The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction

Model: Joe having left the room to ring for a taxi as arranged, Mary sat down again to wait for him.

This construction consists of two interdependent elements, nominal and verbal, which are in a predicative relation. The nominal element is a noun in the common case or a pronoun in the nominative case. The verbal element is participle I in any of its forms. The nominal and the verbal elements make a syntactical complex functioning as a detached adverbial modifier. Unlike the objective participial construction it does not depend on a verb.

The difference between a participial phrase and a nominative absolute participial construction may be illustrated as follows:

Having read the novel Jane (she) put it aside.

The novel having been read, Jane (she) put it aside.

In a participial phrase the subject of the sentence is as a rule related both to the predicate verb and to the participle. In a sentence with anominative absolute participial construction the subject of the sentence is related only to the predicate verb.

Occasionally for the sake of emphasis or clarity the subject of the sentence and the construction refer to the same person or thing, as in:

The whole building being of wood, it seemed to carry every sound like a drum.

Alongside the pattern described above the absolute participial construction may occur without a nominal part, a so-called unrelated participial construction with no subject to the participle: the participle is not related to the subject of the sentence, it may be related to some other noun or a pronoun in the sentence.

Coming along the street, an idea struck me.

This construction, though not recommended by grammarians, occurs in spoken and written English.

Many were interested in her, being so pretty and having money.

The nominative absolute participial construction functions syntactically as an adverbial modifier, mainly a) an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances, b) reason, c) occasionally time.

a) Llewellyn looked through the window, his glance travelling towards the bridge.

Mabel hurried out of the car and walked away, tears streaming down her face.

We were both standing leaning against the mantelpiece, she admiring her fan of blotting paper, I staring at her.

A nominative absolute participial construction of attendant circumstances usually stands in postposition, and is widely used in literature.

It is translated into Russian by a coordinate clause: Мы оба стояли у камина, она любовалась веером us промокательной бумаги, а я глядел на нее.

b) But I was a little on edge, there being something to report.

The ship'sband did not play in the morning, it being Sunday.

b) The work being finished, the two girls brushed the shreads and threads from their dresses and went into the shop.

Sentences with a nominative absolute participial construction as an adverbial of reason or time are translated by complex sentences with the corresponding subordinate clauses: Я нервничал, так как было о чем сообщить... Когда работа была закончена, девушки отряхнули платья и вошли в мастерскую.

As well as in sentences with participial phrases causal and temporal meanings may be combined, as in:

Ice having thus been broken, the two former rivals grew still more affectionate.