The past participle

The past participle is the non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb with those of the adjective, serving as the qualifying-processual name. The past participle is a single form, having no paradigm of its own. By way of the paradigmatic correlation with the present participle, it conveys implicitly the categorial meaning of the perfect and the passive. As different from the present participle, it has no distinct combinability features or syntactic function features specially characteristic of the adverb. Thus, the main self-positional functions of the past participle in the sentence are those of the attribute and the predicative. E.g.:

Moyra's softened look gave him a new hope (Past participle attributive front-position). The cleverly chosen timing of the attack determined the outcome of the battle (Past participle attributive front-position). It is a face devastated by passion (Past participle attributive back-position). His was a victory gained against all rules and predictions (Past participle attributive back-position). Looked upon in this light, the wording of the will didn't appear so odious (Past participle attributive detached position). The light is bright and inconveniently placed for reading (Past participle predicative position).

The past participle is included in the structural formation of the present participle (perfect, passive), which, together with the other differential properties, vindicates the treatment of this form as a separate verbid.

In the attributive use, the past participial meanings of the perfect and the passive are expressed in dynamic correlation with the aspective lexico-grammatical character of the verb. As a result of this correlation, the attributive past participle of limitive verbs in a neutral context expresses priority, while the past participle of unlimitive verbs expresses simultaneity. E.g.:

A tree broken by the storm blocked the narrow passage between the cliffs and the water. (Priority in the passive; the implication is "a tree that had been broken by the storm"). I saw that the picture admired by the general public hardly had a fair chance with the judges. (Simultaneity in the passive; the implication is "the picture which was being admired by the public").

Like the present participle, the past participle is capable of making up semi-predicative constructions of complex object, complex subject, as well as of absolute complex.

The past participial complex object is specifically characteristic with verbs of wish and oblique causality (have, get). E.g.:

I want the document prepared for signing by 4 p.m. Will you have my coat brushed up, please?

Compare the use of the past participial complex object and the complex subject as its passive transform with a perception verb:

We could hear a shot or two fired from a field mortar. —* A shot or two could be heard fired from a field mortar.

The complex subject of this type, whose participle is included in the double predicate of the sentence, is used but occasionally. A more common type of the participial complex subject can be seen with notional links of motion and position. E.g.:

We sank down and for a while lay there stretched out and exhausted.

The absolute past participial complex as a rule expresses priority in the correlation of two events. E.g.:

The preliminary talks completed, it became possible to concentrate on the central point of the agenda.

The past participles of non-objective verbs are rarely used in independent sentence-part positions; they are mostly included in phraseological or cliche combinations like faded photographs, fallen leaves, a retired officer, a withered flower, dream come true, etc. In these and similar cases the idea of pure quality rather than that of processual quality is expressed, the modifying participles showing the features of adjectivization.

As is known, the past participle is traditionally interpreted as being capable of adverbial-related use (like the present participle), notably in detached syntactical positions, after the introductory subordinative conjunctions. E.g.:

Called up by the conservative minority, the convention failed to pass a satisfactory resolution. Though welcomed heartily by his host, Frederick felt at once that something was wrong.

Approached from the paradigmatic point of view in the constructional sense, this interpretation is to be re-considered. As a matter of fact, past participial constructions of the type in question display clear cases of syntactic compression. The true categorial nature of the participial forms employed by them is exposed by the corresponding transformational correlations ("back transformations") as being not of adverbial, but of definitely adjectival relation. E.g.:

The convention, which was called up by the conservative minority, failed to pass a satisfactory resolution.... —> Though he was welcomed heartily by his host, Frederick felt at once that something was wrong.

E.g.: a more radical diagnostic transformational change of the latter construction:

... Frederick, who was welcomed heartily by his host, nevertheless felt at once that something was wrong.

As is seen from the analysis, the adjectival relation of the past participle in the quoted examples is proved by the near-predicative function of the participle in the derived transforms, be it even within the composition of the finite passive verb form. The adverbial uses of the present participle react to similar tests in a different way. E.g.:

Passing on to the library, he found Mabel entertaining her guests. —> As he

passed on to the library, he found Mabel entertaining her guests.

The adverbial force of the present participle in constructions like that is shown simply as resulting from the absence of obligatory mediation of be between the participle and its subject (in the derivationally underlying units).

As an additional proof of our point, we may take an adjectival construction for a similar diagnostic testing. E.g.:

Though red in the face, the boy kept denying his guilt. —> Though he was red in the face the boy kept denying his guilt.

As we see, the word red, being used in the diagnostic concessive clause of complete composition, does not change its adjectival quality for an adverbial quality. Being red In the face would again present another categorial case. Being, as a present participial form, is in the observed syntactic conditions neither solely adjectival-related, nor solely adverbial-related; it is by nature adjectival-adverbial, the whole composite unity in question automatically belonging to the same categorial class, i.e. the class of present participial constructions of different subtypes.

