Participle refers to non-personal forms and has the characteristics of both an adjective (sometimes an adverb) and . The verb characteristics of a participle are its ability to have a direct object, be determined by an adverb, and have forms of tense and voice. But the time expressed by the participle is relative in nature, that is, it correlates with the action of the predicate sentence and expresses either simultaneity or precedence of this action.

Participles in English are divided into I (Participle I) and II (Participle II).

PARTICIPLE FORMS
VOICE	PARTICIPLE I	PARTICIPLE I PERFECT	PARTICIPLE II
ACTIVE	asking	having asked	asked
PASSIVE	being asked	having been asked

Participle I is formed by adding the suffix -ing to the stem : working working, working.

SPELLING CHANGES WHEN ADDING- ING
№ p/p	RULE	EXAMPLE
	The final unreadable letter -e is discarded	to do that e take - taking
	However, the readable trailing -e is not discarded	to see see - s ee ing to be - b e ing
	The combination of letters -ie is contracted into the letter y	to lie - l y ing
	The final -y is always preserved when adding -ing	to copy - cop y ing
	If the last syllable is short and stressed, and the word ends with one consonant, then this consonant before -ing is doubled	to sit sit - si tt ing to commit - commi tt ing
	If the last syllable is not stressed, then the final consonant is not doubled	to differ - diffe r ing to limit limit - limi t ing

№ p/p	FUNCTION	EXAMPLE
	Definition Used before the defined (left definition) or after it (right definition). This is translated into Russian using the active participle of the present tense. The right definition is often expressed by the participle I with words related to it and in this case is translated into Russian by the participial phrase	growing trees growing trees Look at the trees growing in our garden. Look at the trees growing in our garden.
	Circumstance Used at the beginning or end of a sentence. In this case, I is usually translated into Russian by a gerund ending in -(а)я	Reading an English book he wrote out many new words. While reading an English book, he wrote down many new words.
	Part of the predicate

The form of participle II (past participle) of the standard (regular) coincides with the past tense form of these, i.e. is formed by adding the suffix -ed to the stem with appropriate spelling changes: to solve solve - solved decided - solved decided (-th, -oe).

The form of participle II non-standard (irregular) is formed in different ways and corresponds to the 3rd form of these: to speak - spoke - spoken, to make - made - made, to go - went - gone.

№ p/p	FUNCTION	EXAMPLE
	Definition
	RULE	EXAMPLE
	Unreadable final -e discarded	to plac eplace - placed posted
	If the word ends in-y, and there is one consonant before it, then-y changes to -i-	to cr ycry-cr i ed cried
	If before -ythere is a vowel, then-y does not change	to pla yplay- pla y ed played
	If a word ends with one consonant and is preceded by a short stressed syllable (usually one stressed vowel), then the final consonant is doubled	to sto pstop -sto pp ed has stopped
	Disyllabic or polysyllabic verbs ending on a single consonant preceded by a short vowel sound double the final consonant only if the stress falls on the final syllable	to permi tallow-permi ttedallowed; But:to limit tlimit- limi t ed limited(last syllable unstressed)
	Participle I perfect is formed from the I auxiliary participle to have - having and the II semantic participle: having translated, having done having done. The negative form is formed by adding the negative particle not before the perfect participle: not having translated without translating, not having done without having done. The I perfect participle shows that the action it expresses occurred earlier than the action expressed by the predicate of the sentence; in a sentence it can only perform the function of an adverbial circumstance, i.e., correspond to the Russian perfect participle. Participle I Perfect can be used in the function circumstances reasons and time: 1. Having lost the key, the boy couldn't get into the house. Having lost the key, the boy could not get into the house. 2. Having graduated from the University, he decided to go to the Far East. After graduating from university, he decided to go to the Far East. Instead of the perfect participle I in the function of adverbial time, the gerund is often used with the prepositions after and on: After leaving (= having left) school, John Reed went to Harvard University. After graduating from high school (= having graduated from high school), John Reed entered Harvard University. Object participial construction is a combination in the general case or in the objective case and a participle (in this construction it can be used as sensory perception: to hear hear, to see see, to watch watch, watch, to feel feel, to observe observe, to notice notice and etc.	She could feel her hands trembling. She felt her hands shaking.
	IN A SENTENCE
№ p/p	FUNCTION	EXAMPLE
	Circumstance time	This duty completed , he had a leave. When this work was completed, he received leave.
	Circumstance causes	It being now pretty late, we went home. Since it was quite late, we went home.
	Circumstance conditions	Weather permitting, we'll start tomorrow. If the weather permits, we will move tomorrow.
	Related circumstances	Any moving object is able to do the work, the quantity of kinetic energy depending on its mass and velocity. Any moving body is capable of doing work, and the amount of kinetic energy depends on mass and speed.

