Absolute constructions without a participle.

There are two types of absolute constructions in which we find no participle. The second element of the construction is an adjective, a prepositional phrase, or an adverb.

1. The Nominative Absolute Construction. It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of time or attendant circumstances. In the function of an adverbial modifier of time this construction is rendered in Russian by an adverbial clause.

Breakfast over, he went to his counting house. (Ch. Bronte)

Когда кончили завтракать, он пошел в свою контору.

In the function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances the Nominative Absolute Construction is rendered either by a coordinate clause, деепричастный оборот, or a noun (pronoun) with the proposition с.

Manston went homeward alone, his heart full of strange emotion. (Hardy)

Мэнстон отправился домой один; душа его была переполнена странными

чувствами.

There he stood, his face to the south-east... his cap in his hand. (Hardy)

Он стоял, повернувшись к юго-востоку... с шапкой в руке.

Mind the difference between the meaning of the following constructions: The lesson (concert, lecture) over... and The lesson (concert, lecture) being over... The lesson over has a temporal meaning, whereas the lesson being over has as a rule a causal meaning.

2. The Prepositional Absolute Construction. It is mostly used in the function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances. In rendering this construction in Russian a coordinate clause or деепричастный оборот is used.

I found him ready, and waiting for me, with his stick in his hand. (Collins)

Он был готов и ждал меня; в руке у него была палка.

Sikes, with Oliver’s hand still in his, softly approached the low porch, and

raised the latch. (Dickens)

Сайкс, все еще не выпуская руку Оливера из своей, подошел потихоньку

к невысокому крыльцу и поднял щеколду.

§ 15. The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction and the Nominative Absolute Construction are separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma or a semicolon.

Grandcourt... rose and strolled out on the lawn, all the dogs following him.

(Eliot)

Mr. Tulkinghorn comes and goes pretty often; there being estate business to

do. (Dickens)

Then he started out, bag and overcoat in hand,to get his cup of coffee.

(Maltz)

Prepositional Absolute Constructions are usually separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.

It was a balmy, radiant day, with the trees and grass shining exceedingly

green after the rain of the night before. (Dreiser)

He was there, writing busily at a distant table, with his back towards the

door. (Eliot)

THE GERUND

§ 16. The gerund developed from the verbal noun, which in course of time became verbalized preserving at the same time its nominal character.

The gerund is formed by adding the suffix ‑ing to the stem of the verb, and coincides in form with Participle I.

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