The key idea
Choose perfect participles, passive participles, or reduced relative clauses to shorten related ideas while keeping their meaning and subject clear.
What is it for?
Learn to combine related ideas and remove unnecessary words without losing meaning.
What you need to know
- Use having + past participle for an action completed before another action.
- Use a past participle to give background information about a person or situation.
- Remove a relative pronoun and a form of be when the meaning stays clear.
- Use an absolute construction when a separate situation explains the main action.
- Check that every opening participle clause has the correct subject.
1. Show which action happened first
Use having + past participle for an earlier, completed action.
The main clause usually describes the next action.
This form helps readers see the order without reading several separate sentences.
- Pattern: Having + past participle, subject + main verb.
- Put a comma after the opening clause.
- Use this form when the earlier action matters to the next one.
- Do not use having + past participle for an action that happens later.
Having checked the figures, Maya sent the final report.
Checking came before sending.
Having compared the prices, we chose the cheaper supplier.
The completed comparison explains the choice.
2. Give background with a past participle
A past participle can describe a person or situation affected by something.
This form often replaces a longer clause with a passive meaning.
It works well when the cause or situation explains the main action.
- Pattern: Past participle + extra information, subject + main verb.
- Common openings include faced with, given, and informed of.
- Use given when a fact or condition affects a decision.
- Make sure the main subject matches the person or thing described.
Faced with rising costs, the café reduced its opening hours.
The costs explain the café's decision.
Given the limited budget, we postponed the office repairs.
The budget explains the decision.
3. Shorten relative clauses
A reduced relative clause gives information about a noun in fewer words.
For an active meaning, use a present participle.
For a passive meaning, use a past participle.
Keep the noun close to its description so readers understand the sentence.
- Active: people who are waiting becomes people waiting.
- Passive: forms that were completed becomes forms completed.
- Remove who, which, or that with a form of be when possible.
- Do not remove words if the result changes the meaning.
The students taking the exam must arrive early.
Taking replaces who are taking.
The forms completed yesterday are ready for collection.
Completed replaces that were completed.
4. Use absolute constructions carefully
An absolute construction adds background information to a whole sentence.
It has its own subject and does not share the main clause's subject.
Use it when the situation helps explain the result.
- Pattern: Noun + participle, main clause.
- The deadline being near, we worked through lunch.
- The meeting having ended, everyone returned to work.
- Use a comma to separate the opening construction from the main clause.
The deadline being near, the team skipped its usual break.
The approaching deadline explains the team's action.
The printer having stopped, the assistant used another machine.
The printer has its own subject.
5. Avoid dangling participles
An opening participle clause must describe the correct subject.
A dangling participle seems to describe the wrong person or thing.
Check the first noun after the comma.
If that noun cannot perform the opening action, rewrite the sentence.
- Incorrect: Having checked the figures, the report was sent.
- Correct: Having checked the figures, Maya sent the report.
- The report cannot check figures. Maya can.
- Sometimes, repeating the subject makes the sentence clearer.
Having packed the boxes, Leo called the delivery company.
Leo packed the boxes and called.
After reviewing the menu, the customers ordered lunch.
The customers reviewed the menu.
6. Choose the right form before joining sentences
First, identify the relationship between the actions.
Use having + past participle for an earlier completed action.
Use a passive participle when something receives an action.
Use a reduced relative clause when extra information describes a noun.
Keep separate sentences when compression makes the meaning unclear.
- Before: Nina checked the stock. She ordered more supplies.
- After: Having checked the stock, Nina ordered more supplies.
- Before: The chairs were damaged. The chairs were replaced.
- After: The damaged chairs were replaced.
- Before: The workers were waiting outside. They entered at nine.
- After: The workers waiting outside entered at nine.
Having checked the timetable, Omar changed his bus route.
The first action explains the second.
The boxes stored upstairs contain the spare parts.
Stored replaces that are stored.
How to do it, step by step
- Identify the main action and the extra information.
- Decide whether the extra information shows time, cause, or description.
- Choose the correct participle or reduced clause.
- Place the clause beside the subject or noun it describes.
- Check the verb form, comma, and meaning.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| Having + past participle, subject + main verb | Having checked the stock, Lina ordered more supplies. | Having read the instructions, Ben assembled the desk. |
| Past participle + extra information, subject + main verb | Faced with delays, the manager changed the schedule. | Given the low demand, the shop reduced its order. |
| Noun + present participle | The customers waiting outside entered together. | The workers repairing the roof started early. |
| Noun + past participle | The meals prepared this morning are ready. | The documents signed yesterday are in the folder. |
| Noun + being + adjective or noun phrase | The weather being cold, we stayed indoors. | The deadline being close, the team worked faster. |
| Noun + having + past participle | The meeting having ended, staff returned to their desks. | The delivery having arrived, the shop opened the boxes. |
| After + noun + participle, main clause | After checking the bill, Sara paid the cashier. | After comparing the plans, we chose the cheaper option. |
| Subject + verb + noun + present participle | We saw several children playing near the gate. | I noticed a man carrying two heavy bags. |
UK / US: British and American English both use these forms. Spelling differences may occur in related words, such as travelled and traveled.
Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to C1 upgrades page.
