The Present Participle

The present participle is the non-finite form of the verb which combines the properties of the verb with those of the adjective and adverb. It serves as the qualifying-processual name.

The outer form of the present participle is homonymous with the gerund. It distinguishes the same grammatical categories of retrospective coordination and voice.

The present participle is triple in its lexico-grammatical properties, which is displayed in its combinability and syntactic functions.

Combinability:

1) verb-type combinability with 1) nouns expressing the object of the action; 2) nouns expressing the subject of the action (in semi-predicative complexes); 3) modifying adverbs; 4) auxiliary finite verbs (word-morphemes) in the analytical forms of the verb.

2) adjective-type combinability with 1) modified nouns, 2) some modifying adverbs (adverbs of degree).

3) adverb-type combinability with: modified verbs.

Syntactic functions:

It performs the functions of the predicative (occasional use, and not with the pure link be), the attribute, the adverbial modifier of various types.

It can build up semi-predicative complexes of objective and subjective types. A peculiar use of the present participle is seen in the absolute participialconstructions of various types, forming complexes of detached semi-predication.

1.5. 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. It serves as the qualifying-processual name.

The past participle is a single form It has no paradigm of its own. It conveys implicitly the categorial meaning of the perfect and the passive. It has no distinct combinability features or syntactic function features specially characteristic of the adverb.

The main self-positional functions of the past participle in the sentence are those of the attribute and the predicative.

The past participle is included in the structural formation of the present participle (perfect, passive).

The attributive past participle of limitive verbs in a neutral context expresses priority, while the past participle of unlimitive verbs expresses simultaneity.

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

The past participles of non-objective verbs are rarely used in independent sentence-part positions; they are mostly included in phraseological or cliche combinations (faded photographs, fallen leaves, a retired officer, a withered flower, dream come true, etc.).