Prepositional absolute constructions

There are prepositional absolute constructions with participle I or II, with an infinitive, with an adjective, with a stative, with an adverb, or with a prepositional noun. All function mainly as adverbials of attendant circumstances, although sometimes they may be other adverbials. All of them can be transformed into clauses.

I. The prepositional absolute construction with participle I.

With his head aching from the slap of the bullet and the blood dripping over the ear, he went over to the Frenchman ———> He went over to the Frenchman, his head was aching... and the blood was dripping... (...голова у него болела... кровь сочилась.)

II. The prepositional absolute construction with participle II.

A Negro boy lay on the pavement, with his throat cut ——> ...and his throat was cut. (...с перерезанным горлом.)

III. The prepositional absolute construction with the infinitive.

You’ll lose the last minutes, without someone to take care of you ———>...if nobody takes care of you. (...если никто о тебе не позаботится.) This construction is very seldom used.

IV. Prepositional absolute constructions with non-verbals.

1. The prepositional absolute construction with the adjective.

She hurriedly left the room with her eyes red ———> ...and her eyes were red. (...и глаза у нее были красные.)

2. The prepositional absolute construction with the stative.

He stood there trembling, with his face ablaze ——> ...and his face was ablaze. (...и лицо его

пылало.)

3. The prepositional absolute construction with the adverb.

He turned away, with his hand still up ——>...and his hand was still up. (... все еще не опуская руки.)

4. The prepositional absolute construction with a noun.

They marched towards the square, with little flags in their hands ———> ...and there were little flags in their hands. (...с флаж­ками в руках.)

+ for-to.Adverbial modifier:

a)of purpose.

I rang for you to show the lady out.

Unlike the infinitive, the for-to-construction in this function can be placed only after the predicate.

b)of consequence.

The chance was too good for Jack to miss it.

The real cause of the explosion was evident enough for everyone to discuss it.

+gerundial. Adverbial modifier:

a) of time.

After his being away for some time the crisis came.

b) of attendant circumstances.

The car slid away without my having to say anything.

c) of concession.

In spite of it being cold the bushes swarmed with insects.

28. Ways of expressing the future: “be going to” and “will-future” –

The ‘be going to’-future is used:

1) to express intention that the speaker had before the time of speaking

I’m going to visit Bob tomorrow.

2) to make a prediction based on present evidence

The sun’s going down. It’s going to be dark in half an hour.

3) to speak about planned future actions.

The Future Simple (Future with will) is used:

1) when you are announcing a decision you have just made or are about to make (when you decide to do something at the moment of speaking – intention based on an unpremeditated decision)

I’m tired. I think I’ll go to bed.

2) when you are making predictions about the future especially that are based on general beliefs, personal opinions or attitudes

I’m sure you’ll enjoy your visit to the zoo.

3) for future habitual actions which we assume will take place:

Spring will come again.

Birds will build nests.

It’s usual to use will with these words and expressions:

(I) think and other verbs and their equivalents expressing personal views or opinions.

4) in the principal clause of a complex sentence with a clause of time, condition or concession

We’ll catch the train if you hurry up.

5) to express a succession of actions in the future

I’ll prepare you a nice dinner and then we’ll leave you.

6) to express the idea of willingness

I’ll do it for you, I promise. (promise)

Will you open the window? (request)

I’ll look after the children for you. (offer)

Yes, I’ll come with you. (agreement)

I’ll definitely tell him the truth this time. (determination)

Stop that or I’ll call the police. (threat)

7) to express refusal to perform an action (especially with inanimate objects)

I won’t eat this soup.

My child won’t drink boiled milk.

The car won’t start.

Contrast: ‘be going to’ versus ‘will’

1. Intention: both can be used to express an intention about the future.

1) be going to: the intention is premeditated. The decision was made before the time of speaking or writing and plans have probably already been made.

-You know it’s Emily’s birthday on Friday, don’t you?

-Yes, I’m going to buy her a present this afternoon.

2) will: the intention is unpremeditated. The decision is made at the time of speaking or writing.

-You know it’s Emily’s birthday on Friday, don’t you?

-Actually, I have forgotten. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll buy her a present this afternoon.

2. Prediction: both can be used to make predictions about the future.

1) be going to: the prediction is based on some form of evidence that exists in the present. It is often used to predict what is about to happen, but it can be used to predict something that is not in the immediate future.

Oh, look! The car is going to crash.

That child eats too much. He’s going to be really overweight one day.

2) will: to express beliefs, hopes, thoughts, assumptions and doubts about the future.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself there.

3. Statement of future fact:both can be used to make statements about the future but the emphasis is slightly different.

The number of students will fall over the next five years. (a statement of future fact or the speaker’s belief)

The number of students is going to fall. (emphasizes that the speaker is thinking of present trends)

4. Willingness: will is often used to express willingness, be going to is never used to express this meaning.