Some common ways we use present participle clauses:
To give the result of an action:
The bomb exploded, destroying the building.
To give the reason for an action:
Knowing she loved reading, Richard bought her a book.
To talk about an action that happened at the same time as another action:
Standing in the queue, I realised I didn't have any money.
To add information about the subject of the main clause:
Starting in the new year, the new policy bans cars in the city centre.