4. The prepositional absolute construction

This construction differs from the Prepositional Absolute Construction by the absence of the participle (usually of a link verb). The same preposition “with” precedes a noun or a pronoun.

John was waiting for Mary with potatoes in his bag.

This construction performs the stylistic function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances:

Bill was running down the street with a dog at his heels.

(Билл бежал вдоль по улице, а за ним бежала собака.)

Sometimes the meaning of attendant circumstances may be combined with other meanings.

With the moon in the sky it is hard to observe the stars.

(Когда на небе луна, трудно наблюдать за звёздами.)

(time)

NOTE: It is not necessary to separate this construction by a

comma.

Absolute Constructions very often occur in mass media, fiction and scientific literature.

Exercises

Very simple sentence

Ex. 1. Decide whether the following sentences are elliptical or one-member sentences. Complete them if you can.

1. Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. (Plato)

2. The past exists only in our memories; the future only in our plans; the present is our only reality.

3. It is impossible to live pleasurably without living prudently, honorably, and justly; or to live prudently, honorably, and justly, without living pleasurably. (Epicurus)

4. Admiration – our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves.

5. A woman is as old as she looks. Before breakfast.

6. No offense intended.

7. Nice to see you, to see you nice.

8. Conversation is the slowest means of communication. The quickest are telegraph, telephone, tell a woman.

9. Where? -- Out and around.

10. Blowy earachy winter Monday.

11. Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop.

12. Anyone waiting for me? -- Not a soul!

13. Teachers' parking only – you park, you teach!

14. And you, Brute.

15. Only this, and nothing more. (E.A.Poe)

16. Teacher dead, students happy.

17. What a monstrosity!

18. What stories do you read? -- Short.

19. Haply you shall not see me more; or if, a mingled shadow. (Shakespeare)

20. A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!

21. Sorry honey, short of money.

Ex. 2. Define types of sentences according to the structural classification.

1. Mr Krankenhausen drove home, rattling down the lane, parking on the cul-de-sac. A space today, lately often not. Talk of the need for a stoplight at the corner where the lane turned. Confusing to out-of-towners. Too many cars. Too many people. He heated water on their electric coil and made instant coffee. Maxwell. Faraday. Another scratchy August day. Hours away. His own phone rang. Mary talking, Irish accent emergent.

B)

Richard,

Waited an hour!!! Dinner in the dog.

Taken car to mechanic (still making funny noises!) Back before 6.

Don't forget to pay the milkman. Money in the fridge (5 rubles).

PLEASE FEED CAT. (Tin open on coffee table.)

See you later. Mary

Ex. 3. Translate the following signs into English using elliptical or one-member sentences.

1. Тянуть к себе. 2. По газону не ходить. Траву не есть. 3. Собакам вход категорически запрещён. 4. Бассейн. Часы работы с 13⁴⁶ до 13⁴⁷. 5. Только для сумасшедших. 6. Руки прочь! 7. Не высовываться. 8. Пива нет. Ушла на базу. 9. Добро пожаловать в ТГУ. 10. Вход бесплатный. 11. Выход платный. 12. Место для очереди. 13. Детям до трёх лет скидка. Взрослым бесплатно. 14. Первый! Первый! Я второй! Приём! 15. Держите вора! 16. Окрашено. 17. Для отходов. 18. Не сорить. Частная собственность. 19. Вешалка для студентов. 20. Начало матча в 18⁰⁰. 21. Продаются ботинки. Пробег 15000 км. 22. Найду кошелёк с деньгами. Обращаться в группу № 42. 23. Отдам в хорошие руки учебник по грамматике английского языка. 24. Скатертью дорога. 25. Пришёл. Увидел. Упал. Очнулся. Гипс. 26. Просьба орангутангов не кормить. Администрация. 27. Просьба администрацию не кормить. Орангутанги. 28. Требуйте долива после отстоя пены. 29. Экстренный вызов баяниста по вызову. 30. Да здравствуют все желающие! Ура! 31. Открыто на перерыв. 32. Вертеть против часовой стрелки. 33. Осторожно, злая как собака! 34. Ушла к психиатру. Обед в стиральной машине. 35. Скрепки канцелярские. В пищу не употреблять. 36. Дверью не хлопать. 37. Лифт не работает. Ближайший лифт в доме напротив. 38. Приём заявок на ремонт телефона только по телефону. 39. Ушла на 15 минут. Время местное. 40. Яблочный сок «Привет». Изготовлен из 100% натурального апельсинового сока. 41. Колбаса «останкинская». Срок хранения до 2895 года. 42. Обход  43. Уходя, гасите свет.

Ex. 4. Read the following ads. Then choose one of the following products (or invent an unusual product) to advertise and try to sell it to the class: edible CDs, coloured tooth-varnish, perfumed books, musical mousetraps, anti-yawning pills, bicycle-seat warmers, portable folding toilets, etc. Talk at least for 3 minutes.

PIANOS from $350 guaranteed, Clavinovas and other digital pianos, Yamaha Keyboards, organs, guitars, sheet music and accessories, 0% interest free credit. The Music Supermarket, 71/72 Bygrave Street, Puddleby-on-the-Swamp - Tel 56655

C-SCOPE METAL DETECTORS The ideal family gift to treasure from $39.99 to $449.59. Tel. Ashford (0233) 2818 today for free color brochure.