, Present Participle I And Past Participle II respectively. If you have forgotten something, I recommend looking at the already mentioned article again to remember the ways of forming these participles and cases of their use.

This material is dedicated to independent participial phrase in English. Its second name is The (Nominative) Absolute Participial Construction. Sometimes it is called an absolute or independent participial phrase, and sometimes even complex, because this is precisely the function it performs in a sentence. An independent participial phrase should not be confused with a simple participial phrase. In such a participle phrase, the action expressed by the participle refers to the person or thing designated in the sentence. Therefore, such participial phrases correspond to our participial phrases. For example:

Having done his homework, he listened to music. – After doing his homework, he listened to music. (having done – gerund; subject is one – he – and did homework and listened to music)

Knowing Japanese well, she managed to negotiate with our foreign customers. “Knowing Japanese well, she was able to negotiate with our foreign buyers. (knowing; the subject is one - she knows the language and she negotiated)

While writing down her new novel, she often used a dictionary. – While writing down her new novel, she often used a dictionary. (writing down - gerund; subject is one - she wrote down the novel and looked in the dictionary)

Having tested the new equipment, they agreed to sign a contract. – After testing the new equipment, they agreed to sign a contract. (having tested - gerund; subject is one - they tested and signed a contract)

And what participial phrase do we call independent in English? How does it differ from those in the examples? Let's figure it out.

What is an independent participial phrase in English?

Unlike previous participial phrases, which have one subject, in an independent participial phrase in English there will be two subjects. One is in the main sentence, and the second is in the form of one of the components in the participial phrase. Since an independent participial phrase consists of a noun in the general case or a personal pronoun in the nominative case and a participle of any kind, it is the noun or pronoun that will serve as the subject. And the predicate will be the action expressed by the participle. What do we get? Two separate subjects, two predicates, and therefore two separate sentences. This is the peculiarity of the independent participial phrase in English.

An independent participial phrase is always separated by a comma from the rest of the sentence. But its location can be different: most often it is at the beginning of the sentence, but options are not excluded at the end, and sometimes in the middle of the sentence. An independent participial phrase in English corresponds to the Russian or or independent clause. This turnover is most common in technical, legal, economic and fiction literature.

Types of circumstances whose function is performed by an independent participial phrase

I have already mentioned that an independent participial phrase performs the function of a complex circumstance in a sentence. As we know, circumstances are different, and their classification is quite extensive. What circumstance can this turn be in various sentences? It can perform the function:

1. Circumstances of the time.
   

   Therainhavingstopped, she went to the shop to buy all necessary stuff for the trip. After the rain stopped, she went to the store to buy everything she needed for the trip.

   Thearticlebeingpublished, I got my author's fee. – When the article was published, I received my royalties.

   Theworkfinished, we went home. – When the work was finished, we went home.

   In this function, the independent participial phrase in English corresponds to the subordinate clause of time. And in colloquial speech the presented sentences would look like this: After the rain had stopped, she went to the shop to by all necessary stuff for the trip. The article was published and I got my author’ fee.

   By the way, between a noun and a participle in an independent participial phrase in English there can be defining words. For example:

   The question having been settled, he went to bed. – When the issue was resolved, he went to bed.

   The question about his participating in this meeting having been settled, he went to bed. – When the question of his participation in this meeting was resolved, he went to bed.

