The participle

PARTICIPLE I AND GERUND COMPARED

CHARACTERISTICS	PARTICIPLE I	GERUND
1. Grammatical categories of voice and correlation (coincide)	taking / being taken having taken / having been taken	taking / being taken having taken / having been taken
2. The function of subject	-----	Seeing is believing
3. Part of simple verbal predicate	The managers are still discussing this problem.	-----
4. The function of predicative	The story is amusing. She remained standing.	Peter’s hobby is fishing. Their aim was winning at all costs.
5. Part of a compound verbal aspect predicate	------	As the teacher came into the classroom everybody stopped talking.
6. The function of object	------	I appreciate your helping me.
7. The function of attribute	Let sleeping dogs lie.	There was a danger of catching a cold. (always preceded by a preposition)
8. The function of an adverbial modifier	time: He felt horrible while saying these words. reason: Being naïve, she did not understand Kit. attendant circumstances: I laughed and still laughing went away. manner: He came in limping. comparison: As though sleeping, she kept her eyes closed. concession: Though working slowly, she finished her project in time. condition: Going at this speed, we’ll not come in time.	time: On coming to his room, he found a note on the table. reason: I couldn’t sleep for worrying. manner/ attendant circumstances: She left without looking at me. concession: In spite of being blind, he understood her intention. condition: But for meeting John, I wouldn’t have known it. purpose: The police took Fred to the station for questioning. comparison: Telling the truth is always better than lying. exception: Your English is good apart from spelling.
9. Use of prepositions before the verbal	------	On coming home, Diana called Steve at once. He apologized for letting me down.
10. Use of conjunctions (difficult to distinguish)	When reading Stuart always uses glasses.	For Sandra it was worse knowing the truth than being in the dark.
11. Modified by a noun in the possessive case or a pronoun	------	Do you mind my closing the window? Are there any objections to Peter’s seeing her?
12. Modified by an adverb	Reading hurriedly John didn’t notice several facts.	John enjoys reading slowly and thoroughly.
13. Part of Complex Object	Jeff saw the girl skating in the rink.	-----
14. Part of Complex Subject	She was heard playing the piano.	-----
15. Parenthesis	Strictly speaking…; Taking everything into consideration… Judging from what you say…	-----

TASK 1. Decide if the statements given below are true or false.

1. 
   Participle I combines nominal, adjectival and verbal characteristics.
   
2. 
   Participles have no category of mood.
   
3. 
   Participle I and gerund coincide in form and in functions.
   
4. 
   Participle I can be used as part of simple verbal predicate.
   
5. 
   ‘Being educated in Oxford, Brian had advantages over other candidates.’ The form of the Participle used in this sentence is perfect active.
   
6. 
   Unlike gerund participle can be modified by an adverb.
   
7. 
   ‘Having been given the money the boy rushed to buy sweets.’ The form of the participle used in this sentence is perfect passive.
   
8. 
   Like gerund participle I can be preceded and followed by prepositions.
   
9. 
   Like gerund participle I can be used in the function of the subject.
   
10. 
    ‘Paul remembered posting the letter.’ The form of the participle used in this sentence is non-perfect active.
    

TASK 2. Define the form of the participle I in the sentences below. Use the following abbreviations:

NPA –non-perfect active
NPP – non-perfect passive
PA – perfect active
PP – perfect passive

1. 
   Taking his place, Den looked at his watch and frowned.
   
2. 
   Having eaten their cold breakfast, the Kellogans busied themselves with their errands.
   
3. 
   Jane, having slammed the door of her bedroom, stood waiting for Tom to knock on it.
   
4. 
   Patrick was not very good at gardening, having been brought up in the family of city dwellers.
   
5. 
   Having accused Jill of lying Peter got ashamed of himself.
   
6. 
   Grandpa got worse; he even did not grumble but lay in his bed, being read to, very often indifferent to all that was happening around.
   
7. 
   Having heard the verdict, Mary Stuart didn’t shed a single tear in the presence of her judges.
   
8. 
   Two little boys carrying kites stopped in front of the ice-cream vendor.
   
9. 
   Josh always speaks like a man having his own opinion of everything and everyone.
   
10. 
    Poirot and I behaved in the customary fashion of people being shown over houses.
    
11. 
    Having got what he wanted, Stuart took his hat and went away.
    
12. 
    Being asked what he thought about the merger negotiations, the president of the company called the development positive.
    
13. 
    Having been examined by the family doctor, the child was taken to hospital.
    
14. 
    Having known Dorothy since school, I have never heard anyone speak about her without respect.
    
15. 
    The boat was found in the middle of the river having been carried away by the current.