut. She had
her photograph taken. I wont have a fuss made over
such nonsense.
COMPLEX SUBJECT
(THE NOMINATIVE WITH THE PARTICIPLE)
It consists of a noun in the common case or a pronoun in
the nominative case + participle I or II. This construction
forms one part of a sentence. The predicate of a sentence
containing it is generally expressed by a verb of sense
perception (see, hear, feel, watch, notice) used in the passive
voice.
They were heard speaking in a lively manner. He was
seen surrounded by a group of newsmen.
This construction is mostly used in literary or scientific
writing and in news stories.
 ABSOLUTE PARTICIPIAL CONSTRUCTION
(THE ABSOLUTE NOMINATIVE CONSTRUCTION)
The peculiarity of this construction is that it has a subject
of its own expressed by a noun in the common case (or more
rarely by the pronouns it or this. The second component is
expressed by participle I or II. This construction is
synonymous to an adverbial clause. It is much more often
used in literary and scientific style, than in spoken English.
The absolute nominative construction can be used as an
adverbial modifier of:
(a) time
Things packed, we started off.
(b) cause or reason
This being so urgent, we must reconsider our decision.
The situation being so grave, urgent measures had to be
taken.
(c) condition (rare)
Weather permitting, we shall go to the country. Granted
health, he may still live to pay off his debts.
(d) manner or attending circumstances
The Democratic Party is conducting a series of
meetings, speakers receiving warm applause. The
delegates were represented by whites and Negroes, a
third of them being youth.
When an absolute participial construction is used in this
function, it may be introduced by the prepositions with or
without.
The resolution was adopted by a majority of 53 against
10 with 4 abstaining. They could not go ahead, without
their plan being approved by the management.
N o t e that there may also be absolute constructions
without a participle, the second element being expressed by
an adjective, a noun with a preposition or an adverb.
The preliminaries over, we began to talk business. We
found him lying dead in the alley, face downward. In
the dead of the night my host burst into my room, a
lamp in his hand.
NOTES ON RENDERING THE ENGLISH
PARTICIPLE IN RUSSIAN
(1) The main functions of the participle in a sentence are
those of attributes or adverbial modifiers and, for this reason,
it is most frequently rendered in Russian by or
.
We cant sit by closing our eyes to the impending
danger. ,
. The measures
were directed against trade-unions acting in defence of
their rights.
, . We
made a mistake getting involved there.
, .
(2) However, it is not always possible to use these forms in
Russian translation. In many cases subordinate clauses are
used in Russian to render English participles. Sometimes it is
done for stylistical reasons.
The police station referred to in the report was Hornsey
Road police station and not Hornsey police station as
published. ,
, ,
, .
(3) Another reason why a subordinate clause will be used
in Russian translation is that no participle can be formed from
the corresponding Russian verb.
Films starring Elisabeth Taylor were estimated to have
 had the greatest box-office appeal. ,
,
, .
(4) Predicative constructions with the participle (i. e. the
complex object and the complex subject) are nearly always
translated into Russian by subordinate clauses.
The air attach said he would arrange to have me flown
to Paris without delay. -
, ,
, .
was photographed addressing a student meeting at the
campus. ,
.
(5) Absolute constructions have no equivalents in Russian.
Therefore they are usually rendered by means of subordinate
or coordinate clauses.
All things considered, the offer seems reasonable.
,
. With so little
time left now, there is no time for delay.
, .
Newspapers being a Big Business, the views of
newspaper owners are the views of Big Business.

, ,
. After the war, his face
severely disfigured by an accident, he lived in Saxony
with falsified papers.
, ,
,
.
I. State the form and function of the participle. Translate the
sentences into Russian.

