Dialogue

Nora: It’s Peter’s birthday the day after tomorrow. I’ve had a new suit made for him to wear at his party.

Harry: Are we going to have a lot of his friends here?

Nora: Oh, yes, didn’t I tell you?

Harry: Are you going to cook all the cakes yourself?

Nora: Some of them. And the rest I shall have done by a shop. That reminds me, I must get the carpets beaten before the party.

Robert: And Dad, will you have the gramophone mended by Friday?

Harry: Well, why don’t you have it mended yourself, Robert? Didn’t you have it mended last time it broke?

Nora: What do you want the gramophone for on Friday?

Robert: We shall have to use it for the dancing.

Harry: What, dancing half the night? Then I see what I shall have to do!

Nora: What’s that, Harry?

Harry: (jokingly): I must have a bed made up for me at the club, and spend the night there.

Meet the Parkers

Revision (the participle)

Exercise 1.

State the form of the participle.

1. I do not know how long we stood there, eating potatoes in the snow, warming our hands by the open fire, talking and laughing … . (Bates)

2. … his intonation was so unmistakably American that Sam glanced at him as he passed; and, glancing half stopped, arrested by something strangely familiar about the man’s face. (P.W.)

3. She closed the door and came into the room, taking off her coat. (D. Rob.)

4. For a moment Kay stared speechlessly; then, throwing her head back, she gave out a short, sharp scream of laughter … . (P.W.)

5. With a crack of his fingers he had a waiter running for them. (Cron.)

6. In the seat immediately behind mine, leaning forward with her lips slightly parted was … Lady Edwards, better known as Jane Wilkinson. (A. Chr.)

7. The young gentleman looked at the stream discolored by the melting snow. (E.H.)

8. After this they strolled back to the broke, and found things being prepared for luncheon. (S.M.)

9. Day by day the news of me crept farther and farther into the inner pages of the newspaper, being pushed back by newer and more sensational copy. (S.M.)

10. … when Ashenden, having just stepped out of his bath, was trying to dry himself on a towel that absorbed no moisture, his door was quickly opened and a man slipped into his room. (S.M.)

Exercise 2.

Define the function of the participle.

1. Andrew rose and crossed the room, with a pale face and a heavily beating heart. (Cron.)

2. But she (June), having clasped her hands on his knees, rubbed her chin against him, making a sound like a purring cat. (Galsw.)

3. But now, seeing her weeping and broken before him … his heart softened. (P.W.)

4. This time Sam performed the descent of the steps in a single leap. But reaching the gate he was struck by a thought. (P.W.)

5. They stopped a passing miner, and were soon directed to Vale View. (Cron.)

6. Kay stared thoughtfully before her; and staring, was aware of Sam hurrying through the swing door. (P.W.)

7. Hokkaids listened attentively, nodding, then replied. (D. Rob.)

8. The four people upstairs, trying to make conversation, listened despite themselves to the clink of glasses and the scrape of chairs. (S.M.)

9. Fumblingly he pressed her hand, turned, clattered down the path and was on his way home with dancing thoughts, walking on air … (Cron.)

10. … their whispers became so loud that the Judge angrily threatened to have the court cleared if there was not immediate silence. (A.Chr.)

11. It was ages since I had been out anywhere, and I had to spend all my day off duty on the day of the concert trying to make up for the neglect of my nails and hair. (M.D.)

12. The sun had set, and it was twilight, the sky was growing dark, bringing to view the twinkling stars. (S.M.)

13. She drank some water, and then taking up a broken handglass she looked at herself, saying: “I am a sight!” (S.M.)

Exercise 3.

Specify the functions of the participle by inserting in the blanks appropriate conjunctions from the list below.

1. I stood nursing the wrist I had sprained … skating. (Bates)

2. She kept inclining her head … listening for something. (P.W.)

3. He did not look his best … smiling. (P.W.)

4. And then suddenly … smoking a placid after-lunch pipe, his mood changed. (P.W.)

5. He cast a swift glance over his shoulder … debating the practicability of a dive into the traffic. (P.W.)

6. He is safe … living in the country. But he keeps dashing away from the country and losing his head. (P.W.)

7. … saying these words he got up. (S.M.)

8. The house … finished was fresh and gay. (S.M.)

9. Next day, … waiting before that picture he looked at it with wonder. (Galsw.)

10. I saw him for the first time … lunching here yesterday. (A. Chr.)

11. … passing the bookshop I stopped to look in the window and noticed among other new books the translation of a novel of mine. (Cron.)

12. It was a pretty mouth but Sam who had made a study of the picture, was of the opinion that it would look even prettier … smiling. (P.W.)

while; when; as if; as though

Exercise 4.

Translate into English using the participle or predicative constructions with the participle.

1. Когда дети ушли на прогулку в лес, мать еще долго стояла в дверях, улыбаясь и махая рукой.

2. Мистер Пиквик, сопровождаемый своими друзьями, отправился изучать мир и людей.

3. Я еще не изучил всех материалов, связанных с этой проблемой.

4. Выглянув в окно, мистер Пиквик увидел, что день был прекрасен. Ярко светило солнце, и было слышно, как весело пели птицы в саду.

5. Эта песня напомнила ему мелодию, услышанную им в далекой юности.

6. Доктор Ватсон сидел у окна, наблюдая за проходящими мимо людьми, когда вдруг увидел хорошенькую молодую женщину, направляющуюся к их дому.

7. На столе лежала сложенная газета, которую он еще не успел просмотреть.

8. Не обращая внимания на стоны Тома, Сид лежал с закрытыми глазами, притворяясь, что спит.

Exercise 5.

Read the following dialogue, and point out the participle and predicative constructions with the participle. Make up your own dialogues using the participle.