   In some independent participial phrases, the participle I of the verb may be omitted to be – being. But it is easy to guess the meaning:

   Thelesson (being)over, the teacher left the school. – When the lesson ended, the teacher left the school.

2. Circumstances of the reason. And this turnover will correspond to the subordinate clause of the reason in Russian.
   

   Her sister being too nervous, it was difficult to speak to her. “Her sister was very nervous, it was difficult to talk to her.

   My brother having lost his international passport, we couldn’t go abroad. – My brother lost his passport, and we couldn’t go abroad.

   This is what these phrases look like in the form of subordinate clauses: As my sister was too nervous, it was difficult to speak to her. As my brother had lost his international passport, we couldn’t go abroad.

   The place of the subject in an independent participial phrase in a sentence can be taken by the introductory there or formal subject it. For example:

   Therebeingnobodyatwork, I decided to have a nap. – There was no one at work, and I decided to take a nap.

   It being Monday, the shop opened at half past nine. - Since it was Monday, the store opened at half past nine.

3. Associated circumstances and circumstances of the course of action. In this situation, the independent participial phrase always stands at the end of the sentence.
   

   He looked at me hiseyessparklingwithjoy. “He looked at me, his eyes shining with joy.

   The wood was placed in the warehouse, the wood shredding being forwarded to the factory. – The wood was placed in a warehouse, and the sawdust was sent to the factory.

   And the full sentences will be like this: He looked at me and his eyes were sparkling with joy. The wood was placed in the warehouse and the wood shredding was forwarded to the factory.

   In the function of an accompanying circumstance, one can also find a prepositional independent participial phrase in English - The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction. It is introduced by a preposition with.

   She was listening to me, with her mouth (being) pursed. “She listened to me, her lips were pursed.

4. Circumstances of the condition. In this situation we usually encounter participles from verbs to permit- let; to fail- fail, fail.
   

   Weather permitting, we will start planting potatoes. – If the weather permits, we will start planting potatoes.

   Timepermitting, I'll visit you next month. – If time permits, I will come to you next month.

   The independent participial phrase in this function will correspond to the subordinate clause of the condition in Russian: If the weather permits, we will start planting potatoes. If the time permits, I’ll visit you next month.

Translation of independent participial phrases into Russian

In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about the translation of independent participial phrases into Russian. As you understand, for the most part, they are translated by subordinate clauses of the type that corresponds to a certain circumstance. These can be subordinate clauses of time (with conjunctions - when, after), reasons (with conjunctions - since, since), conditions (with conjunction if). Examples are listed above.

They can also be translated as an independent sentence with conjunctions: a, while, and. Pay attention to the example about wood. And they can be translated as an independent sentence with the conjunction “and”, or without any coordinating conjunction at all.

The first day after the holidays was very profitable, over one hundred bottles of mineral water being sold in the afternoon. – The first day after the holidays was very profitable. In the afternoon, more than a hundred bottles of mineral water were sold.

Present participle ( Present Participle) in an independent participial phrase in English, we translate with a verb in the present tense, if the predicate is expressed by a verb in the present tense, and, accordingly, with a verb in the past tense, if the predicate is also in the past tense. Why? Participle I expresses an action performed simultaneously with the action of the predicate verb. But this participle can also denote an action that coincides with the moment of speech, regardless of the tense in which the predicate is expressed. Then we can observe the combination “present tense (participle) – past tense (verb-predicate)”. For example:

The car couldn't enter the garage, itsheightexceeding 2meters. – The car could not enter the garage because its height exceeded (exceeded) 2 meters.

Past participle ( Participle II) we always translate with a verb in the past tense, since with the help of this participle we express the action that preceded the action of the predicate verb.

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Good afternoon dear friends!

Today let's talk about business English. About the one you use in business correspondence, during important negotiations and meetings. There are many grammatical structures that will help make your speech more formal, one of them is the participial phrase in English.

From this article you will learn:

Let's remember what it is

If you have forgotten what a participle is, let me remind you - it is a part of speech formed from a verb that characterizes a person or object. In Russian, for example, they look like this: playing, singing. In English they come in two types. In order to get the first one, we add the ending –ing to the verb: sing – singing, walk – walking.

