Participle clauses

Participle clauses are used in some tenses, but they also have another use – they can
combine information into one sentence.

Participle clauses often express condition, reason, cause, result or time.

For example:

Jim walked past the old school. He got to the shop. > Walking past the old school, Jim
got to the shop.

The section in bold is participle clause.

There are three types of participle clause:

Present participle Walking past the old school, Jim got to the shop.

Past participle Founded in 1912, the club has a long history.

Perfect participle After they had finished their homework, the boys went out to play.

Notes:

1. The participle clause and the main sentence must have either a cause/effect relationship
or show a sequential relationship (one thing happened before the other).

Participle clause with a cause/effect relationship: Having studied hard, he passed the
exam.

Participle clause with a sequential relationship: Locking the door, John walked to his car.

2. Both the clause and the main sentence normally need to have the same subject

Driving home, Mary thought about what she would cook for dinner (Mary was both driving
and thinking about dinner)

Re-write the following into a single sentence using a participle clause.

NOTE: More than one answer may be possible. If you have a different answer to those
given, post it in the comments section below and we’ll let you know.

1. Sue was lying in the sun. She got sunburned.

Show the answer
Lying in the sun, Sue got sunburned.

2. John has just retired. He is now able to spend more time gardening.
Show the answer

Having just retired, John is now able to spend more time gardening.

3. They bought their cinema tickets. Then they went to find a seat.
Show the answer

Having bought their tickets, they went to find a seat.

4. The student sat in front of the computer and wrote his essay.
Show the answer

Sitting in front of the computer, the student wrote his essay.

5. Some people argue against school uniforms. They feel children should wear what they
want to.
Show the answer

Arguing against school uniforms, some people feel children should wear what they want to.

6. Some students are disappointed in their progress at school. These students often do not
go into further education.
Show the answer

Disappointed in their progress at school, these/some students often do not go into further
education.

7. Children do not have the maturity to make every choice themselves. A parent or
guardian is need to make decisions on their behalf.
Show the answer

Not having the maturity to make every choice themselves, children need a parent or
guardian to make decisions on their behalf.

7. I didn’t want to break the law. I called the police instead.

Show the answer

Not wanting to break the law, I called the police instead.

8. John travelled overseas a lot as a teenager. He is more open minded to different

cultures.
Show the answer

Having travelled overseas a lot as a teenager, John is more open to different cultures.

In English, participle clauses are mainly used in writing in order to put a lot of
information into one sentence.
There are three kinds of participles in English: present participle, past
participle andperfect participle.
The Present Participle is the ing-form. You surely know this form:
 from progressive / continuous tenses – I am speaking.
 as an adjective form – The film is interesting.
 as a gerund – He is afraid of flying.
Furthermore, the present participle can be used to shorten or
combine active clauses that have the same subject, e.g. She left the house and
whistled. – She left the house whistling. Now, try to shorten these sentences.
The Past Participle is the participle that you find in the third column of lists
with irregular verbs. You surely know this form:
 from perfect tenses – I have spoken.
 from passive voice – The letter was written.
 as an adjective form – I was bored to death.
The past participle can also be used to shorten or combine passive clauses that
have the same subject, e.g. The boy was given an apple. He stopped
crying. – Given an apple, the boy stopped crying. Now, try to shorten
these sentences.
The Perfect Participle can be used to shorten or combine clauses that have
the same subject if …
 … one action (the one where the perfect participle is used) is completed
before the next action starts, e.g. She bought a bike and cycled
home. – Having bought a bike, she cycled home.
 … one action has been going on for a period of time when another action
starts, e.g. He had been living there for such a long time that he didn’t want
to move to another town. – Having lived there for such a long time, he didn’t
want to move to another town.
The perfect participle can be used for active and passive voice.

 active voice: having + past participle (Having cooked, he set the table.)
 passive voice: having been + past participle (Having been cooked, the food
looked delicious.)
Now, try to use the perfect participle in these sentences.
So, in summary, in English, participle clauses are mainly used in writing in
order to put a lot of information into one sentence.
When shortening or combining clauses with a participle construction, keep the
following rules in mind:
 Both clauses – 99% of the times – have the same subject.
 The less important part becomes the participle clause. Important
information should always be in the main clause.
 Make sure, you use the correct participle form (see above).
 The conjunctions as, because, since and relative pronouns who, which are
left out.
 The conjunctions before, when are used in the participle clause.
 The conjunctions after, while can be used or left out.
It’s very important to remember that participle clause and main clause should
have the same subject. Otherwise the sentences might sound rather strange.

Example: I was driving on the motorway, when the baby started to cry.
→ WRONG: Driving on the motorway, the baby started to cry*.