Participle clauses
Participle clauses make writing shorter: an -ing or past participle clause replaces a full clause about time, reason or result when both parts have the same subject.
How it works
- -ing for an active meaning: Walking home, I saw an accident (= while I was walking).
- Past participle for a passive meaning: Built in 1902, the bridge is still in use (= it was built).
- Having + past participle for something that happened first: Having finished lunch, we went back to work.
- Negative: not before the participle: Not knowing the way, we asked a taxi driver.
- The subject of the participle must be the subject of the main clause. Wrong: Walking into the room, the lights went off.
- Reduced relative clauses: the woman sitting next to me (= who was sitting); cars made in Japan (= which are made).
Examples
Feeling hungry, we stopped at a bánh mì stall.
Built in the 11th century, the Temple of Literature is a popular tourist site.
Having lost his keys, he had to wait outside.
Not knowing what to say, she just smiled.
The man standing at the door is my uncle.
Common mistakes
Wrong: Arriving at the airport, my flight had been cancelled.
Right: Arriving at the airport, I found my flight had been cancelled.
Wrong:
Writingin 1960, the book is still popular.Right: Written in 1960, the book is still popular.
Wrong:
Don'tknowing the answer, I kept quiet.Right: Not knowing the answer, I kept quiet.
Practice
1 of 16Fill the gap.
Level: EGP Clauses (non-finite): -ing clauses for time and reason (Feeling tired, I …) appear at B2; past participle clauses and having + past participle are controlled at B2 to C1. Written for Gloss.