Grammar in Context
Study the following sentences that appear in this unit, paying special attention to the italicized parts. Reflect on the grammatical function of the present participles,and group them into different types.
1) Carrying her basket offlowers, she went from one table to another.(Para. 6, Text A)
2) Putting on his coat, he walked over to the flower woman’s table. (Para. 10, Text A)
3) “Happy Christmas,” he said, smilingand picking out two flowers. (Para.11, Text A)
4) Pressing one of the smallflowers flat, he put it into the letter he hadwritten, then handed the woman a twenty-franc note. (Para. 13, Text A)
5) “No, ma’am ,” said the sailor, leaningover and kissing the ancient cheek . (Para. 15, Text A)
6) Hobbling to the middle ofthe floor she did a lively folk dance andshouted to the piano player, …(Para. 17, Text A)
7) The piano player began to singloudly “Good King Wenceslaus,” beating the keys with magic hands, noddinghis head in rhythm. (Para. 18, Text A)
8) I handed in my paper, leavingthe last question blank. (Para. 4, Text B)
9) Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. (Para. 8, Text B)
10) Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; … (Para. 16, Text B)
1) a. Adverbial of time: _____________
2) b. Adverbial of reason: _____________
3) c. Adverbial of result: _____________
4) d. Adverbial of accompanying circumstances:_____________
Answers for reference:
1) a. Adverbial of time: 2, 4, 6
2) b. Adverbial of reason: 9, 10
3) c. Adverbial of result: 8
4) d. Adverbial of accompanyingcircumstances: 1, 3, 5, 7
Present particles as adverbials:
1、语法功能：
1) as adverbial of time：
Putting down mynewspaper, I walked over to the window and looked out.
2) as adverbial of reason：
Having lost allmy money, I went home.
Not knowing whatto do, I telephoned the police.
Being unable tohelp in any other way, I gave her some money.
3) as adverbial of result：
It rained for twoweeks on end, completely ruining our holiday.
4) as adverbial of accompanying circumstances：
She went running out of the room.
My wife had a long talk with Sally, explaining why she didn’t want the children to play together.
2、现在分词短语的主语
1）通常情况下，现在分词短语的主语和主句的主语是一致的。如：
Having failed to qualify as a doctor, I took up teaching.
(I 这个主句的主语也是having failed分词短语的主语)
下面句子里的两个主语不一致，这样的句子通常认为是错的。
*Looking out of the window of our hotel room, there were lots ofmountains.
2）不过，有一些极为常见的表达方式不受这条规则的限制。如：
Generally speaking, men can run faster than women.
(在这个句子里，不是“男人“在“一般说“)
Judging from his expression, he’s in a bad mood.
Considering everything, it wasn’t a bad holiday.
I’ll lend you the money providing you pay it back before Easter.
3）现在分词短语也可以有自己的主语。如：
Nobody having more to say, the meeting was closed.
A little girl walked past, her doll dragging behind her on thepavement.
