Практическая грамматика

Drinking tea, he looked at me over his cup.
Он смотрел на меня поверх своей чашки, когда пил чай.
Having closed the door behind him, Sam sat beside the fire.
As has already been stated, with some verbs of sense perception and motion, such as to see, to hear, to come, to arrive, to enter, to seize, to look out, to turn and some others, Participle I Indefinite is used even when priority is meant. In Russian деепричастие совершенного вида is used in such cases.
Seeing me, he gave a start.
Увидев меня, он вздрогнул.
Seizing ink and writing paper, she began to write... (Galsworthy)
Схватив чернила и бумагу, она начала писать.
Turning slowly she went to her room. (Eliot)
Медленно повернувшись, она пошла в свою комнату.
If the action, expressed by Participle I Indefinite Active is simultaneous with the action, expressed by the finite verb, the conjunction when or while is often used.
He continued to speak while walking down the path.
Спускаясь вниз по тропе, он продолжал говорить.
Often, when boasting of his deceits, he sounded childlike.
Часто, хвастаясь своими обманами, он казался ребенком.
Note. Participle I Indefinite of the verb to be is not used as an adverbial modifier of time. Clauses of the type Когда он был ребенком..., Когда он был в Ленинграде... may be translated When a boy..., When he was a boy.... When in Leningrad..., When he was in Leningrad...
b) of cause.
Finding him so very friendly and companionable,... I asked for the pen and paper to write to Peggotty. (Dickens)
Найдя его таким дружелюбным и компанейским, я попросил перо и бумагу, чтобы написать Пеготти.
Seeing their uneasiness, Mrs. Norris softened and smiled.
Видя их неловкость, Миссис Норрис смягчилась и улыбнулась.
с) of manner and attendant circumstances.
In this function Participle I Indefinite is mostly used.
They walked by the lake holding hands.
Они шли по берегу озера, держась за руки.
Little bare-legged children ran about him, playing on the grass.
Маленькие босоногие дети бегали вокруг него, играя на траве.
It is not always easy to discriminate between an adverbial modifier of manner and an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances.
He has been in three revolutions fighting on the barricades. (Shaw)
Он принимал участие, в трех революциях, сражаясь на баррикадах.
d) of comparison.
In this function Participle l is introduced by the conjunctions as if or as though.
Through the door in the hall... he called «Hssst!» several times, as though assisting the cat’s departure. (Galsworthy)
Через дверь в коридор он крикнул «Брысь!» несколько раз, как будто помогая коту выйти.
This was said as if thinking aloud.
Это было сказано, как будто он думал вслух.
3. Participle I as a predicative.
In this function Participle I is used but seldom; it is usually rendered in Russian by an adjective.
The effect of her words was terrifying.
Впечатление, произведенное ее словами, было страшно.
The whole damned day had been humiliating. (Priestley)
Весь этот ужасный день был унизительным.
4. Participle I as part of a complex object.
He found her sitting at the breakfast table.
Он обнаружил, что она сидит за столом.
He saw Bosinney watching her and smiling to himself. (Galsworthy)
Он видел, что Босини наблюдает за ней и улыбается сам себе.
5. Participle I as