PARTICIPLE CLAUSES

A) Participle clauses are clauses which begin with a present or past participle. They help to
express ideas concisely and are more commonly used in written English.
Participle clauses can be used instead of relative clauses, as in these examples:
Between the road and the bungalow there is a ditch, (which is) choked with
weeds
So this man, (who was) living on a labourers wage, clearly believed he was just
locked out of the lifestyle.

B) Conjunctions such as and, so, when, after and if can also be omitted to create
participle clauses.
a) Because they had become rather frail and vulnerable in the last few years, he
and his wife were heavily reliant on the good nature of one neighbour.
Having become rather frail and vulnerable in recent years, he and his wife were
heavily reliant on the good nature of one neighbour..
b) He fled from Estonia in 1946 and came to Britain
Fleeing from Estonia in 1946, he came to Britain..
c) These people were shocked beyond belief by what they saw when they visited the
house, so they began to put pressure on the local council.
Shocked beyond belief by what they saw when they visited the house they.
d) Thats the good thing about the country, he says, as he looks out.
Thats the good thing about the country, he says, looking out.
Note that stative verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses, but the ing form can
be used in participle clauses:
Being a very shy person, I never enjoy going to parties.
FORMS
There are several different participle forms in participle clauses:
ACTIVE PARTICIPLE
SIMPLE

PASSIVE PARTICIPLE
(not) repaired
Looked after carefully, the plant can
live through the winter

CONTINUOU
S

(not) repairing

(not) being repaired

Opening her eyes, the baby

began to cry

being imported, the fruit was

expensive.

PERFECT

(not) having repaired

(not) having been repaired

Having wanted to drive a

train all his life, this was an
opportunity not to be missed.

Having been persuaded, he went to

the opera, which he didnt like at all.

C) POSITIONING AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUBJECT

Participle clauses give information about a noun in the main clause, so they do not
usually contain a subject. the subject of the main clause acts as the subject of the
participle clause:
Moaning with pain, the victim was examined by a young doctor ( The victim was
moaning).
In formal English, the participle has its own subject, which is often a pronoun or includes
one:
The collection of vases is priceless, some being over two thousand years old.

D) When we use not in a participle clause it usually comes before the participle. However,
it can follow the participle, depending on the part of the sentence affected by not.
Wishing not to go out that night, I made an excuse. (not relates to to go out that night;
the sentence means I didnt want to go out that night) and
Not wishing to go out that night, I made an excuse. (not relates to wish to go out that
night; the sentence could mean going out that night wasnt my wish).

E) CLAUSES OF TIME AND SEQUENCE WITH ING PARTICIPLE

We use a clause beginning with having+ past participle rather than a present
participle if the action in the main clause is the consequence of the event in the participle
clause:
Having broken her leg the last time she went, Iratze decided no to go on the school
skiing trip this year. ( or After breaking her leg)
We can use either a present participle clause or having+ past participle clause with a
similar meaning when the action in the participle clause is complete before the action in
the main clause begins:
-

Taking off his shoes, Manu walked into the house. (Having taken off the shoes.
Has a similar meaning)

Running across the field, I fell and hurt my ankle. (While I was running.;
having run would suggest that I fell after I had run across the field)

We usually use these clauses when two actions happen at the same time:
Turning the corner, we saw the hospital in front of us.
In written English an ing participle clause often describes the setting or background:
Living in Los Angeles, Brad was one of those ever- optimistic movie wannabes.
Standing alone in the desert, the huge pyramid dominated the landscape.

F) PREPOSITIONS BEFORE PARTICIPLE CLAUSES

We can also use prepositions in front of ing participles:
On entering the darkened room, we noticed a strange figure in the corner.
We can use prepositions such as: after, before, besides, by, in, on, since, through,
while, with and without with a present participle with an adverbial meaning:

After spending so much money on the car, I cant afford a holiday.

Before being changed last year, the speed limit was 70 kph

Since moving to London, we havent had time to go to the theatre. ( since we

moved)

By working hard, she passed her maths exam.

They only survived by eating roots and berries in the forest.

On returning from Beijing, he wrote to the Chinese embassy.

John was the first person I saw on leaving hospital.

In criticising the painting I knew I would offend her.

With Luisa living in Spain, we dont see her often.

Without seeing the photo, I cant judge how good it is.

G) PARTICIPLE CLAUSES FOR REASON, CONDITION AND RESULT

Provided that the subject of both clauses is the same, we can use participle clauses to
replace clauses of reason, condition and result. We often do this in writing:
REASON

FULL CLAUSE
- She will be unable to answer your queries
because she is not qualified.
- As I hadnt been asked, I didnt really want
to interfere.
- I had to borrow a set of keys from my
landlord because Id forgotten mine.

CONDITIO
N
RESULT

- If you treat it gently, the fabric should last

for years.
- The corporation shut down the plant, with
the result that many workers were left
unemployed.

PARTICIPLE CLAUSE
- Not being qualified, she will
be unable to
- Not having been asked, I
didnt really
- Having forgotten my keys I
had to borrow a set from
the
- If treated/ Treated gently,
the
fabric should
- The corporation shut down
the
plant, leaving many
workers
unemployed.