ParticipleParticiple

ClausesClauses

Basic RulesBasic RulesPresent ParticipleVERB + ing

It describes two actions happening at the same time or one shortly after another.

Not knowing how to calculate longitude, the navigators steered the ships onto rocks.

Arguing that one trial was insufficient, they ordered another trial.

Past ParticipleHAVING + the past part. of a verb.

It describes an action that happened some time before another.

Having discovered the flaw in its design, he abandoned it.

Having heard the evidence, the Board demanded another trial.

Passive Participlethe past part. of a verb.

(If I were) Given more money, I could make a better clock.

(Because he had been) Trained by his father, William was a gifted clockmaker.

Having heard the evidence, the Board demanded another trial.

The subject in a participle clause should normaly be the same as the subject of the main verb:

Ticking loudly, the clock attracted the attention of the king.

However, phrases which indicate the speaker’s attitude, eg broadly speaking, considering everything, can precede a clause with a different subject.

Generally speaking, the clock is one of the greatest inventions in history.

After conjunctions and prepositions

After explaining his ideas to the Astronomer Royal, Harrison was given money.

On returning to Engliang, Harrison saved the ship from a possible shipwreck.

By measuring the distance from the sun to the horizon, you could calculate your latitude.

1. He got off his horse and he began searching for something on the ground.

Getting off his horse, he began...

2. When we arrived at the bus-stop, we saw an enormous queue.

Arriving at the bus-stop, we saw an enormous queue.

3. When I turned on the light, I was astonished at what I saw.

Turning on the light, I was astonished at what I saw.

4. I knew that he was poor, so I offered to pay his fare.

Knowing that he was poor, I offered to pay his fare.

5. Since he thought we were lost, he offered to show us the way home.

Thinking that we were lost, he offered to show us the way home.

6. Because I had seen the photographs of the place, I had no desire to go there.

Having seen the photographs of the place, I had no desire to go there.

7. When he was insulted by the chairman, he left the summit at once.

Insulted by the chairman, he left the summit at once.

8. After she had been tortured by the police for some time, she appeared in court only to be...

Having been tortured by the police for some time, she appeared in court...

9. Because I have been unemployed for two years, I find it difficult to go to work.

Having been unemployed for two years, I find it difficult to go to work.

10. The speaker refused to continue because he was infuriated by the interruptions.

Infuriated by the interruptions, the speaker refused to continue.

11. As I was unable to help in any other way, I gave her some food.

(Being) unable to help her in any other way, I gave her some food.

12. Since her mother was an attentive person, she spotted the scar on her face at once.

Being an attentive person, her mother spotted the scar on her face at once.

Bibliography

McKinlay, Stuart & Hastings, Bob. SUCCESS Advanced, Pearson Education, England, 2007.

Developed by

Kátia Martins Pereira