Participle I as adverbial modifier

§ 133. All the four forms of participle I can function as adverbial modifiers of different semantic types (time, reason, manner, attendant circumstances, and sometimes condition, concession, comparison).

The semantic type of the adverbial modifier is clear from the context and the predicate group, as in:

Being a newcomer, he felt ill at case. (adverbial modifier of reason)

In some cases, however, the functional meaning is not so obvious. For example, there may be a combination of causal and temporal meaningas in:

Seeing her, he stopped (he stopped because he saw her, or when he saw her).

or of causal and conditional meaning:

Living alone, one becomes self-centred (as one lives alone, or if one lives alone).

Very often to make the semantical relationship clearer, certain conjunctions are employed, such as: when, while, though, as if, as though, if.

1) Participle I as adverbial modifier of timemay denote a simultaneous or a prior action. Here it corresponds to the Russian adverbial participle (деепричастие).

Non-perfect participle I active, when used as an adverbial modifier of time, usually conveys the meaning of the motion or state. Most often it is a participle of the verbs of motion (come, walk, go), or position in space (sit, lie, stand).

Walking along the track, Bowen burst into song.

Returning to London, Arthur had thrown himself into the work.

Standing there now on the corner of the stage, he went on as before.

Lying in the hospital with his rotting wound, he dictated his farewell letter to his brother.

The notion of simultaneity may be expressed more explicitly by the conjunctions when and while.

He felt horrible while saying this.

Don’t forget articles when speaking English.

Participle I passive in this function usually denotes priority.

He enquired hurriedly whether Mrs. Forsyte was at home and being informed that she was not, heaved a

sigh of relief.

Being left alone, Paulina and I kept silence for some time.

Perfect participle I as adverbial modifier of time, always denotes a prior action.

They wrote because they had to, and having written, thought only of what they were going to write next.

2) Participle I as adverbial modifier of reason can be expressed by all the four forms. The most frequently used non-perfect participles I are those of verbs denoting mental perception and emotions, for example, knowing, realizing, remembering, expecting, hoping, fearing; also the participles being and having.

Hoping to catch the train, we took a taxi.

She knew that we were guilty. And knowing it, the child in her was outraged.

Being there, I could see all.

He’s very conceited, you know, having parades and things all the time.

Having decided on this course of action some time ago, I was unable to stay at home.

Another characteristic feature of participles functioning as adverbials of reason consists in their combinability with negation (no matter what it is expressed by).

I turned back, not knowing where to go.

Even then he hadn’t been able to watch her, not having eyes in the back of his head.

3) The adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances is one of the most characteristic of participle I - it is considered to be the main grammatical meaning of non-perfect participle I. In this case participle I denotes some action or event parallel to the action or state denoted by the finite verb.

Deb was silent, fidgeting with the spoon in her saucer.

I laughed, and still laughing turned away eastward.

4) Participle I as an adverbial modifier of manner is akin to an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances. The difference consists in the fact that an adverbial modifier of manner characterizes the action of the finite verb, whereas that of attendant circumstances denotes a parallel action or event.

He came in carrying a big parcel.

5) Occasionally participle I occurs as an adverbial modifier of comparison, concession or condition.

As an adverbial of comparison the participle is always preceded by the conjunction as if, as though:

As if obeying him, I turned and stared into his face.

When participle I is used as an adverbial modifier of concession the conjunction is not obligatory and then the idea of concession may be understood from the context. However the conjunction though will make the semantic relationship clearer.

Somebody was waiting: a man who, though moving irregularly, was making quite a speed in my direction.

In the same way participle I as an adverbial modifier of condition is recognized by its syntactical surroundings. It is either the subjunctive mood or the future tense form which allows a participial phrase to function as an adverbial modifier of condition:

She ought to be there and her absence might be resented, but being there she wouldn’t know what to say (но, если бы она была там ... , ... но будучи там ...).

Well, we’ll be in Scotland afore we know where we are, going at this speed (... если будем двигаться с такой скоростью).

Participle II as adverbial modifier

§ 148. The adverbial function and meaning of participle II can be seen only from the general meaning of the sentence. In the vast majority of cases, when used adverbially, participle II is preceded by a conjunction, which explicitly indicates the semantic type of the adverbial modifier.

Participle II may serve as an adverbial modifier of:

time, usually with the conjunction when or until:

He is very affable when spoken to, but naturally silent.

He won’t stop arguing until interrupted.

reason:

Deprived of his wife and son by the Spanish adventure, Jolyon found the solitude at Robin Hill intolerable.

condition, mostly with the conjunction if or unless:

I shall certainly give evidence on your behalf, if required.

John will speak for hours, unless interrupted.

concession, with the conjunction though or although:

Though asked in disarming sociability, Haldone’s question was loaded.

comparison,with the conjunction as if or as though:

“I get off the train,” he repeated as if hypnotized.

Speak on the gerund as an adverbial.

The gerund as adverbial modifier

§ 126.Owing to the variety of prepositions which may precede the gerund in the function of an adverbial modifier, a gerund may have different meanings.

1) As an adverbial modifier of timeit may characterize the main verb from the viewpoint of priority, simultaneity, or posteriority. It may also indicate the starting point of the action. The prepositions used are on, after, in, before, since.

One day, on returning to his hotel, he found a note in his room.

At first he couldn’t understand. After thinking it over he hit upon the explanation.

And I’ll wash the dishes and clean up before coming to bed.

I had had a lot of thoughts since leaving the office.

2) As an adverbial modifier of reason it is introduced by the prepositions because of, for, from, for fear of, on account of, through.

So you see I couldn’t sleep for worrying.

We lost ourselves through not knowing the way.

He (Jolyon) took care not to face the future for fear of breaking up his untroubled manner.

3) As an adverbial modifier of manner the gerund generally occurs with the prepositions by or without.

You will achieve a lot by felling the truth.

She dressed without making a sound.

4) As an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances it requires the preposition without.

They danced without speaking. (= They danced and didn’t speak)

The door opened without having been knocked on.

5) As an adverbial modifier of concession it is preceded by the preposition in spite of:

I don’t ask any questions in spite of there being a lot of questions to ask.

6) As an adverbial modifier of condition it takes the prepositions without, but for, in case of.

You won’t enrich your vocabulary without making use of an English dictionary. (= if you don’t make use

of...)

But for meeting John, I shouldn’t have become an English teacher.

7) As an adverbial modifier of purpose it is introduced by the preposi­tion for, though this pattern is rather rare.

They took her to the station for questioning.

Speak on the for-to-infinitive construction and its syntactic functions.

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