Scribd
Upload
6 views

Participle_clauses_explanation

Participle clauses allow for more economical expression of information and are formed using present, past, or perfect participles. They are primarily used in written texts and can convey simultaneous actions, consecutive actions, results, or reasons for actions. There are three types of participle clauses: present participle clauses, perfect participle clauses, and past participle clauses, each serving distinct grammatical functions.

Uploaded by

virginia.mestres
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
6 views

Participle_clauses_explanation

Participle clauses allow for more economical expression of information and are formed using present, past, or perfect participles. They are primarily used in written texts and can convey simultaneous actions, consecutive actions, results, or reasons for actions. There are three types of participle clauses: present participle clauses, perfect participle clauses, and past participle clauses, each serving distinct grammatical functions.

Uploaded by

virginia.mestres
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

What is a participle clause?

Participle clauses enable us to say information in a more economical way.

▪ They are formed using


✓ present participles (going, reading, seeing, walking, etc.),
✓ past participles (gone, read, seen, walked, etc.)
or
✓ perfect participles (having gone, having read, having seen, having walked,
etc.).

▪ Participle clauses are mainly used in written texts, particularly in a literary,


academic, or journalistic style.

Types of participle clauses

➢ Present Participle Clauses: gerund (-ing)

Present participle clauses are used to talk about:

• Actions happening simultaneously (both actions are happening at the


same time)

Example:

• I realised I had forgotten my keys (while) Getting into the lift


• Tom lost his keys (while) walking through the park.
(Tom lost his keys while he was walking through the park.)
• She left the room singing happily.
(She left the room as she was singing happily.)

Note: In literary styles, the participle clause can come first.

For example:

• Singing happily, she left the room


• Whistling cheerfully, she left the compartment.
• Actions happening consecutively (one action after the other)

Example:

• Opening the envelope, I found two concert tickets.


• I opened the envelope (this is the first action) and I found two concert
tickets (this is the second action)

• An action that is the result of another action

Example:

• A bomb exploded, killing three people.


• A bomb exploded (action) and it killed three people (result of the first action)

• A reason for the action in the main clause

Example:

• Having nothing left to do, Julie went home.


(Since Julie had nothing left to do (this is the reason), she went home (this
is the action in the main clause)

• Knowing a little French, I had no difficulty making myself understood.


(As I knew a little French, (this is the reason) I had no difficulty making
myself understood (this is the result.)

• Working as salesman, I get to meet a lot of businessmen.


(I get to meet a lot of businessmen because I work as a salesman.)

➢ Perfect Participle Clauses: having + past participle

Perfect participle clauses are used:

• To make clear that an action happens before another one

For Example:

• Having brushed my teeth, (this action happens before) I realised I hadn’t


used my toothbrush.
(After I had finished brushing my teeth, I realised I hadn’t used my
toothbrush.)
• Having reached the ground floor, I went up the stairs to get my keys.
• Having been nominated many times, Leo DiCaprio is her all-time favourite
actor.
(In these examples, we are using a passive perfect participle – having been
+ past part.)

➢ To talk about two actions which are not consecutive, or when the first
action happens over a period of time

• Having read the book before, he knew how the film would end.
• I knew how to move around the city, having lived there all my life.

It is common for participle clauses to use prepositions and conjunctions, especially


with -ing, such as ‘before’ ‘after’, ‘by’, ‘in’, ‘while’, ‘with’, ‘since’,’ instead of’
‘on’ ‘while’ ‘in spite of’ etc., in a perfect participle clause, to make the message
clearer.

• After having visited several temples, we returned to the hotel for a rest.
• After having brushed my teeth, I realised I hadn’t used my toothbrush.
• Before cooking, you should wash your hands.
• Instead of complaining about it, they should try doing something positive.
• On arriving at the hotel, he went to get changed.
• While packing her things, she thought about the last two years.

➢ Past Participle Clauses: past participle form (-ed or irregular)


Example: Surprised by my return, my wife asked me what I was doing back
already.

Past participle clauses are used:

➢ To replace passive voice clauses

• Shocked by the explosion, the people ran for shelter.


(The people were shocked by the explosion and ran for shelter)
• The musicians stood up, surrounded by the applause.
(The musicians stood up while they were surrounded by the applause.)

➢ To give the reason for an action

• Worried by the news, she called the hospital.


➢ To add information about the subject of the main clause

• Filled with pride, he walked towards the stage.

Active – Pasive voice (reminder)

Active Passive

present simple I make a cake. A cake is made (by me).

present continuous I am making a cake. A cake is being made (by me).

past simple I made a cake. A cake was made (by me).

past continuous I was making a cake. A cake was being made (by me).

present perfect I have made a cake. A cake has been made (by me).

pres. perf. continuous I have been making a cake. A cake has been being made (by me).

past perfect I had made a cake. A cake had been made (by me).

future simple I will make a cake. A cake will be made (by me).

future perfect I will have made a cake. A cake will have been made (by me).

You might also like