Grammar / C1 Grammar lessons and exercises / Participle Clauses
Participle clauses allow us to express information in a shorter and more economical way. They can be formed with present participles, past participles or perfect participles.
Waiting for Ellie, I made some tea.
Worried by the news, she called the hospital.
Having finished their training, they will be fully qualified doctors.
We normally use a participle clause when the participle and the main verb have the same subject.
Waiting for Ellie, I made some tea.
= While I was waiting for Ellie, I made some tea.
⭐ Important
The understood subject of the participle clause must normally be the same as the subject of the main clause.
Participle clauses do not have their own specific tense. The time reference is normally understood from the verb in the main clause.
Standing in the queue, I realised I didn't have any money.
Participle clauses are especially common in literary, academic and journalistic writing.
Present participle clauses use the -ing form. They normally have an active meaning.
verb + -ing
The bomb exploded, destroying the building.
Knowing she loved reading, Richard bought her a book.
Standing in the queue, I realised I didn't have any money.
Starting in the new year, the new policy bans cars in the city centre.
Past participle clauses normally have a passive meaning.
Used in this way, participles can make your writing more concise.
= If participles are used in this way ...
Worried by the news, she called the hospital.
Filled with pride, he walked towards the stage.
Perfect participle clauses show that one action was completed before the action in the main clause.
Active
having + past participle
Passive
having been + past participle
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, especially -ing clauses, can follow words such as:
before • after • instead of • on • since • when • while • 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.
We normally put not before the participle.
Not wanting to hurt his feelings, I avoided the question.
Not knowing what to do, she asked for help.
Not convinced by the evidence, the judge asked more questions.
| Type | Form | Main meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present participle | verb-ing | usually active |
| Past participle | past participle | usually passive |
| Perfect participle | having + past participle | earlier completed action |
| Perfect passive | having been + past participle | earlier passive action |
❌ Walking home, the rain started.
This incorrectly suggests that the rain was walking home.
✅ Walking home, I noticed that it had started raining.
❌ Having finish the work, she went home.
✅ Having finished the work, she went home.
❌ Before to cook, wash your hands.
✅ Before cooking, wash your hands.
-ing: usually active.
Past participle: usually passive.
Having + past participle: one action happened before another.
Most important: check that the participle clause and main clause have the same subject.