participle clauses

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Participle clauses

Participle clauses

In participle clauses, we use the -ing form to combine two clauses with the same subject.

• Waiting for the bus, I read about the demonstration in the newspaper.
• Having finished my homework, I went to watch television.
  

Participle clauses

In participle clauses, we use present participle ( the -ing form of the verb)  to combine two clauses with the same subject: when the action happens or happened at the same time as the main action. 

• Looking out across the sea, I couldn't imagine a more beautiful view.
  

• She waved her hands. She tried to keep the flies away from her face--> Waving her hands, she tried to keep the flies away from her face.

Participle clauses

In participle clauses, we use the -ing form to combine two clauses with the same subject.

We use the present participle of have (having) + past participle when the action happened before the main action. 

• Having paid the bill, we left the hotel.
• Form: having + past participle
  
• The visitors watched the sunset on the rock. Then they walked back to their hotel. --> Having watched the sunset on the rock, they walked back to their hotel.  

• The subject of both clauses must be the same.

• Looking up in the sky, the moon was beautiful. (= The moon looked up at the sky.)
• Looking up in the sky, I noticed how beautiful the moon was.
  

Fill in the gap: "... a cool lemonade, he stretched out in the sand."

1. Drinking
2. Having drunk

I took this sentence from the grammar reference from the Workbook that they had last year. There was some confusion in my classes, because it's also possible to do this after one another. Maybe it's a good idea to think of another sentence.

Fill in the gap: "... the postcard, I looked for a post office to buy a stamp."

1. Writing
2. Having written

Make this into a sentence with a participle clause: "I brushed my teeth and then went to bed."

Make this into a sentence with a participle clause: "While I was at the zoo, I saw a penguin."

Correct or incorrect? "Having gone for a swim, the water was cold."

1. Correct
2. Incorrect

Remind students that it's about whether the subject of both clauses is the same.

Correct or incorrect? "Having filled the water bottle, Peter returned to class."

1. Correct
2. Incorrect

Fill in the gap: "... the postcard, I looked for an post office to buy a stamp."

1. Writing
2. Having written

Make this into a sentence with a participle clause: "I brushed my teeth and then went to bed."

On a scale of 0 to a 100, how well do you feel you understand participle clauses?

0100