PARTICIPLE CLAUSES

see also Longman Advanced Grammar Unit 13 / MyGrammarLab Unit 12, Section 55

Present participles describe an action which is still happening at the moment the action is set in:

He dived into the sea to save the drowning child.

They watched the burning forest.

Past participles describe the result of an action that has happened:

He looked at the broken chair.
The completed statue looked very lifelike.

PARTICIPLES AS REDUCED RELATIVE CLAUSES

When participles come after a noun, they are like reduced relative clauses:
I met a woman (who was) riding a horse.
The man (who was) being interviewed by the police was suspected of murder.

PARTICIPLES IN ADVERB CLAUSES

1. clauses can describe actions that are going on simultaneously:

She sat by the fire reading a magazine and sipping a mug of Ovaltine.
He went to bed dressed only in a pair of socks.

2. Participle clauses can describe actions that are happening consecutively:

Opening his bag, he took out a packet of tissues.
Released from its cage, the canary flew round the room.

3. It is important to show that the first action has finished before the second begins:
Having finished his homework, he had a shower.

4. Participle clauses can express the idea of “because”

Being a mean person, he never spent anything on anybody else.
Not knowing what to do, he stood in the rain and got soaked.
Weakened by years of bad health, she could hardly walk a step.

5. Participle clauses can express the idea of result:

It rained every day, ruining our holiday. (which ruined our holiday.)

6. Participle clauses can express the idea of “if”:

Taken regularly, pollen can revitalise your state of health.
7. Participle clauses can be introduced by the following:
while, when, after, by, on, since.

While studying in Madrid, he met his future wife.

When leaving the bus, remember to take all your belongings.
After waving her off at the station, he felt lonely and empty.
I paid my debts by taking on another job.*NOT “I paid my debts taking on another job.”***common error
On entering the room, I noticed that everyone was staring at me.
Since arriving in Barcelona, I’ve learnt a lot of Catalan.
Take care when “since” means “because” – in this case the participle.
Eg. Since she didn't have enough money, she couldn’t buy herself a new coat. *NOT “Since not having...”

NB - IN PARTICIPLE CLAUSES THE SUBJECT OF THE CLAUSE AND THE SUBJECT OF THE
MAIN VERB MUST BE THE SAME.

While driving along the motorway, Bob ran out of petrol (Bob was driving/Bob ran out of petrol
Exceptions to this rule:
There being no food, we couldn’t eat. / It being too late to take the tube, we got a taxi. **NOT “Being too late...”

PARTICIPLE CLAUSES http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/participles

Exercise on Present Participle Rewrite the sentences replacing the italic part with a present
participle.
1. She was talking to her friend and forgot everything around her.
2. Since we have been watching the news every day we know what's going on in the world.
3. They are vegetarians and don't eat meat.
4. The dog wagged its tail and bit the postman.
5. While she was tidying up her room she found some old photos.
6. He was a good boy and helped his mother in the kitchen.
7. As they didn't have enough money they spent their holidays at home last year.
8. The man was sitting in the cafe. He was reading a paper.
9. Since I didn't feel well I didn't go to the cinema.***
10. She walked home and met an old friend.

Exercise on Past Participle Rewrite the sentences replacing the italic part with a past participle.
1. I have a cat that is called Tari.
2. The dinner was more expensive than they had expected.
3. He was accused of murder and arrested.
 4. She was shocked by the bad news and burst into tears.
5. The event is organised by our team and will surely be a great success.
6. The film is based on real events and tells the story of a reporter.
7. She was born in Hollywood and knows all the famous movie stars.
8. The car was taken to the garage. It was repaired within an hour
9. She was admired by everyone and began to grow arrogant.
10. He was dumped by his girlfriend and felt really lousy.

