In this article, we will explore the use of participial constructions in English, specifically addressing the difference between the two sentences: ‘He’s got his hands full working an unfamiliar system’ and ‘He’s got his hands working an unfamiliar system.’ Let’s break down why the first sentence is a participial construction, while the second one is not.
What is a Participial Construction?
A participial construction in English is a type of non-finite verb form, typically formed by a verb in its participle form (either present or past). It functions to modify the subject or the main verb in a sentence, providing additional information without creating a separate clause.
In participial constructions, the subject of the participle is usually the same as the subject of the main verb, and it often acts to describe or add detail to the action described by the main verb.
Breaking Down the Sentences
Now let’s examine both sentences:
- ‘He’s got his hands full working an unfamiliar system.’ This sentence is a participial construction. ‘Working’ is a present participle, and it modifies the noun phrase ‘his hands full,’ describing the state of the subject (he). The participle ‘working’ provides additional detail about the current situation of the subject—namely, that he is busy or occupied with the task of working on an unfamiliar system.
- ‘He’s got his hands working an unfamiliar system.’ This sentence, on the other hand, is not a participial construction. Here, ‘working’ functions as a present participle, but it does not modify the subject (he) in the same way. Instead, it suggests that ‘his hands’ are actively performing the task, which creates a different structure from the first sentence.
Why Is the First Sentence a Participial Construction?
The key difference lies in how ‘working’ functions in the two sentences. In the first sentence, ‘working’ modifies the noun ‘hands’ to indicate that the subject is busy or engaged with a task. This is the typical function of a participial construction—to provide more context or describe the subject’s action.
In contrast, in the second sentence, ‘working’ doesn’t serve to describe the state or action of the subject but rather describes the noun ‘hands’ in an active sense. This creates a different syntactic structure, which doesn’t qualify as a participial construction.
Conclusion
In summary, a participial construction can be identified by its ability to provide additional information or detail about the subject’s action, often in a descriptive manner. The first sentence qualifies as a participial construction because the participle ‘working’ modifies the subject, describing his current situation. The second sentence, however, does not function in the same way, as it treats ‘working’ as a verb describing the hands’ action.
コメント