Ways of translation. Ways of translation depend on the function of the participle in the sentence.

As an adjective the participle is used with a noun in thesentence as an attribute in pre-position or post-position: All moving parts of machines wear. Now find the stresses A columns carrying crane loads. In its attributive function the English participle corresponds to the Ukrainain дієприкметник or прикметник: The machine parts lie on a moving platform. —Деталі машини лежать на рухомій платформі. Atoms are composed of a positively charged central or nucleus and electrons. — Атоми складаються з позитивно зарядженої серцевини, або ядра, і електронів. The first practical spectroscope designed had a glass prism. — Перший сконструйований практичний спектроскоп мав скляну призму. Running water is pure. Проточна вода є чистою.

But as the English participle has lost its forms of agreement with the noun with which it is connected, and is no longer formally bound to that noun, it is sometimes attracted by the verb, thus assuming the function of an adverbial modifier: Working with machines, sharp tools, electricity one must always be careful. The adverbial force is especially felt in the perfect participle: Having achieved the necessary results, we decided to describe them in our article. In such cases the English participle corresponds to the Ukrainian дієприслівник: Going into chemical reactions elements entirely change their properties. — Вступаючи в хімічні реакції, елементи повністью змінюють свої властивості. Having found the stresses in the members the scientist finished the experiment. — Визначивши напругу в елементах, дослідник закінчив експеримент.

Another alternative in translating English participles used in the function of an adverbial modified is a noun: Having been tested in action the new device was recommended to production. —Після випробування в дії новий прилад рекомендували для виробництва.

However, it is not always possible to use these corresponding forms in translation. In many cases subordinate clauses are used in Ukrainian and Russian to render English participles: The students studying chemistry work in laboratories. — Студенти, які вивчають хімію, працюють в лабораторії. The method used by our scientist prove to be quite reliable. — Метод, який використав наш учений, виявився цілком надійним.

Another reason why a subordinate clause will be used in translation is that no participle can be formed from the corresponding Ukrainian verb: Films starring Elizabeth Taylor were estimated to have had the greatest box-office appeal. — За підрахунками фільми, у яких головну роль грала Елізабет Тейлор, були найбільш прибутковими.

Sometimes a subordinate or coordinate clause is employed for stylistic reasons: England has had to give up the gold standard, temporarily closing the London Stock Exchange and German banks. — Англія була змушена відмовитись від золотого стандарту і тимчасово закрити лондонську біржу (... тимчасово закривши...).

Participle I

Attribute

1) participle (дієприкметник): Boiling water gives off stream. — Кипляча вода парує.

2) an adjective: Running water is pure. —Проточна вода є чистою.

3) a finite verb form in a subordinate attributive clause: Another type of changes being investigated is the so called shaped charge. — Іншим типом зарядів, які зараз вивчаються, є так званий кумулятивний заряд.

Adverbial modifier

a) of time; b) of cause; c) of manner; d) of comparison {as if, as though); e) of concession [though)

1) a participle: This method has been checked by the author by calculating stresses, assuming that the transverse bent is a statically indeterminate structure. — Автор перевірив цей метод на розрахунках напруг, припустивши, що поперечний рамний елемент є статично невизначеною конструкцією.

2) a noun: Having stripped the overburden, successful excavation of the material is a matter of proper organization. — Після усунення покривної породи успішна екскавація матеріалу залежить лише від належної організації робіт.

3) a finite verb form in a subordinate clause: When experimenting he was very attentive. — Коли він робив досліди, він був дуже уважним. Having been warmed to 0', ice began to melt. — Після того, як лід нагріли до 0°, він почав танути.

Participle II

Attribute

1) a participle (дієприкметник) or participial construction (дієприкметниковий зворот): The isotopes thus produced were also used in the experiment. — Ізотопи, утворені таким шляхом, також використовувалися у циклотроні..

Adverbial modifier

a) of time; b) of cause; c) of manner; d) of comparison {as if, as though); e) of concession {though)

1) a participle (дієприкметник) or participal construction (дієприкметниковий зворот): When launched with first space velocity (7.9 km. per sec.) cosmic rockets become artificial satellites of the Earth. — Космічні ракети, запущені з першою космічною швидкістю (7,9 км/с), стають штучними супутниками Землі.

2) a participle (дієприкметник) or participal construction (дієприкметниковий зворот): This book is well worth its place on any reference shelf, but its content does not fully explain why, once begun, it is so difficult to put it down until it is finished. — Ця книга заслуговує того, щоб зайняти перше місце на будь-якій полиці довідкової літератури, але її зміст не пояснює повністю чому, почавши читати, її так важко відкласти, поки не закінчиш.

3) a noun: When heated in vacuum a metal gives off free electrons. — При нагріванні металу у вакуумі він віддає вільні електрони.

4) a finite form of the verb in a subordinate clause: Cement must be kept absolutely dry, until required for use. — Цемент слід зберігати сухим до того часу, поки не знадобиться для використання.