PARTICIPLE CLAUSES EXPLAINED

Participle clauses (Thank you, British Council)

(Just in case, maybe I should clarify that the “participle” here is the present participle, the …ing form, or the past participle, typically the …ed form.)

Participle clauses are a form of adverbial clause which enables us to say information 

in a more economical way. We can use participle clauses when the participle and the 

verb in the main clause have the same subject. 

For example:

Waiting for John, I made some tea. (I’m the subject, I’m waiting, and I’m making 

tea.)

Waiting for John, the kettle boiled. [This would suggest that the kettle was waiting 

for John!]

Forming participle clauses

Participle clauses can be formed with the present participle (-ing form of the verb) 

or past participle (third form of the verb). Participle clauses with past participles 

have a passive meaning:

Shouting loudly, Peter walked home. [Peter was shouting]

Shouted at loudly, Peter walked home. [Someone was shouting at Peter]

If we wish to emphasize that one action was before another then we can use 

a perfect participle (having + past participle):

Having won the match, Susan jumped for joy.

Having been told the bad news, Susan sat down and cried. 

The meaning and use of participle clauses

Participle clauses give information about condition, reason, result or time. For example:

Condition (in place of an if-condition):

Looked after carefully, this coat will keep you warm through many winters.

Compare: If you look after it carefully, this coat will keep you warm through many winters.

Reason (in place of words like so or therefore):

Wanting to speak to him about the contract, I decided to arrange a meeting.

Compare: I wanted to speak to him about the contract so I decided to arrange a meeting.

Result (in place of words like because or as a result):

I had no time to read my book, having spent so long doing my homework.

Compare: I had no time to read my book because I had spent so long doing my homework.

Time (in place of words like when, while or as soon as):

Sitting at the cafe with my friends, I suddenly realised that I had left the oven on at home.

Compare: While I was sitting at the cafe with my friends, I suddenly realised that I had left the oven on at home.