The Prepositional Absolute Construction

- I found him ready, and waiting for me, with his stick in his hand.

It is mostly used in the functions of:

1. a complex attribute, e.g.: It was a radiant day, with the trees and grass exceedingly green after the rain of the night before. A balcony holding thirty-five boxes with a chandelier over each one curved around the entire room.

2. a complex adverbial modifier of attending circumstances, e.g.: It was with an enormous feeling of relief that Lucia watched Rubio return with a wrapped cross under his arm. Sikes, with Oliver’s hand still in his, softly approached the low porch, and raised the latch.

In rendering this construction into Ukrainian a coordinate clause or дієприслівниковий зворот is used.

Exercises:

1. Define the forms of the Participles. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian:

1) When writing letters he doesn’t like to be disturbed. 2) Being written in pencil, the letter was difficult to make out. 3) Having written some letters he went to post them. 4) Having been written long ago the manuscript was illegible. 5) Having corrected the exercises, the teacher explained the most typical mistakes. 6) Having been corrected by the teacher, the exercises were returned to the students. 7) Having been well prepared for the examination, the student could answer all the questions asked by the examiners. 8) Having arranged everything, he went home by the 10.30 train. 9) Being told of arrival, I went to see him. 10) I had my hair cut yesterday.

2. Choose the correct form of the Participle:

1) Books (publishing, published) for children are usually very well illustrated. 2) A person (brought, bringing) good news is always welcome. 3) Students (taking, taken) exams next week should come to the dean's office. 4) She showed the travellers into the room (reserv­ing, reserved) for them. 5) When James noticed the (burnt, burning) building he notified the fire department immediately. 6) The (smil­ing, smiled) Mona Liza is on display in the Louvre in Paris. 7) Our representative presented the (approved, approving) plan to the public. 8) Mrs. Harris's (approving, approved) smile let us know that our speeches were well done. 9) We were going to see the film, but our friends told us it was a (boring, bored) movie. 10) As we entered the (crowding, crowded) room, I noticed my cousins. 11) The contract (concluding, concluded) by them is useful for both sides.

3. Transform the sentences using participle phrases instead of the subordinate clauses:

A. Model: The boys who live in this house formed a football team. — The boys living in this house formed a football team.

1) Many students who learn English are members of our English club.

2) The man who sells newspapers showed me the way to the post-office.

3) The woman who teaches English at our school studied in Kiev.

B. Model: When we arrived in London, we went sightseeing. — Arriving in London, we went sightseeing.

1) When she heard her name, she turned round.

2) When he came home, he switched on the TV set.

3) As I went out of the shop, I met my schoolmate.

C. Model: When I read this story, I came across many new words. — When reading this story, I came across many new words.

1) When the students discussed this novel, they expressed their thoughts in good literary language.

2) When Jane cooked dinner, she forgot to salt it.

3) When Paul studied at the University, he published several scientific articles.

D. Model: When she finished her work, she went home. — Having finish­ed her work, she went home.

1) As I had lost mу key, I couldn't get in.

2) As we had booked tic­kets beforehand, we went to the theatre half an hour before the per­formance began.

3) After they received the telegram, they packed and left for Glasgow.

E. Model: We live in the city which was founded 1,500 years ago. — We live in the city founded 1,500 years ago.

1) We live in a house which was built last year.

2) She received a telegram which was sent yesterday.

3) I've got a TV set which was made in Japan.