Prepositional Absolute Constructions

Non-prepositional Absolute Constructions

В. Constructions with non-verbals with an adjective, a stative, an adverb or a noun (with a preposition) as their second part.

А. Constructions with verbals as their second part.

ABSOLUTE NOMINATIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

These constructions are called absolute because they are not dependent on any other part of the including sentence, though they cannot be used without it, as they lack a finite verb form and thus have no predicate.

1) From the point of view of their transformational possibility, absolute constructions fall into two types: verbal and non-verbal.

When transformed into clauses they retain their predicate part, which takes a proper tense-aspect form.

She sat on the porch, Mary playing with her doll. ― She sat on the porch, and (while) Mary was playing with her doll.

When transformed into clauses, a proper form of the link verb to be must be introduced, as these constructions lack a verbal component of their own.

He marched out of the room, his head high up. ― He marched out of the room, and his head was high up.

2) Absolute constructions may have two forms: non-prepositional and prepositional. The latter is introduced by the preposition with (in the case of the infinitive construction it may be without):

He was coming to us, his hands up.

Dinner over, everybody rose.

1. The absolute nominative with Participle I construction (the most frequently used):

It being late, he bolted the windows.

2. The absolute nominative with Participle II construction:

Dinner served, Mrs Marlow rang the bell. ― When dinner was served…

3. The absolute nominative with the Infinitive construction:

There they remained, some of them to be entirely forgotten. ― … and some of them were to be entirely forgotten.

4. The absolute nominative with the adjective construction:

She stood under the tree, her head full of strange ideas. ―…and her head was full…

Her heart full of despair, she could not say a word. ― Asher heart was full…

5. The absolute nominative with the stative construction:

The gallery door slightly ajar, I could hear the steps of the soldiers.

6. The absolute nominative with the adverb construction:

Tea over, she again summoned us to the fire. ― When tea was over…

7. The absolute nominative with a prepositional noun construction:

I waited, every nerve upon the stretch.

All in the room, she called in Molly.

1. Prepositional absolute construction with Participle I:

With his head aching from the slap of the bullet and the blood dripping over the ear, he went over to the Frenchman.

2. Prepositional absolute construction with Participle II:

A Negro boy lay on the pavement, with his throat cut.

3. Prepositional absolute construction with the Infinitive:

You’ll lose the last minutes, without someone to take care of you.

4. Prepositional absolute construction with the adjective:

She hurriedly left the room with her eyes red.

5. Prepositional absolute construction with the stative:

He stood there trembling, with his face ablaze.

6. Prepositional absolute construction with the adverb:

He turned away, with his hand still up.

7. Prepositional absolute construction with a noun:

They marched towards the square, with little flags in their hands.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-27