Participle Clauses

Exercises

Explanation

1. What is a participle clause?

A participle clause is a non-finite clause formed with a participle:

• Present participle (verb + -ing)

• Past participle (-ed / irregular third form)

• Perfect participle (having + past participle)

Crucially, the subject of the participle clause must be the same as the subject of the main clause. This shared subject is usually not repeated, which is why the structure sounds shorter and more elegant.

2. Present participle clauses (-ing)

Present participle clauses usually describe actions that are active and closely connected to the main verb.

a) Simultaneous actions

They show two actions happening at the same time.

Example:

Carrying a heavy backpack, he climbed the hill slowly.
(= He was carrying the backpack while climbing.)

b) Reason or cause

They often replace because, as, or since.

Example:

Feeling exhausted after the journey, she went straight to bed.
(= Because she felt exhausted…)

c) Result or consequence

They can show the natural result of an action.

Example:

The company changed its policy, improving working conditions for staff.
(= As a result, working conditions improved.)

3. Past participle clauses (-ed / V3)

Past participle clauses typically express passive meaning. The subject receives the action, rather than performing it.

a) Background or descriptive information

Example:

Designed for beginners, the course covers basic programming skills.
(= The course is designed for beginners.)

b) Reason or emotional reaction

Example:

Disappointed by the outcome, they decided to try again.
(= Because they were disappointed…)

These clauses often replace passive structures beginning with was / were.

4. Perfect participle clauses (having + past participle)

Perfect participle clauses are used when one action happened before another action in the past.

They frequently replace sentences with Past Perfect.

Example:

Having completed the experiment, the researcher published the results.
(= After the researcher had completed the experiment…)

This structure helps show clear time order without repeating verb forms.

5. Essential rule: the same subject

The participle clause and the main clause must refer to the same subject. If they do not, the sentence becomes unclear or grammatically incorrect (a dangling participle).

Correct:

Opening the email, she found the attached document.

Incorrect (dangling participle):

Opening the email, the document appeared missing.
(The document cannot open the email.)

When in doubt, mentally reinsert the subject to check clarity.