In Modern English we find the following constructions with the Participle:
18.1. The Objective Participial Construction
This is a construction in which the participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a personal pronoun in the objective case. In the sentence, the construction is used as a Complex Object. The verbal element is Participle I Indefinite or Participle II.
The Objective Participial Construction is found:
a) after verbs of sense perception such as see, hear, watch, listen to, feel, smell, notice, observe, etc.
We heard you arguing with your brother.
A verb of perception can also take an object +bare infinitive (the Objective-with-the Infinitive Construction). The infinitive means a complete action, the participle means action for a period of time.
I saw them cut the tree down. It didn’t take long.
I saw them cutting the tree down as I went past.
But when we talk about a short action, we can use either patterns.
Bernard watched the horse jump/jumping the fence.
b) after some verbs of mental activity, such as consider, understand, imagine.
She considers herself engaged to Edwin.
c) after some verbs of wish, such as wish, want, desire, (would) like, (would) love, (would) prefer, (would) hate. Only Participle II is used in this pattern.
Pamela wanted the carpet cleaned. (except after imagine)
In patterns b) and c) the Infinitive can also be used.
Pamela wanted the carpet to be cleaned.
Pamela wanted Jack to clean the carpet.
d) after the verbs have, get, set, keep, leave, find and catch Participle I is used to denote an action for a period of time, an action in progress.
They caught a student cheating in the exam.
After get, have, make, find Participle II is also used.
The police found the body buried in the garden.
Have/get + object + Participle II means that the action is performed at the request of the subject. This pattern is used mainly to talk about professional services to a customer, “arrange for smb. to do smth.”
We had a burglar alarm fitted some time ago. (=by a security company)
We can use get informally meaning ‘cause oneself to do something’ or ‘get on with the job’.
We finally got everything packed into one suitcase.
We can use the same pattern with have meaning ‘experience something, often something unpleasant’.
My sister has had some money stolen.
After have, get, leave we can use an infinitive for an action as a whole.
The trainer had the players run/got the players to run round the field.
18.2. The Subjective Participial Construction
This is a construction in which the participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case, a personal pronoun in the nominative case, or some other type of pronoun which is the subject of the sentence; the participle is part of a compound verbal predicate. This construction is literary.
The construction is chiefly used after these verbs in the passive:
a) the verbs of sense perception see, hear, feel.
The woman was seen putting the jewellery in her bag.
In this pattern an infinitive is also used.
He was seen to run away.
b) the verbs catch, find, keep, leave, set.
We were kept waiting for half an hour.
c) the verbs believe, consider.
The manuscript is believed lost.
18.3. The Nominative Absolute Participial Construction
This is a construction in which the participle is in predicate relation to a noun in the common case or a pronoun; the noun/pronoun is the ‘subject’ of the participle, different from the subject of the sentence.
In this construction Participle I in all its forms and Participle II are used. The construction is found only in literary style. It is separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma or a semicolon.
It is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of
- time:
The hole in the ground having been dug, the men just disappeared.
- cause:
The restaurant having closed, there was nowhere to eat.
- attendant circumstances:
A little girl walked past, her doll dragging behind her on the pavement.
We sat silent, her eyes fixed on me.
- condition, almost always with the participles permitting and failing:
Weather permitting, we’ll start tomorrow.
The nouns in the Nominative Absolute Participial Construction with Participle II are sometimes used without any article.
She waited, head half turned.
18.4. The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction
The Prepositional Absolute Participial Construction may be used with the preposition with. As a rule, it is used in the function of an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.
I lay idly in a big chair with my eyes closed.
18.5.
