CHSE 2012

Participle clauses: structure and use

CAE Grade 12

Structure
The participles are:
a) present participles (staying, living)
b) past participles (stayed, left)
c) perfect participles (having left)
1) Present and past participles are used as adjectives.
The present participle (-ing) describes what somebody or something
is (it answers to the question What kind?)
The past participle (-ed) describes how somebody feels (it answers
to the question How do you feel?)
2) Particles can be used to express reason:
Feeling tired (because he was feeling tired), Matt decided to go back
to bed.
Having seen the film before (because I had seen the film before), I
decided to turn the TV off and read a good book.
3) Participles can be used to express time:
After he had taken his masters degree, he applied for a job.
Having taken his masters degree, he applied for a job.
We met Nicola while we were having a barbecue. We met
Nicola while having a barbeque.
4) Participles can be used instead of the past simple narratives
when we describe actions happening immediately one after another.
Hearing the news, she ran home. (she heard the news and she ran
home)
5) Participles can be used to avoid repeating the past continuous in
the same sentence.
We were walking in the forest talking about our plans for the future
(and we were talking.)
Participles and relative clauses
We can make participle clauses with ing participles and ed
participles.
1) Use -ing participle clauses to replace relative clauses with
active verbs.
People who live with pets are more friendly and have less stress.
People living with pets are more friendly and have less stress.
2) Use ed participle clauses to replace relative clauses with
passive verbs.
I always buy clothes that have been made of natural fibres. I
always buy clothes made of natural fibres.
Their first song, which was called My Girl, became an instant hit.
Their first song, called My Girl, became an instant hit.

Grammar Participle Clauses

CHSE 2012
CAE Grade 12
3) In formal writing, present and past participles can be used to
replace clauses, taking the first position in the sentence for
emphasis.
Monica, who was dressed entirely in red, entered the room dancing.
Dressed entirely in red, Monica entered the room dancing.
She is so rich that she can afford buying pricey jewelry. Being
so rich, she can afford buying pricey jewelry.

Grammar Participle Clauses