A. 1. The actress starring in the film is very young. 2. He

spent all spare time training for the contest. 3. Entering the
room the detective found it empty. 4. Knowing the harmful
effects of the rays they took special precautions. 5. The
housekeeper must have heard her mistress talking with the
visitor. 6. The girl was photographed addressing the students
meeting. 7. They looked at her in surprise as though not
believing her story. 8. While giving evidence the witness
avoided looking at the accused. 9. They carried out a number
of experiments using the most up-to-date methods and
equipment. 10. Having completed the experiments they
compared the results. 11. Special mention must be made of
the extensive research now being conducted in bio-chemistry.
12. The Israeli vessels were seen sailing toward Port Said. 13.
The participants of the conference achieved unity on the main
questions affecting peace in Europe. 14. Ending the
discussion, the delegates adopted a resolution calling on the
peoples of Europe to take action for collective security.
B. 1. Will you give me a hand? Of course! What do you
want done? 2. We must have some pictures made of the
exact position where the body was found. 3. We tried all the
methods recommended. 4. The article referred to was
published in the latest issue of the Nature. 5. All people
concerned are to submit papers to the Committee. 6. A list of
commonly used terms suggested by Dr Stanley Gill was
circulated. 7. The type of a clause chosen in translation may
be determined by syntactical reasons. 8. The discovery made
by the scientist is of vital importance for space exploration. 9.
They were playing football watched by the coach. 10. The
problem may be considered solved. 11. Bitterly disappointed,
the explorers set out on the return journey. 12. The children
were taught not to speak to the grown-ups unless spoken to.
13. The game, if lost, might cost him a fortune. 14. They did
all, as instructed. 15. Do you think we may regard the matter
as settled? 16. When interviewed, the scientist refused to
comment on the latest discovery. 17. When completed, the
new building will house all the basic laboratories.
C. 1. Being a foreigner she found it difficult to understand
English spoken outside classroom. 2. Towering in front of the
explorers, rose a great range of mountains covered with ice.
3. In the tent there was a letter addressed to Captain Scott
saying: Welcome to the Pole. With kind regards. Roald
Amundsen. 4. The danger, represented by the possibility of
armed conflict in Europe, bringing with it the possibility of
nuclear war, weighed heavily on the peoples of Europe.
II. Transform each pair of sentences into a complex sentence
or a simple sentence with a participial construction where
possible.
1. They were quarrelling in the adjoining room. Didnt you
hear it? 2. His name was often mentioned in the conversation.
I heard it. 3. Peter was in London at that time. He often
visited the British Museum. 4. Helen is a foreigner. She cant
understand spoken English. 5. The children were playing in
the garden. They were being watched by the nurse. 6. Dr
Brown operated on me for appendicitis. He is dead now. 7.
The film My Fair Lady was starring Audrey Hepburn. It
was great success. 8. Look Back in Anger is a play. It is
written by John Osborn. 9. Anthony Richardson directed the
play. He is young and talented. 10. The conference is devoted
to the problems of ecology. It is being attended by over 200
scientists. 11. Over 200 scientists are attending the
conference. They are all experts on the problems of ecology.
12. The results of the research have been reported at the
conference. They are of vital importance. 13. The conference
took place in Paris early in the month. It was widely
commented on in the press.
III. Choose the correct form (-ing or -ed) of the words in
brackets.
1. Dont bother to read that book. Its (boring, bored). 2. The
students are (interesting, interested) in learning more about
the subject. 3. Mrs Green doesnt explain things well. The
students are (confusing, confused). 4. Have you heard the
latest news? Its really (exciting, excited). 5.1 dont under-
stand these directions. Im (confusing, confused). 6.1 read an
(interesting, interested) article in the newspaper this morning.
7. I heard some (surprising, surprised) news on the radio. 8.
Im (boring, bored). Lets do something. How about going to
a movie? 9. Mr Sawyer bores me. I think he is a (boring,
bored) person. 10. Mr Ball fascinates me. 1 think he is a
(fascinating, fascinated) person. 11. Most young children are
(fascinating, fascinated) by animals. 12. Young children think
that animals are (fascinating, fascinated). 13.1 was very
(embarrassing, embarrassed) yesterday when I spilled my
drink on the dinner table. 14. That was an (embarrassing,
embarrassed) experience. 15. I read a (shocking, shocked)
report yesterday on the number of children who die from
starvation in the world every day. I was really (shocking,
shocked). 16. The children went to a circus. For them, the
circus was (exciting, excited). The (exciting, excited) children
jumped up and down.
IV. Complete the sentences with the present or past participle
of the verbs in brackets.
1. The (steal) car was found in the woods. 2. Success in ones
work is a (satisfy) experience. 3. The tiger was a (terrify)
sight for the villagers. 4. The (terrify) villagers ran for their
lives. 5. I found myself in an (embarrass) situation last night.
6. A kid accidentally threw a ball at one of the school
windows. Someone needs to repair the (break) window. 7. A
(damage) earthquake occurred recently. 8. People are still in
the process of repairing the many (damage) buildings and
streets. 9.1 elbowed my way through the (crowd) room. 10.
No one lives in that (desert) house except a few ghosts. 11.
The thief tried to open the (lock) cabinet. 12. The (injure)
woman was put into an ambulance. 13.1 bought some
(freeze) vegetables at the supermarket. 14. The (expect) event
did not occur. 15. A (grow) child needs a (balance)-diet. 16.
There is an old saying: Let (sleep) dogs lie. 17. At present,
the (lead) candidate in the senatorial race is Henry Moore. 18.
Any (think) person knows that smoking is a destructive habit.
19. I still have five more (require) courses to take. 20.
(Pollute) water is not safe for drinking. 21.1 dont have any
furniture of my own. Do you know where I can rent a
(furnish) apartment? 22. No one may attend the lecture
except (invite) guests. 23. The (suggest) remedy for the
common cold is to rest and to drink plenty of fluids. 24.
Because we have a (write) agreement, our landlord wont be
able to raise our rent for two years. 25. (Experience)
travellers pack lightly. They carry little more than necessities.
V. Translate into English.
1. . 2.
, ,
. 3. , ,
? 4. ,
. 5.
, ? 6.
 ,
. 7. ,