Exercise on Perfect Participle Rewrite the sentences replacing the italic part with a perfect participle.
1. We switched off the lights before we went to bed.
2. The boy asked his mother's permission and then went out to play.
3. As he had drunk too much, he didn't drive home himself.
4. We have written two tests today, so we are very exhausted.
5. She filled the washing machine and switched it on.
6. She had been to the disco the night before and overslept in the morning.
7. We had worked in the garden all day and were sunburned in the evening.
8. She had not slept for two days and therefore wasn't able to concentrate.
9. Since I had not seen him for ages, I didn't recognize him.
10. I had not ridden a horse for a long time and found it very difficult to keep in the saddle.

Perfect Participle Active or Passive Fill in the Perfect Participle. Decide whether to use active or passive
voice.
1. (stop)_____________________ the car, the police officer wanted to see the documents.
2. (write)____________________ the test, we felt relieved.
3. (work)_____________________ all day, we were quite exhausted in the evening.
4. (send)_________________________ to counter 24, I had to return to counter 3.
5. (confess)_________________________ , he was accused of even more criminal offences.
6. (arrive)______________________ at the station, we called a taxi.
7. (type)___________________ by the secretary, the letter was signed by the boss.
8. (interrupt)__________________ several times, he was rather annoyed.
9. (live)___________________ in Oxford for two years, she spoke English like a native speaker.
10. (rescue)___________________ the injured man was taken to hospital.

Combining Clauses with Participle Constructions (Mix) Combine the clauses using participle
constructions (Present Participle or Past Participle).
1. The boy who carried a blue parcel crossed the street entered the building stealthily.
2. The battle was fought at this place. The battle was very significant.
3. She lay in her bed and wept bitter tears.
4. The books which were sent to us are for my aunt
 5. She stood at the corner and talked to her friends.
6. The children went from house to house. They played trick or treat
7. He was very tall. He became a basketball player.
8. He was waiting in the hall. He overheard a conversation.
9. The picture which was stolen from a museum was offered on Ebay
10. The song which was sung last night is still in my head.

Combining Clauses with Participle Constructions (Mix) Combine the clauses using participle
constructions (Present, Past or Perfect Participle).
1. We were sitting in the bus shelter and waited for the rain to stop.
2. The documentation which was telecasted last Tuesday was impressive.
3. We had great fun at the party. We played silly games.
4. He had saved a little money. He travelled to Australia.
5. They were chatting along and didn't see the car coming.
6. The reception had been prepared carefully and was a great success.
7. He was picked up by his mother and didn't have to wait for the bus
8. She had finished her degree and started to work for an international company.
9. She was listening to the radio and didn't hear the doorbell.
10. The room had not been tidied up yet and looked like a battlefield.

Combining Clauses with Conjunctions using Participle Constructions Combine the clauses
using participle constructions (Present, Past or Perfect Participle). Decide whether to use the
conjunctions in the participle clause or not.
1. As she didn't have a boyfriend, she flirted with every guy she met.
2. Since he had never been there before, he was stunned.
3. Before he left the house, he switched off the lights.
4. As there were no buses, she couldn't go to the party./ As there weren’t any buses, she couldn't go to
the party.
5. While she was preparing dinner, she cut her finger.
6. When I travel around Ireland, I always stay in youth hostels.
7. Since she didn't hear the doorbell, she missed the delivery.
8. After I had dropped him at the station, I drove straight to the supermarket.
9. Since he didn't feel well, he stayed in bed.
10. While they were talking on the phone, they forgot everything around them.

Replacing a Relative Clause by a Participle Construction Replace the Relative Clause by a

Participle Construction while keeping the rest of the sentence unchanged.
1. The boy who was waiting in the hall expected a phone call.
2. Passengers who wanted to go to Liverpool had to change in Manchester.
3. The girl who was picked up by her brother was very nice.
4. The house that stands at the end of the road will soon be sold.
5. The conference which was planned by non-governmental organisations was about globalisation.
6. Irish people who live in Great Britain have the right to vote in British elections.
7. A friend who helps you in need is a good friend indeed.
8. A picture that shows the image of a person is a portrait.
9. The problems that were discussed will be essential for your exam.
10. Animals that eat plants are called herbivores.