Present participle clauses (-ing)
The -ing form has an active meaning. The two actions share the same subject. They happen at the same time, or the -ing action describes how/why.
| Participle clause | Full sentence equivalent |
|---|---|
| Walking home, I saw an accident. | As I was walking home, I saw an accident. |
| Feeling tired, she went to bed early. | Because she felt tired, she went to bed early. |
| The man sitting next to me is my uncle. | The man who is sitting next to me is my uncle. |
Same subject rule:
The participle clause must refer to the same subject as the main clause. ✗ "Walking home, the rain started." (= the rain was walking home?) ✓ "Walking home, I got caught in the rain."
Past participle clauses (-ed)
The past participle form has a passive meaning. It often explains a reason or describes a state caused by something.
| Participle clause | Full sentence equivalent |
|---|---|
| Surprised by the news, he sat down. | Because he was surprised by the news, he sat down. |
| Written in 1813, the novel is still popular. | The novel, which was written in 1813, is still popular. |
| Exhausted after the race, she collapsed. | Because she was exhausted after the race, she collapsed. |
Perfect participle clauses (having + past participle)
Use having + past participle to show that the participle action was completed before the main verb action.
| Participle clause | Full sentence equivalent |
|---|---|
| Having finished her work, she left the office. | After she had finished her work, she left the office. |
| Having eaten, we went for a walk. | After we had eaten, we went for a walk. |
| Having been told the news, she burst into tears. | After she had been told the news, she burst into tears. |
-ing vs having + pp:
Use -ing for simultaneous actions. Use having + pp to emphasise that one action was completed first: "Walking to the shop, I met her." (= while walking) vs "Having walked to the shop, I bought some milk." (= after arriving)
Exercises
Choose the correct participle form.
1. ___ out of the window, he noticed the dark clouds gathering.
2. ___ by the loud noise, the baby woke up crying.
3. ___ all her savings, she could finally afford the trip.
4. The woman ___ at the corner is my neighbour. (= who is standing)
5. ___ the meeting, the manager sent a summary to the team. (= After the meeting ended)