Exercise 2.

Point out the loose secondary parts in the following sentences and comment on their
syntactic function and morphological realization.

Morphological realization – noun, noun phrase, adjectives, adjectival phrase, gerund, present participle etc…

Syntactic function – attribute, predicative, adverbial modifier, dangling modifier, absolute construction

The participles(with examples):

Present participle – doing/determining

Past participle(3rd form of the verb) – done/determined

Perfect participle – having done/determined

Passive participle – being done

Perfect passive participle – having been done

Progressive present participle – being also dancing

ANSWERS:

1. The Synosure of all eyes, he stood unmoved(finite clause). - morphologically realized by a noun
phrase, the syntactic function is that of an attribute.
2. On arriving in Chicago, his friend met him at the station. – prepositional phrase, adverbial
modifier of place and time. (Adverbial modifiers only with prepositions)
3. Passing Winterbourne’s house, they heard a noise of hammering. – present participle, attribute
4. The younger Miss Thorpe being also dancing , Catherine was left to the mercy of Mrs. Thorpe and
Mrs. Allen, between whom she now remained. – absolute construction with the progressive
present participle, adverbial modifier of attending circumstances
5. Writing steadily, he finished the letter. – present participle, attribute
6. There he sat, a giant among dwarfs. – a noun phrase, extrapositional predicative
7. A soldier of proved valour, they entrusted him with the defence of the city. – noun phrase,
attribute(of the object)
8. Looking through the trees, Fitzpiers soon perceived the origin of the noise. – present participle,
attribute
9. Grace heaved a divided sigh with a tense pause between, and moved onward, her heart feeling
uncomfortably big and heavy, and her eyes wet. – absolute construction, adverbial modifier of
attending circumstances
10. Being asked politely, he agreed. – passive participle, attribute
11. Nervous, the man opened the letter – adjective, attribute
12. Young and inexperienced, the task seemed easy to me. – adjectival phrase, dangling modifier
13. The eyes of the reflected image were open, gazing wonderingly at her. – present participle,
predicative
14. Grilled on charcoal, everyone enjoyed the fish they caught – past participle, dangling modifier
15. Having written the letter, he mailed it. – perfect participle, attribute
16. Long and untidy, his hair played in the breeze. – adjectival phrase, attribute
17. Without a friend to counsel him, the temptation proved irresistible – prepositional phrase,
absolute construction with a noun, adverbial modifier of cause
18. Frightened by the menacing gestures of the two men , Oliver hastily swallowed the content of
the glass. – past participle, attribute
19. He saw the garden door open and through it enter the young girl of his thoughts, Grace having
just at this juncture determined to return and attempt the interview a second time. – absolute
construction with the perfect participle, adverbial modifier of attending circumstances
20. Having been examined yesterday, he is free now. – the perfect passive participle, attribute
21. He rose from his chair, majestic in his wrath. – adjectival phrase, predicative
22. Being in a dilapidated condition, I was able to buy the house very cheap. – passive participle,
dangling modifier
23. The housekeeper had come out of her room, attracted by the violent ringing of the bell. – past
participle, predicative
24. Here Grace stopped; some few yards up the transverse ride the buxom Suke Damson was visible
– her gown tucked up high through her pocked hole. – absolute construction with the past
participle, adverbial modifier of attending circustances
25. Attracted by noise, he opened the window. – past participle, attribute
26. He made his way to the door, applauded by the crowd. – past participle phrase, predicative
27. Wondering irresolutely what to do next , the clock struck twelve. – present participle, dangling
modifier
28. Having returned from her walk, she sat at the breakfast table. – perfect participle construction,
attribute
29. Having eaten our lunch, the steamboat departed. – perfect participle, dangling modifier level
four unacceptable with implied subject missing from the main clause
30. Being attracted by the noise, he opened the door. – passive participle, attribute
31. A prolific writer, he is well-known all over the country – noun phrase, attribute
32. As a mother of five, with another on the way, her ironing boards is always up. – conjuction/noun
phrase, dangling modifier
33. One day he came in, having just received some letters. – perfect participle phrase, predicative
34. This being done, they set off with light hearts. – the passive participle, attribute
35. Having been attracted by the noise, he went out. – the perfect passive participle, attribute
36. Mount Everest towered above the nearest ranges, a faint flash of silver against the sky – noun
phrase, dangling modifier
37. In search of a new house, the evening papers turned out to be of little use to Patricia and her
husband. – prepositional phrase, attribute?adverb mod?
38. Having been written long ago, the manuscript was illegible. – perfect passive participle
construction, attribute
39. A private sitting room having been engaged , bedroom inspected, and dinner ordered, the party
walked out to view the city. – perfect participle, absolute construction
40. A poet, he knows a lot about English poetry. – noun, attribute