Participle Clauses

Form

A participle clause replaces a full clause with a participle, dropping the subject and the auxiliary verb.

The -ing form carries an active meaning and usually stands in for because, while, when or after (Feeling tired, she went to bed = Because she felt tired, she went to bed). The -ed or irregular third form carries a passive meaning (Built in 1890, the bridge still stands = The bridge, which was built in 1890, still stands). For an action clearly finished before the main verb, use having plus the past participle (Having sent the email, he logged off), and make any participle clause negative by putting not in front of the participle (Not knowing the address, I asked a local).

When to Use It

1. 1

   Replace because or since to give a reason

   Not speaking the language, he struggled to communicate.

2. 2

   Replace while or when for two things happening together

   Sitting outside the cafe, she watched people pass.

3. 3

   Use the past participle for a passive reason or state

   Badly damaged by the storm, the roof needed immediate repairs.

4. 4

   Use having plus the past participle when one action clearly finished first

   Having considered all the evidence, the jury reached a verdict.

5. 5

   Shorten a relative clause after a noun to a single participle

   The car parked outside belongs to my neighbor.

6. 6

   Tighten formal writing, where a participle clause saves a whole clause

   Founded in 1978, the company has grown into a global brand.

Common Mistakes

• Dangling participle: write Tired from the journey, I found the bed inviting, not Tired from the journey, the bed looked inviting — the participle normally describes the subject of the main clause.
• Active form for a passive meaning: write Shocked by the news, the staff fell silent, not Shocking by the news, the staff fell silent — use the -ed form when the subject receives the action.
• Participle after after or before: write After finishing the report, she sent it, not After finished the report, she sent it — after and before take the -ing form, never the past participle.
• Negative with don't: write Not knowing the address, I asked a local, not Don't knowing the address, I asked a local — a participle clause has no auxiliary, so not goes straight in front of the participle.
• Past simple after having: write Having gone through the data, we found the error, not Having went through the data, we found the error — having takes the past participle.