For the second, add the ending –ed or select a verb from the third column of irregular ones: go – gone, stop – stopped.
When a whole phrase is formed from a participle, we already have a participial phrase. Have you repeated our previous one about the possessive form in English?

Two types of participles

There are two types of participial phrases in English: dependent and independent.
Let's look at the latter first. This is a fairly comprehensive topic, since they perform different functions. In addition, independent ones are also called absolute or independent. All this is because they have their own subject, different from the main sentence. Very rarely they can be found in colloquial speech, most often in business correspondence, negotiations or scientific literature.

They perform the functions of circumstances:

1. Condition. That is, when an action is performed when a certain condition is met. Examples of sentences with an independent participial phrase: Weather permitting, the works will start next week (If the weather permits, the work will begin next week). The plan failing, we will have to start everything again (If the plan fails, we will have to start all over again). The structures we are considering are highlighted in bold.
2. Causes. When one event occurred because of another. It being raining heavily, we had to cancel our plans (Due to the fact that it was raining heavily, we had to cancel our plans). He being late for the meeting, the boss was disappointed. (Because he was late for the meeting, the boss was disappointed).
3. Time. One event happened after another. The lesson having finished, all children went outside (After the lesson ended, all the children went outside).
4. Mode of action. In this case, the action that occurred in the main part of the sentence is characterized. She looked at me with her eyes wide open (She looked at me with her eyes wide open).

Examples of independent participle phrases

The first type, the dependent participial phrase, is characterized by the fact that it does not have its own subject, it depends on the main part. Such sentences are translated into Russian as participial phrases. For example, They were looking at her smiling (They looked at her, smiling). John was working happily singing (John worked, happily humming). Did you miss the lesson about plurals?

Subscribe to the blog, find even more useful articles and rules, and you will also receive as a gift a basic phrasebook in three languages, English, German and French. The main advantage is that there is Russian transcription, so even without knowing the language, you can easily master colloquial phrases.

In this group, a separate type can be distinguished - the subjective participial phrase.
The scheme of its construction is as follows: subject + was/were + PastParticiple + verb ending -ing.

For example, She was found cheating at the exam (She was found cheating on the exam). They were heard shouting loudly (They were heard shouting loudly). Haven't you forgotten our past yet?

Subjective participial phrase

As for punctuation, most often the independent clause is distinguished by commas on both sides, but the dependent clause is not.
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I was with you, a philologist of the English language, Ekaterina Martynova.
I wish you a good mood!

A participle is an imfinite form of a verb that can function as both a participle and a gerund in English. The English language does not have any separate form that would correspond to the gerunds familiar to the Russian language. Everything that would be expressed by a participle in Russian can easily be expressed in English using a participle, including the usual participial and participial phrases.

Formation of participles in English

The English language has two types of participles: the present participle (Participle 1) and the past participle (Participle 2 or Participle Past). The present participle usually denotes an action that occurs simultaneously with the action that the verb expresses in its personal form. And the past participle denotes a completed action.

To get the present participle, you need to add the ending -ing to the first form of the verb. Participle 1 has the same form as gerunds and verbal nouns.

The past participle is the same form as the third form of the verb.

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Functions of participle in a sentence

The present participle (Participle 1) in a sentence can serve as a definition, circumstance and part of the predicate.

The past participle (Participle 2) in a sentence can perform the functions of attribute, adverbial cause and adverbial tense.

Negation

As in many other grammatical constructions of the English language, in order to express negation, you need to put the particle not before the participle.

Not paying attention- Without paying attention.
Not entered the museum, he threw a cigarette— He threw away the cigarette without entering the museum.
She saw his not smiling face in the door-window“She saw his unsmiling face in the doorway.
They are not watching a new film about velociraptors now— Now they are not watching the new film about velociraptors.
Not dancing girl- Not a dancing girl.