Model text
A More Efficient Office Move
Background
Having reviewed our office needs, we decided to move to a smaller building. The old office had several unused rooms, and its monthly costs kept rising. Given our limited budget, we needed a practical solution that would reduce expenses without disrupting daily work.
The first opening shows an earlier action. Given introduces the reason for the decision.
Planning
The employees working on the move prepared a detailed schedule. Desks used by the finance team were moved first, while boxes labelled for each department stayed near the entrance. Having checked the new floor plan, our manager assigned each team a suitable space.
Working and labelled shorten descriptions. Having checked shows that the review came first.
Results
The deadline being close, everyone focused on essential tasks. Faced with a delayed delivery, we borrowed chairs from the meeting room. The equipment arriving late was installed the following morning, so no important records were lost. What helped most was keeping instructions clear and responsibilities separate. Having completed the move within three days, we reviewed the process and recorded several improvements for future projects.
The absolute construction gives background. Faced with explains the response. Arriving late describes the equipment. The final participle clause shows completion before the review.
Common mistakes
✗ Having checked the figures, the report was sent.
✓ Having checked the figures, Maya sent the report.
The report cannot check figures, so Maya must be the subject.
✗ Having ate lunch, we returned to work.
✓ Having eaten lunch, we returned to work.
Use the past participle eaten after having.
✗ The forms completing yesterday are ready.
✓ The forms completed yesterday are ready.
The forms received the action, so use the past participle.
✗ The students taking the exam, must arrive early.
✓ The students taking the exam must arrive early.
Do not put a comma between the subject and its verb.
✗ Given the costs were high, we changed suppliers.
✓ Given that the costs were high, we changed suppliers.
Use that before a full clause after given.
✗ The meeting having finish, we went home.
✓ The meeting having finished, we went home.
Use the past participle finished after having.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Underline the main action in each sentence.
- Mark the extra information about time, cause, or description.
- Choose a participle form that keeps the original meaning.
- Join related ideas and remove repeated words.
Check
- Does each participle clause have the correct subject?
- Did I use the correct past participle?
- Did I keep each reduced clause next to its noun?
- Did I use commas where they help the reader?
- Is the shorter version still clear and accurate?
Practice
Choose the correct compressed clause
Choose the sentence with the correct form and meaning.
1.Mia checked the figures first. She sent the report.
Use having with the past participle checked for an earlier action.
2.The manager faced rising costs. She reduced spending.
Faced with introduces a situation affecting the manager.
3.The students who are waiting outside may enter.
Waiting replaces who are waiting in this active description.
4.The forms that were signed yesterday are ready.
Signed replaces that were signed in this passive description.
5.The deadline was near, so the team worked faster.
The absolute construction has a noun followed by being.
6.Leo packed the boxes. Then he called the driver.
Packed is the past participle used after having.
Complete the participle
Write the correct participle form of the verb in brackets.
1.Having the menu, we chose our meals. (read)
Read has the same spelling in its base and past participle forms.
2. with a late delivery, the shop changed its plan. (face)
Faced with introduces a problem affecting the shop.
3.The people outside entered together. (wait)
Waiting describes what the people were doing.
4.The meals this morning are ready. (prepare)
Prepared describes meals that received the action.
5.The meeting having , everyone left the room. (finish)
Use the past participle after having.
6.The weather cold, we stayed indoors. (be)
Being links the noun weather to its condition.
Build the sentence
Put the words in the correct order. Add punctuation.
1.Put the words in order:
havingemailcheckedthereportsenttheMia
The opening clause shows that checking came before sending.
2.Put the words in order:
thechangeddelayswithschedulefacedmanagerthe
Faced with delays explains why the manager changed the schedule.
3.Put the words in order:
quietlystudentsoutsideenteredthewaiting
Waiting outside describes the students.
4.Put the words in order:
deadlineneartheworkedbeingfasterwe
The absolute construction explains why we worked faster.
5.Put the words in order:
roomhavingtheleftfinishedmeetingtheeveryone
The construction shows that the meeting ended before everyone left.
Correct one small mistake
Correct the single mistake in each sentence.
1.Having ate lunch, we returned to work.
Eaten is the past participle needed after having.
2.The forms completing yesterday are ready.
Completed gives the forms a passive meaning.
3.Having checked the bill, the payment was made by Nina.
Nina must be the subject because she checked the bill.
4.The students waiting outside, entered together.
Remove the comma between the subject and its verb.
5.The meeting having finish, we went home.
Finished is the past participle required after having.
6.The deadline being near we worked faster.
Add a comma after the opening absolute construction.
Now write
Your task
Combine these eight short sentences into four sentences using participle clauses. Write one short paragraph about the project. Keep all important details. You may change the word order. Project details: Our team reviewed the budget. We found several extra costs. The manager changed the plan. The deadline was close. Two workers prepared the room. The chairs were delivered late. We borrowed chairs from another office. The project finished on Friday.
Word bank
having reviewedhaving foundgiven the budgetfaced withthe deadline being closeworkers preparingchairs delivered lateas a resultborrowedcompletedschedulesuppliesexpensesteamequipment
Sentence starters
- Having reviewed the budget, ...
- Faced with the extra costs, ...
- The deadline being close, ...
- The workers preparing the room ...
- Having borrowed extra chairs, ...
- The project having finished, ...