Explanation.— The line standing for the participle is broken; one part slants to represent the adjective nature of the participle, and the other is horizontal to represent its verbal nature.
Analysis.— The phrase hearing a step is a modifier of the subject; the principal word is hearing, which is completed by the noun step; step is modified by a.
Although the grammatical subject of hear is I, logically according to its sense in the sentence, hearing a step is adverbial and modifies the predicate. I turned when or because I heard a step. Most telling is that the participle phrase does not limit, classify, nor identify the subject; if anything it only enlarges upon it (non-restrictive). See Lesson 79.
Explanation.— The complement is here modified by a participle phrase.
| 3. | The spinal marrow, proceeding from the brain, extends downward through the backbone. |
Explanation.— The principal word of a prepositionsl phrase is here modified by a participle phrase.
| 5. | Lentulus, returning with victorious legions, had amused the populace with the sports of the amphitheater. |
Explanation.— Crowding here completes the predicate came, and belongs to the subject natives. The natives are represented as performing the act of coming and the accompanying act of crowding. The assertive force of the predicate came seems to extend over both verbs.
(Some grammarians prefer to treat the participle in such constructions as adverbial. But is crowding any more adverbial here than are pale and trembling in “The natives came pale and trembling.”?)
Although the grammatical subject of crowd is natives, logically according to its sense in the sentence, crowding around is adverbial and modifies the predicate. The natives crowded when or as they came. Most telling is that the participle phrase does not limit, classify, nor identify the subject; if anything it only enlarges upon it (non-restrictive). See Lesson 79.
| 7. | The city lies sleeping. |
| 8. | They stood terrified. |
| 9. | The philosopher sat buried in thought. |
Explanation.— Waiting completes kept and relates to the object complement me. Kept-waiting expresses the complete act performed upon me. He kept-waiting me = He detained me. The relation of waiting to me may be seen by changing the form of the verb; as, I was kept waiting. See Lesson 31.
If we put the sentence in the passive form, “The man was found dead,” it will be seen that dead is more than a mere modifier; it belongs to man through the assertive force of was found. If dead is here merely an “appositive” adjecive, “I found the man dead” must equal “I found the man, who was dead” (or, “and he was dead”). The two sentences obviously are not equal. “I caught him asleep” does not mean, “I caught him, and he was asleep.”
If, in the construction discussed above, dead is an object complement, quiet, stirring, and (to) stir in the following sentences are objective complements:—
I saw the leaves quiet.
I saw the leaves stirring.
I saw the leaves stir.
The adjective, the participle, and the infinitive do not here seem to differ essentially in office. See Lesson 31 and page 78.
Explanation.— The diagram representing the phrase complement is drawn above the complement line, on which it is made to rest by means of a support. All that stands on the complement line is regarded as the complement. Notice that the little mark before the phrase points toward the object complement. The adjective dull completes growing and belongs to book, the assumed subject of growing.
| 13. | He owned himself defeated. |
| 14. | No one ever saw fat men heading a riot or herding together in turbulent mobs. |
| 15. | I felt my heart beating faster. |
| 16. | You may imagine me sitting there. |
| 17. | Saul, seeking his father’s asses, found himself suddenly turned into a king. |
