Non-prepositional absolute constructions

§ 132. Non-prepositional absolute constructions are: the absolute nominative with participle I construction, the absolute nominative with participle II construction, the absolute nominative with the infinitive construction, the absolute nominative with the adjective construction, the absolute nominative with the adverb construction, the absolute nominative with a prepositional noun construction.

The absolute nominative with participle I construction is the most frequently used. It consists of a noun in the common case or a personal pronoun in the objective case and participle I. Within it all forms of participle I are possible.

 

It being late, he bolted the windows.

Everything remained as she left it, the fire still burning.

 

As can be seen from the above examples, the position of the construction varies: it may either open the sentence or close it.

The absolute nominative with participle I construction is generally used as an adverbial of reason or of attendant circumstances, although sometimes it is an adverbial of time. Occasionally, especially with the verbs to permit or to fail, it is an adverbial of condition.

The construction should be translated into Russian by meansofdifferent corresponding adverbial clauses:

 

1. Of reason.

The weather being unusually mild at that time for the season of the year, there was no sleighing ——>As

the weather was...

(Поскольку (так как) погода была...)

 

2. Of attendant circumstances. In this case the construction usually comes at the end of the sentence.

 

With a yell, he sprang back, a sweat coming on his skin ——— >... and a sweat came... (и кожа его

покрылась потом.)

 

3. Of time.

The car having stopped, the boys jumped out onto the grass ——> When the car stopped... (Когда

машина остановилась...)

 

4. Of condition.

Circumstances permitting, they will be through with it by the end of May ——> If circumstances

permit... (Если обстоятельства позво­лят...)

The absolute nominative with participle II construction is usually an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances or time:

 

1. Of attendant circumstances.

 

“Bye,” he said, and walked away, his farewell unanswered —— > ...but his farewell was unanswered,

(...но его прощание оста­лось без ответа.)

2. Of time.

 

Dinner served, Mrs Marlow rang the bell —— > When dinner was served... (Когда обед был подан...)

The absolute nominative with the infinitive construction functions as an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.

 

There they remained, some of them to be entirely forgotten —— > ...and some of them were to be entirely

Forgotten. (...причем некоторым суждено было быть полностью забытыми.)

The absolute nominative constructions with non-verbals differ from those described above in that their predicate part is verbless, being expressed only by an adjective, stative, adverb or a noun with a preposition. They are semantically in predicate relations to the nominal part of the construction. Therefore in case of transformation an appropriate form of the link verb to be must be supplied.

 

He stepped forward, his face red with anger ——> ...and his face was red with anger.

I. The absolute nominative with the adjective construction may be an adverbial of attendant circumstances or of reason:

 

1. Of attendant circumstances.

 

She stood under the tree, her head full of strange ideas —— > ...and her head was full... (...и голова ее

была полна...)

 

2. Of reason..

Her heart full of despair, she could not say a word ——> As her heart was full... (Так как сердце ее

было переполнено отчая­нием...)

 

II. The absolute nominative with the stative construction is usually an adverbial of reason or manner:

 

1. Of reason.

The gallery door slightly ajar, I could hear the steps of the soldiers ——— > As the gallery door was

slightly ajar... (Так как дверь была слегка приоткрыта...)

2. Of manner.

 

This time the fish attacked from below. It hurtled up under the woman, jaws agape ——>. ..and its jaws

were agape. (...с открытой пастью.)

 

III. The absolute nominative with the adverb construction is usually an adverbial of time.

Tea over, she again summoned us to the fire ——> When tea was over... (После чая...)

IV. The absolute nominative with a prepositional noun construction is usually either an adverbial of attendant circumstances or time:

 

1. Of attendant circumstances.

 

I waited, every nerve upon the stretch ——— > ...and every nerve was upon the stretch. (...и каждый нерв

у меня был напряжен.)

 

2. Of time.

All in the room, she called in Molly ———> When all were in the room... (Когда все собрались в

комнате...)

Prepositional absolute constructions

§ 133. There are prepositional absolute constructions with participle I or II, with an infinitive, with an adjective, with a stative, with an adverb, or with a prepositional noun. All function mainly as adverbials of attendant circumstances, although sometimes they may be other adverbials. All of them can be transformed into clauses.

 

I. The prepositional absolute construction with participle I.

With his head aching from the slap of the bullet and the blood dripping over the ear, he went over to the

Frenchman ———> He went over to the Frenchman, his head was aching... and the blood was dripping...

(...голова у него болела... кровь сочилась.)

II. The prepositional absolute construction with participle II.

 

A Negro boy lay on the pavement, with his throat cut —— > ...and his throat was cut. (...с перерезанным горлом.)

 

III. The prepositional absolute construction with the infinitive.

 

You’ll lose the last minutes, without someone to take care of you ———>... if nobody takes care of you. (...если никто о тебе не позаботится.)

 

This construction is very seldom used.

 

IV. Prepositional absolute constructions with non-verbals.

 

1. The prepositional absolute construction with the adjective.

She hurriedly left the room with her eyes red ——— > ...and her eyes were red. (...и глаза у нее были

красные.)

 

2. The prepositional absolute construction with the stative.

He stood there trembling, with his face ablaze —— > ...and his face was ablaze. (...и лицо его

пылало.)

 

3. The prepositional absolute construction with the adverb.

He turned away, with his hand still up —— >...and his hand was still up. (... все еще не опуская руки.)

 

4. The prepositional absolute construction with a noun.

They marched towards the square, with little flags in their hands ——— > ...and there were little flags

in their hands. (...с флаж­ками в руках.)

The for-to -infinitive constructions

§ 134. The for - to -infinitive construction is expressed by a noun in the common case or a personal pronoun in the objective case and an infinitive with the particle to. It is introduced by the preposition for. The construction may function as different parts of the sentence:

1. Subject. In this function it usually follows introductory it and is very seldom placed before the predicate.

It was practically impossible for them to meet anybody.

For one to spend a summer with them was a wonderful experience.

2. Predicative. The usual link verb is to be, although other link verbs are also possible.

 

That is not for me to decide.

What it all means remains for an expert to say.

3. Object. The construction can be used as an indirect non-recipient object of certain verbs (to ask, to watch) and adjectives (anxious, eager, impatient, sorry, willing, etc.).

 

I watched for him to appear through the bushes.

Everybody was impatient for the experiment to begin.

4. Attribute. In this function it modifies nouns or indefinite, negative, and universal pronouns.

 

She gave orders for everyone to stop packing.

There was nothing for him to say.

5. Adverbial modifier:

a) of purpose.

 

I rang for you to show the lady out.

 

Unlike the infinitive, the for-to -construction in this function can be placed only after the predicate.

b) of consequence.

 

The chance was too good for Jack to miss it.

The real cause of the explosion was evident enough for everyone to discuss it.