English V: Unit 2 Participle clauses

What do you think of the way this photo was taken? Participle clauses Read this description of the picture Participle clauses video lesson Analysis of the participle clauses from the description of Li Wei's photo Grammar explanation (write these in your notebooks) What are participle clauses?Participle clauses do not have a specific tense. The tense is indicated by the verb in the main clause.Participle clauses are mainly used in written texts, particularly in a literary, academic or journalistic style. They are not very common in spoken English.They allow us to express condition, reason, cause, result or time in a similar way to full adverbial clauses, only with less words.Look at examples:After she had finished the exam, she felt very happy. (time) ->Having finishedwith the exam, she felt very happy.As she didn't know where the theatre was, she asked for directions at the reception. (reason) -> Not knowing where the theatre was, she asked for directions at the reception.Participle clauses enable us to say information in a more economical way.They are formed using:present participles (= ing form - going, reading, seeing, walking, etc.),past participles (= ed form - gone, read, seen, walked, etc.) orperfect participles (having gone, having read, having seen, having walked, etc.).USAGEPresent participle clauses have a similar meaning to active verbs:• to give the result of an actionThe bomb exploded,destroyingthe building.• to give reason for an actionKnowing she loved reading, Richard bought her a book• to talk about an action that happened at the same time as another actionStandingin the queue, I realised I didn't have any money.• to add information about the subject of the main clauseStarting in the new year, the new plicy bans cars inthe city centre.Past participles clauses usually have a passive meaning.• meaning is similar to an if-conditionUsed in this way, participles can make your writing more concise. (If you use participles in this way,....)• to give reason for an actionWorried by the news, she called the hospital.• to add information about the subject of the main clauseFilled with pride, he walked towards the stage.SUMMARY Complete the sentences with the appropriate participle clause (present, past or perfect): (eg. eating, eaten or having eaten) Complete with the present participle (gerund):1. (search) Searchingfor her gloves, she dug through the entire wardrobe.2. (whistle) Whistlinga song, she danced through the house with the mop.3. (sit) Sittingin the shade, we ate cake and drank coffee.4. The child sat at the desk (paint) paintinga picture.5. (run) Runningto the bus stop, she lost her shoe.Complete with the past participle.6. (blind) Blindedby the sun, the driver didn’t see the stop sign.7. (prepare) Preparedby the chef himself, the dinner will be a real treat.8. (sing) Sungby Tom, every song sounds just wonderful.9. (misuse) Misusedas a refuse dump, the place became more and more shabby.10. Though (bear) bornin England, she spent most of her childhood in the United States.Complete with the present perfect participle.11. (park) Having parkedthe car, we searched for the ticket machine.12. (drink) Having drunkone litre of water, she really needed to go to the restroom.13. (leave) Having left the party too early, we couldn’t see the fireworks anymore.14. (finish) Having finishedher phone call, she went back to work.15. (lose) Having lostten kilogrammes, Anne finally fit into her favourite dress again.Transform into a participle clause:16. We are lying in the sun, and we are enjoying life.→ Lying in the sun, we are enjoying life17. The boy had brushed his teeth. He was allowed to watch a few more minutes of television.→Having brushed his teeth, the boy was allowed to watch a few more minutes of television.18. The children sat on their beds and watched the thunderstorm.→Sitting on their beds, the children watched the thunderstorm.19. They were surprised by a sudden storm and had to seek shelter under a tree.→Surprised by a thunderstorm, they had to seek shelter under a tree.20. When they had found the secret island, they started searching for the treasure.→Having found the secret island, they started searching for the treasure. Practice 1 Choose the correct past or present participle form to complete the participle clauses. We stayed in a villa_ to my grandparents. belonged belonging These scientists have designed a car _ by solar energy. powered powering He jumped from a train _at nearly 100 km / h. travelled travelling The men _ our house have made a real mess of the furniture. decorated decorating They spent the night in a traditional Mongolian tent _ as ayurt. known knowing The police arrested a man _ photos of the military base. taken taking The tourists saw a message _ in large, white letters on the cliff. written writing His flat is full of old furniture _ to him by his grandfather. given giving If you need more practice... pageOxford Solutions Students' PagePerfect English Grammar 1Perfect English Grammar 2