Analogies with Russian gerunds

Participles of the English language correspond to both Russian participles and gerunds (can replace both participial and gerund phrases). There are no special forms that would correspond to the Russian gerunds in the English language. In English, the participle is used in the same cases in which gerunds and participles are used in the Russian language, and the English participle phrase successfully replaces the participle phrase.

throw (imperfective) = throw (perfective) = to throw

The imperfect past participle expresses a certain action, which, simultaneous with the action, can be expressed using a predicate (Present Participle).

The girls throwing pebbles into the lake laughed loudly— . The girls throwing pebbles into the lake laughed loudly.

The participle (participial phrase) of the past tense of the perfect form in Russian is translated into English by a attributive subordinate clause.

The girl who had thrown a plastic duck at the cat was punished by his grandfather— The girl who threw a plastic duck at the cat was punished by her grandfather.

Video about participles in English:

An independent participial phrase is a combination of a noun in the general case (or a pronoun in the nominative case) with a participle, in which the noun (or pronoun) acts as the subject of the participle without being the subject of the entire sentence:

• The weather being fine, the airplane started. => Since the weather was good, the plane took off (lit.: the weather being good, the plane took off).

The subject of the predicate verb (started) is the noun the airplane, while the noun the weather acts as a subject only in relation to the participle being.

There is no similar construction in Russian. Russian adverbial adverbial phrases, as well as English dependent participial phrases, refer to the subject of the sentence in which they are included.

• Coming to Leningrad I went to the Hermitage. => Arriving in Leningrad, I went to the Hermitage.

Participle having arrived in a Russian sentence, just like the participle coming in an English sentence, refers to the subject of the sentence - I (I):

• I arrived and I went (I came and I went).

Thus, the pronoun I (I) is the subject of the sentence and at the same time plays the role of the subject in relation to the gerund (or participle - in an English sentence).

This is the difference between the dependent participial phrase and the independent participial phrase in English.

An independent participial phrase may include a participle in any of its forms.

Note. An independent participial phrase is always separated by a comma from the rest of the sentence.

In relation to the main part of the sentence, the independent participial phrase plays the role of any member of the sentence, mainly the circumstances of time, reasons or conditions.

An independent participial phrase is translated into Russian: 1) by an adverbial clause; 2) a simple sentence, part of a complex sentence and introduced by the conjunctions and, and, and; 3) a simple sentence included in a complex sentence by means of a non-conjunctive combination:

• All preparations being made (= when all preparations were made), the party sat down. => When all the preparations were done, everyone sat down.
• All doors having been locked (== as all doors had been locked), they were forced to spend the night at a neighbor's home. => Since all the doors were locked, they were forced to spend the night at a neighbor's house.
• Weather permitting (= if the weather permits), the airplane starts early in the morning. => If the weather permits, the plane will depart early in the morning.
• Chromium having been added, strength and hardness of the steel increased. => Once chromium was added, the strength and hardness of the steel increased
• The article deals with microwaves, particular attention being paid to radio location.=>
• They went to the winding shaft, two of the men carrying a stretcher. => They went to the lift shaft; two of the workers carried a stretcher
• Hydrogen is the simplest substance, atoms of other elements having a more complex structure. => Hydrogen is the simplest substance; the atoms of other substances have a more complex structure.

Some independent participial phrases begin with the preposition with. Such participial phrases are translated in the same way as independent participial phrases with the same meaning without a preposition:

• The article deals with microwaves, with particular attention being paid to radio location. => The article is devoted to microwaves, with special attention paid to radar.
• With chromium having been added, strength and hardness of the steel increased. => After (since) chromium was added to the steel, its strength and hardness increased.

An independent participial phrase can be preceded by an introductory particle there. Such an independent participial phrase is usually translated by an adverbial clause:

• There being no other traffic on the road, we drove rather fast. => Since there were few cars on the road, we drove quite quickly.
• A body can move uniformly and in a straight line, here being no cause to change that motion. => A body can move uniformly and in a straight line if there is no reason that can change this movement.

A participle with words dependent on it can serve as an introductory member of a sentence in a sentence. Usually such participial groups have a modal meaning and relate to the entire sentence as a whole: strictly speaking strictly speaking; generally speaking, generally speaking, etc.:

• Generally speaking, metals are excellent conductors. => Generally speaking, metals are excellent conductors.