C1 Participle clauses

moviesegments: participial-phrases  

Participle clauses

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.

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 emphasise 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.