Participle Clauses - C1

Participle clauses

1. Grammar explanation

2. Present participle clauses

3. Past participle clauses

4. Perfect participle clauses

5. Participle clauses after conjunctions and prepositions

6. Practice

​Grammar explanation

Participle clauses enable us to say information in a more economical way. They are formed using present participles (going, reading, seeing, walking, etc.), past participles (gone, read, seen, walked, etc.) or perfect participles (having gone, having read, having seen, having walked, etc.). 
To make it negative, use NOT before the present participle.

​We can use participle clauses when the participle and the verb in the main clause have the same subject. For example:


Waiting for Ellie, I made some tea. (While I was waiting for Ellie, I made some tea.)

Participle clauses do not have a specific tense. The tense is indicated by the verb in the main clause. Participle clauses are mainly used in written texts, particularly in a literary, academic or journalistic style.

​Present participle clauses

Here are some common ways we use present participle clauses. Note that present participles have a similar meaning to active verbs. 

1. ​To give the result of an action:

   The bomb exploded, destroying the building.

2. To give the reason for an action:

   Knowing she loved reading, Richard bought her a book.

3. To talk about an action that happened at the same time as another action

   Standing in the queue, I realised I didn't have any money.

4. To add information about the subject of the main clause

   Starting in the new year, the new policy bans cars in the city centre.

​Past participle clauses

Here are some common ways that we use past participle clauses. Note that past participles normally have a passive meaning.

1. With a similar meaning to an if condition:
   Used in this way, participles can make your writing more concise. (If you use participles in this way, … )

2. To give the reason for an action:
   Worried by the news, she called the hospital.

3. To add information about the subject of the main clause:
   Filled with pride, he walked towards the stage.

​Perfect Participle Clauses

Perfect participle clauses show that the action they describe was finished before the action in the main clause. Perfect participles can be structured to make an active or passive meaning.

• Having got dressed, he slowly went downstairs.

• Having finished their training, they will be fully qualified doctors.

• Having been made redundant, she started looking for a new job.

Participle clauses after conjunctions and prepositions

It is also common for participle clauses, especially with -ing, to follow conjunctions and prepositions such as before, after, instead of, on, since, when, while and in spite of.

• Before cooking, you should wash your hands.

• Instead of complaining about it, they should try doing something positive.

• On arriving at the hotel, he went to get changed.

• While packing her things, she thought about the last two years.

• In spite of having read the instructions twice, I still couldn’t understand how to use it.

Multiple Choice

Moving silently, the lion follows its prey.

• Perfect participle clauses

• Present participle clause

• Past participle clauses

• Participle clauses after conjunctions and prepositions

Multiple Choice

Loved by everyone, Dan was a wonderful character.

• Past participle clauses

• Perfect participle clauses

• Present participle clauses

• Participle clauses after conjunctions and prepositions

Multiple Choice

Having got dressed, he slowly went downstairs.

• Present participle clauses

• Past participle clauses

• Perfect participle clauses

• Participle clauses after conjunctions and prepositions

Multiple Choice

Before cooking, you should wash your hands.

• Present participle clauses

• Past participle clauses

• Participle clauses after conjunctions and prepositions

• Perfect participle clauses

Multiple Choice

___ lunch, I sat in the garden with a drink.

• Making
• Made
• Having made

Multiple Choice

___ for the bus, she slipped on some ice and fell over.

• Running
• Run
• Having run

Multiple Choice

On ___ her former owner, the dog ran across the room to greet him.

• seeing
• seen
• having seen

Multiple Choice

___ in hospital for several weeks, she was delighted to be home.

• Being
• Been
• Having been

Multiple Choice

___ through the woods, they found a bird with a broken wing.

• Walking

• Walked

• Having walked

Multiple Choice

____ at a low temperature, these jeans will keep their original colour for a long time.

• Washed

• Washing

• Having washed