A participle of attendant circumstance is translated as a finite verb in parallel with the main verb of the sentence. GGBB gives five characteristics of a participle of attendant circumstance:
- The tense of the participle is usually aorist.
- The tense of the main verb is usually aorist.
- The mood of the main verb is usually imperative or indicative.
- The participle will precede the main verb.
- Attendant circumstance participles occur frequently in narrative literature, infrequently elsewhere. (GGBB 642)
See also §449. Robertson calls this category “overrefinement.” (p1127)