participle clauses - 2.d

Unlock advanced English grammar! Practice forming and using participle clauses to add sophistication to your writing.

READ THE THEORY FIRST SO THAT YOU CAN DO THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES Forming participle clausesParticiple clauses can be formed with the present participle (-ing form of the verb) or past participle (third form of the verb). Participle clauses with past participles have a passive meaning:Shoutingloudly, Peter walked home.[Peter was shouting]Shoutedat loudly, Peter walked home.[Someone was shouting at Peter]If we wish toemphasise that one action was before another then we can use a perfect participle (having + past participle):Having wonthe match, Susan jumped for joy.Having been toldthe bad news, Susan sat down and cried.REMEMBER:1. Participle clauses are ALWAYS linked by a COMMA.2. The SUBJECT of the two clauses is the SAME3. We OMIT PRONOUNS and we KEEP NOUNS (Having won the match, Susan jumped for joy. Susan, no "she")The meaning and use of participle clausesParticiple clauses give information aboutcondition,result,reasonortime. For example:CONDITION (with a similar meaning to an if-condition):Lookedafter carefully, this coat will keep you warm through many winters.Compare: If you look after it carefully, this coat will keep you warm through many winters.RESULT (with a similar meaning to so or therefore):The bomb exploded, destroying the building.Compare:The bomb exploded so the building was destroyed.REASON (with a similar meaning to because or since):I had no time to read my book, having spent so long doing my homework.Compare:I had no time to read my book because I had spent so long doing my homework.TIME (with a similar meaning to words like when, while or as soon as):Sitting at the cafe with my friends, I suddenly realised that I had left the oven on at home.Compare: While I was sitting at the cafe with my friends, I suddenly realised that I had left the oven on at home. Complete the sentences with the appropriate participle clause (present, past or perfect): (eg. eating, eaten or having eaten) 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.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.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 toilet.13. (leave) Having leftthe 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 life.17. 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 sudden storm, they had to seek shelter under a tree.20. After they had found the secret island, they started searching for the treasure.→Having found the secret island, they started searching for the treasure.