Participle clauses (1) (- ing - ed and being - ed ) We can give information about someone or something using an -ing, past participle (-ed) or being + past participle (-ed) clause after a noun. These clauses are often similar to defining relative clauses beginning which, who, or that We stood on the bridge connecting the two halves of the building, (or...which connects/connected the two halves...) The weapon used in the murder has now been found, (or The weapon that was used...) The prisoners being released are all women, (or...who are being released...) -ing clauses We often use an -ing clause instead of a defining relative clause with an active verb The man driving the bus is my brother, (or The man who is driving the bus...) The land stretching away to the left all belongs to Mrs Thompson, (or The land which stretches away to the left...) Police took away Dr Li and items belonging to him. (or...items which belong/belonged to him.) Sometimes, however, we can't use an -ing clause when there is a noun between the relative pronoun and the verb in the defining relative clause, For example The man who Tim is meeting for lunch is from Taiwan, (not...the man Tim meeting...)
when the event or action talked about in the defining relative clause comes before the event or action talked about in the rest of the sentence, except when the second event or action is the result of the first. Compare The snow which fell overnight has turned to ice. (not The snow falling overnight...) and The snow which fell overnight has caused traffic chaos, (or The snow falling overnight has caused traffic chaos.) when we talk about a single, completed action in the defining relative clause, rather than a continuous action. Compare The girl who fell over on the ice broke her arm. (not The girl falling over...) and I pulled off the sheets which covered the furniture, (or...sheets covering the furniture.) Past participle (-ed) and being + past participle (-ed) clauses We often use a past participle or being + past participle clause instead of a defining relative clause with a passive verb The book published last week is his first written for children, (or The book that was published last week...) The boys being chosen for the team are under 9. (or The boys who are being chosen...) Sometimes, however, we can't use a past participle or being + past participle clause. For example when there is a noun between the relative pronoun and the verb in the defining relative clause The speed at which decisions are made in the company is worrying, (not The speed at which decisions made...) The issue that club members are being asked to vote on at tonight's meeting is that of a fee increase... (not The issue being asked to vote on...) when the defining relative clause includes a modal verb other than will There are a number of people who should be asked, (not...people should be asked.)
Match the sentences in the most likely way, and write them as one sentence using an -ing clause. (B) 1 Some wooden beams hold up the roof. a They waved to us. 2 Some teachers attended the meeting. b He was dressed in protective clothing. 3 Some people were driving past. c They decided to go on strike. 4 A man was operating the equipment. d They are dangerous. 5 A girl is waiting for the bus. e They have been damaged. 6 Some steps lead down to the river. f She is Jack's daughter. 1. The wooden beams holding up the roof have been damaged. 2. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 3. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 4. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 5. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 6. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Complete these sentences with the past participle form of an appropriate verb and one of these phrases. (D) from the jeweler on the label to the players on the motorway to represent Britain at today's meeting in the storm 1 The road repairs carried out on the motorway might delay traffic. 2 The decisions will affect all of us. 3 The building will have to be demolished. 4 Jack Sullivan was the man in the 100 metres. 5 The warning about their behaviour on the pitch was ignored. 6 All the rings and necklaces have now been recovered. 7 The instructions say it should only take a few minutes to cook. If possible, change the relative clause in these sentences to an -ing, past participle or being + past participle clause as appropriate. If it is not possible, write X after the sentence. (B-E) 1 The people who are being asked to take early retirement are all over the age of 60....people, being asked, to take... 2 The book that she wanted to borrow wasn't available in the library. 3 The eye hospital has recently obtained new equipment which will allow far more patients to be treated. 4 The children who are being moved to another school all have learning difficulties. 5 The man who died in the accident came from Bulgaria. 6 An agreement has been signed to protect the forests which are being cut down all over the world. 7 I ran through the crowd of people who were hurrying to get to work. 8 If you know of anyone who would like to buy Maggie's car, let me know. 9 The trees that were blown down in last night's storm have been moved off the road. 10 The woman who visited us last week has sent us a present.
