It is a construction in which the Participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the objective case.
In the sentence this construction has the function of a complex object.
a) After the verbs of sense perception Participle I is mostly used, though Participle II is also possible.
E. g. He watched the girl walking away forever.
She heard the words said but didn’t comprehend the meaning.
b) After the verbs of mental activity (to expect, to consider, to understand) Participle II is used.
E. g. They considered him involved in the business.
c) After the verbs denoting wish (to want, to wish) Participle II is used.
E. g. He wants this letter typed as soon as possible.
d) After the verbs to have, to get Participle II is used.
E. g. He had his hair cut.
He has his dinner delivered.
The Subjective Participial Construction
ft is a construction in which the Participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case. In the sentence it is used as a complex subject. It is used with the verbs of sense perception.
E.g. So many times they were seen talking together.
Sometimes Participle II can be used.
E. g. T hey wer e seen stopped by a policeman.
The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction
It is a construction in which the participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the Nominative case which are neither the subject of the sentence nor the object of the finite verb.
The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction is used in the function of an adverbial modifier:
a) of time
E.g. The job finished, we went home straightaway.
b) of cause
E.g. The door hardly opened, he couldn't see much of the inside.
The matter having been settled so amicably. I felt quite satisfied with the results.
a) of attendant circumstances
E.g. He was about to leave, a nervous thrill chasing up and down his spine.
b) of condition
E.g. The snow covering the ground, we won't find the path.
The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction
It is an absolute participial construction introduced by the preposition "with". It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.
E.g. He woke up, with the depression of yesterday gone.
Absolute constructions without participles
If the participle of the verb t o be is omitted in the two above-mentioned constructions we deal with the absolute constructions without a participle.
The Nominative Absolute Construction is used as an adverbial modifier of time or attendant circumstances.
E.g. A sleeping bag under each arm, Mr. Jonson tramped off on his vacation. Summer over, leaves were slowly falling down.
The Prepositional Absolute Construction is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.
E.g....and then, with his foot firmly on the rail, he turned and surveyed the room.
EXERCISES
Ex. 8. Combine the sentences as in the model.
Model: 1 heard them. They were quarrelling. 1 heard them quarrelling.
1. I heard her. She was singing a beautiful song.
2. They saw the boy. He was selling matches.
3. We heard the dog. It was barking.
4. Jane heard the child. The child was crying.
5. We found them. They were playing cards.
6. I noticed the smoke. It was coming through the roof.
7. Her heart was beating wildly. She could feel it.
8. I found the students. They were doing nothing.
9. I saw the snow-flakes. They were falling down.
10. George saw the key. It was hanging on the hook.
11. His cap was lying on the chair. He left it there.
12. The boys were playing cricket. We watched them.
13. I caught him. He was hiding behind the bush.
14. We noticed them. They stood near the entrance.