. 8. , ,
.
VI. Translate into English using participles where possible.
1. - , ? 2. -
, ? 3. ,
. 4.
? , ? 5.
, . 6. ,
. 7. ,
, ? 8.
, , .
9. , .
10. , . 11.
,
. 12.
, . 13.
,
. 14. ,
. 15. ,
. 16.
(
). 17. ,
. 18. ,
. 19. ,
. 20. ,
. 21. ,
. 22. ,
. 23.
,
 . 24. ,
. 25. ,
. 26. ,
. 27.
. 28.
. 29. -
, . 30.
, , . 31.
,
. 32. , ,
. 33.
, . 34.
,
. 35. ,
, . 36.
, , . 37.
, ,
. 38.
,
. 39. ,
,
. 40. ,
,
,
. 41. ,
,
. 42.
, ,
.
43. ,
, ,

 . 44. ,
, ,

. 45. -

,

. 46.

. 47 ,
,
, .
VI. State the forms and functions of the absolute participial
constructions and translate the sentences into Russian.
1. Weather permitting, we shall sail off tomorrow
morning. 2. The outside temperature being ten degrees below
zero, it was unusually cold in the schoolroom. 3. The mission
carried out, they were granted a three day leave. 4. The matter
being so urgent, they had to reconsider the original plan. 5.
Time dragged on, each day dull and cheerless. 6. Flo kept on
smiling, good temper being her special charm. 7. I have
something to be thankful for, all things considered. 8. Then
they heard him shoot, the shot smashing an echo back. 9. For
the moment the shop was empty, the mechanic having
disappeared into a room at the back. 10. The pupils having
previously acquired all sorts of wrong language habits, the
teachers chief duty is to eliminate these and replace them by
sound habits. 11. Plants grown in the dark are always
colourless, chlorophyll becoming green only under the action
of light. 12. The research group could not go on with the
experiments without their plan being approved by the
scientific superviser. 13. The main feature of the nations
economy is the consolidation of capital at an unprecedented
level, with profits going up, wages going down and inflation
accelerating. 14. The attendance of Western European
countries was regrettably small, about half of the overseas
visitors being from North America.
VII. Translate into English using absolute constructions.
1. , .
2. ,
. 3. ,
. 4.
,

. 5.
,
, . 6.

, . 7.
,
. 8. ,
. 9.
,
. 10.
, -

, , , ,
, ,
.