Participle Clauses

1. Types of participle clauses

We form participle clauses from the relative clauses. There are two types of participle clauses:

• Participle clause added to the noun phrase (after the noun)
  • Present participle clause (–ing)
  • Past participle clause (-ed)
  • being + -ed
  • To-infinitive clause (to do)

• Participle clause with adverbial meaning (usually added at the beginning of the sentence)
  • Present participle: Opening the door, she …
  • Past participle: Faced with a lot of problems, he …
  • Perfect participle: Having arrived early, she …

2. Use of participle clauses

After a noun phrase:

1. To simplify the sentence
2. To give extra information
3. To express ideas concisely
4. To reduce two sentences into one
5. To describe the way or manner in which something happened
6. If one action is interrupted by the other (using while)
7. To show sequence of events
8. The subject of the participle clause and the subject of the main clause are usually the same

With adverbial meaning:

1. Because/so (not wishing to offend anyone) reason
2. When / once / after (having worked out …
3. And – he fell off the leather, breaking a leg and three ribs.
4. To indicate events happening at the same time
5. To indicate sequence of events
6. If – cooked in their skin…
7. After objects of see, hear, watch, notice, feel, find (see unit ….)
8. With a preposition

3. Participle clause added to the noun phrase

a. Present participle clause

We form the present participle clause from a defining relative clause that uses the present or past continuous tense. It is used to give extra information about an activity in progress.

I recognised the woman standing in the doorway. (the woman who was standing in the doorway)

The artist exhibiting today is Banksy. (the artist who is exhibiting)

b. Past Participle clause

We form the past participle clause from a defining relative clause with a passive verb.

The weapon used in the robbery has not been found. (the weapon which was used)

The employees fired will not be compensated. (the employees who are fired)

c. being + -ed

We form the being + -ed clause from the defining relative clause which has a passive verb in the continuous form. We use this form to emphasise something that is happening or will be happening.

The students being chosen for the competition are in primary school. (the students who are being chosen)

The motorists being stopped by the police are mostly men. (the motorist who are being stopped)

d. To-infinitive clause

The to-infinitive clause is formed after:

1. A superlative + noun

The easiest way to learn a new language is by living in the country. (the easiest way in which you can learn ….)

1. The first / the second etc. + noun

Wiley Post was the first person to fly around the world solo. (The first person who flew around the world.)

1. The only / the next / the last / another / the one + noun

The last person to finish dinner will have to clean up the kitchen! (The last person who finishes…)

1. To replace a model verb

There are a few ways to solve this issue. (There are a few ways that can solve this issue.)

4. Participle clause with adverbial meaning

• Present participle: Opening the door, she …
  • Past participle: Faced with a lot of problems, he …
  • Perfect participle: Having arrived early, she …

Note:

It is sometimes possible to have two different subjects for the participle clause and the main clause in two ways:

• The front entrance being locked, Fred had to walk round the building to find the back door.
• With his love life (being) messed up, Alan decided to start his life afresh.

Opening the door, I discovered that there was a fire in the kitchen. = when I opened the door, I discovered….

As the front door was locked, I had to walk to the back door.-> the front door being locked, I had to walk …..