SILVER CROSS detachable Coach Pram (navy), shopping tray, excellent clean condition, $30; Carry Cot, $5; Baby Bath $2.50; Atari system, joystick and paddle stick, in good working order, needs a new mains adapter, $40 ono; 5 Atari cassettes, $10 each, very good condition, ideal Xmas presents. – Apply 34 Kynaston Road, Didcot, Oxbridge, evenings.

Ex. 5. Write a job ad like below. Use elliptical and one member sentences.

PART TIME JOB Circus has an unexpected vacancy for a knife-thrower assistant. Excellent pay. Apply in writing to: City Show Office, 13 Rose Lane, Sevenoaks.

TEACHER NEEDED for private language school. Teaching experience unnecessary. Must be of smart appearance. Aged over 60. Must be able to swim. Apply to the Director of Studies. Instant Languages Ltd., 279 Canal Street, Woolloomooloo.

Ex. 6. Here are real instructions printed on products sold in the USA. Translate them back.

1. На фене для сушения волос: Не пользуйтесь во время сна.

2. На кульке с хрустящей картошкой Fritos: ВЫ МОЖЕТЕ ВЫИГРАТЬ! ПОКУПКА НЕ ТРЕБУЕТСЯ! Детали внутри.

3. На обертке от куска мыла фирмы Dial: Пользуйтесь как обычным мылом.

4. На замороженном ужине: Можете разморозить перед едой.

5. На коробке от торта Tesco: Не переворачивайте вверх ногами. (написано на дне коробки)

6. На пудинге фирмы Marks and Spenser: Продукт будет горячим после подогревания.

7. На утюге Rowenda: Не гладьте одежду на себе.

8. На порошке от кашля для детей от 2 до 5 лет, фирмы Boot: не водите автомобиль и не пользуйтесь тяжелыми машинами после принятия.

9. На напитке от бессонницы фирмы Nytol: Осторожно, может вызвать сонливость.

10. На рождественских лампочках, сделанных в Китае: Использовать только внутри или на улице.

11. На кульке орехов фирмы Sainsbury: Осторожно: внутри орехи.

12. На пакете орехов на авиалинии American Airlines: Инструкция: откройте пакет, ешьте орехи.

Ex. 7. Newspaper headlines often follow grammatical rules rather different from other kinds of writings causing ambiguity sometimes. Find peculiarities in the following newspaper headlines and translate them into Russian. Choose one to write a short article about.

1. MP FACING CAT PROBLEMS

2. EIFFEL TOWER STOLEN BY ALIENS

3. EX-PRESIDENT TO START NEW JOB

4. PRISON FOR MIDNIGHT FRIDGE THIEF

5. CHOCOLATE FACTORY PAY CUT RIOT

6. HUNGRY STUDENTS STUDY BETTER, SAYS DOCTOR

7. DEAN TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA

8. POLICE RAID DUCHESS'S FLAT

9. MISSING ENVOY RIDDLE DRAMA

10. KREMLIN SPLIT ON IMF ADVICE

11. CHANCELLOR TO SELL UNIVERSITY TO STUDENTS

12. THEFT SUSPECT GETS APPOINTED ATTORNEY

13. DISNEYLAND PORNOGRAPHY FREE, OFFICIALS SAY

14. MANUFACTURERS DISCHARGED INTO RIVER

15. AMBASSADOR ABDUCTED FROM EMBASSY SAFE

16. FRENCH OFFER TERRORISTS REWARD

17. GOVERNMENT PLANS COLLAPSE

18. BADDEST MAN ON THE PLANET

19. CROWDS RUSHING TO SEE PM TRAMPLE SIX TO DEATH

Ex. 8. Explain what the following headlines mean in ordinary English.

1. GO AHEAD FOR WATER CURBS

2. POLL PROBES SPENDING HABITS

3. BID TO OUST PM

4. PM PLEDGES BACKING FOR EUROPE

5. YELLOW FEVER FIGURES DROP

6. POLICE BEGIN CAMPAIGN TO RUN DOWN JAYWALKERS

7. DRUNKS GET NINE MONTHS IN VIOLIN CASE

8. IRAQI HEAD SEEKS ARMS

9. TEACHER STRIKES IDLE KIDS

10. JUVENILE COURT TO TRY SHOOTING DEFENDANT

11. STOLEN PAINTING FOUND BY TREE

12. KIDS MAKE NUTRITIOUS SNACKS

13. LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS CUT IN HALF

Ex. 9. Choose the right words in brackets. Consult a dictionary.

1. Mr Walker walked (far/a long way). 2. I don’t live (far/a long way) from the rubbish dump. 3. You are carrying that joke (too far/a too long way). 4. It won’t take (long/a long time) to finish this exercise. 5. He didn’t work for (long/a long time). (=He soon stopped working.) 6. He didn’t work for (long/a long time). (=He was unemployed for a long time.) 7. It was getting dark but the university was still (far/a long way) off. 8. It’s (very far/a very long way) to Beijing. 9. Mr Kugelschreiber lives (far/a long way) out. 10. Is New Zealand (far/a long way) from Old Zealand? 11. We seem to have been studying (too long/for a too long time).12. Have you been studying at university (long/for a long time)? – No, not (long/a very long time), but I will study here (long/(for) a very long time).