A short participle clause can give background, a reason or an earlier action. Its form shows the relationship between events without adding another complete finite clause.
The idea
In these common clauses, the implied subject matches the main subject. Use -ing for an active meaning, a past participle for a passive meaning, and having + past participle for an earlier completed action. Having been warned is passive.
Examples
- Walking along the canal, I spotted a kingfisher.
- Damaged by the storm, the roof needed repairs.
- Having checked the figures twice, Mina sent the report.
- Not knowing the code, I waited by the gate.
- While repairing the chair, Omar found a coin.
- Having been warned about the ice, we took the path by the wall.
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Watch out
A participle's name does not fix the event's tense. Avoid a dangling subject: Walking along the canal, the rain started wrongly attaches the walking to the rain. Write As I was walking along the canal, it started raining.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct option. ___ along the canal, I spotted a kingfisher. (Walking / Walked)
Show answer or example answer
Walking
Walking is active: the main subject I is the person walking and spotting the bird.
Choose the correct option. ___ by the storm, the roof needed repairs. (Damaged / Damaging)
Show answer or example answer
Damaged
Damaged is passive: the roof received the damage; it did not damage the storm.
Choose the correct option. Having ___ the figures twice, Mina sent the report. (checked / checking)
Show answer or example answer
checked
After having, use the past participle checked. The checking was completed before Mina sent the report.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct option. ___ along the canal, I spotted a kingfisher. (Walking / Walked)
Choose the correct option. ___ by the storm, the roof needed repairs. (Damaged / Damaging)
Choose the correct option. Having ___ the figures twice, Mina sent the report. (checked / checking)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Expand two examples into full clauses, naming who acts or receives the action. Then shorten your own pair of sentences with the same subject without changing the order of events.