Participle clauses with adverbial meaning (2) We can use an -ing form of a verb or the past participle in a clause which has an adverbial meaning. A clause like this often gives information about TIME or REASONS and RESULTS Opening her eyes, the baby began to cry. (= When she opened her eyes...) Faced with a bill for 10, 000, John has taken an extra job. (= Because he is faced...) They are often similar to non-defining relative clauses with which, who, or that Feeling tired, Louise went to bed early, (or Louise, who was feeling tired, went...) Formed 25 years ago next month, the club is holding a party for past and present members. (or The club, which was formed 25 years ago next month, is holding...) The following sentences illustrate other forms of verbs in clauses like this Being imported, the radios were more expensive. Having been hunted close to extinction, the rhino is once again common in this area. In negative forms of sentences like this, not usually comes before the -ing form or past participle. However, not can follow the -ing form or the past participle, depending on meaning Not wanting to wake her, Steve left the house silently. (= He didn't want to...) Preferring not to go out that night, I made an excuse. (= I preferred not to...) The implied subject of a clause like this is usually the same as the subject of the main clause Arriving at the party, we saw Ruth standing alone. (= When we arrived...we saw...) However, sometimes the implied subject is not referred to in the main clause Having wanted to drive a train all his life, this was an opportunity not to be missed. In more formal English, the -ing or past participle clause sometimes has its own subject The score being level after 90 minutes, a replay will take place. In general, using an -ing, past participle, or being + past participle clause instead of a clause beginning with a conjunction (when, because, etc.) or a non-defining relative clause makes what
we say or write more formal. Clauses like this are used particularly in formal or literary writing. Some clauses like this are used to give information about TIME Glancing over his shoulder, he could see the dog chasing him. (= As he glanced...) Having completed the book, he had a holiday. (= After he had completed the book...) We use an -ing clause to talk about something that takes place at the same time or very close in time to the action in the main clause Putting on a serious face, she began to tell the story. We often use an -ing clause in written narrative after quoted speech, when we want to say what someone was doing while they were talking 'Wait a minute,' said Frank, running through the door. If the action described is relatively long compared with the one described in the main clause, we use a clause beginning having + past participle Having driven five hours to the meeting, Don learnt that it had been postponed. Sometimes we can use either an -ing clause or a having + past participle clause with similar meanings, although using a having + past participle clause emphasises that something is completed before the action in the main clause begins. Compare Taking off / Having taken off his shoes, Ray walked into the house. Some clauses like this are used to talk about REASONS and RESULTS. For example Knowing exactly what I wanted, I didn't spend much time shopping. Being slim, he could squeeze through the opening in the fence. Having been invited to the party, we could hardly refuse to go.
Rewrite the sentences beginning with an -ing or past participle clause (or Not + -ing / past participle). (A) 1 Marie left work early because she didn't feel too well. Not -feeling too welt, Marie (or she,) left work early. 2 The manager was impressed by Jo's work so he extended her contract for a year. 3 He had acquired the money through hard work, so he was reluctant to give it away. 4 Because he had started the course, Alan was determined to complete it. 5 As we didn't want to offend him, we said nothing about his paintings. 6 As I haven't seen all the evidence, I am reluctant to make a judgement. Rewrite the sentences. Put the quoted speech first, and use an -ing clause. (B) 1 As I grabbed Don by the arm, I said, 'Look, it's Tim's car.' Look, It's Tun's car, I said., grabbing Don by the arm. 2 As she pointed to the empty table, Sandra said, 'It was here a moment ago.' 3 As she turned over in bed, Helen groaned, 'I'll get up in an hour or so.' 4 As Mark smiled cheerfully at them, he exclaimed, 'Well, I'm back.' Complete the sentences with the Having + past participle form of one of these verbs. In which is it also possible to use an -ing form with a similar meaning? (B) arrive climb spend take work 1 the wrong bus, Tony found himself in an unfamiliar town. 2. a tree, Lee was able to see a way out of the forest. 3.as a clerk, painter and bus driver, Neil decided to go back to university. 4.all morning working in the garden, Betty took a short lunch break.
5.early for his appointment, Ron spent some time looking at the magazines. Match the sentence halves and write new ones beginning with an -ing, having been (+ past participle) or being + past participle clause (or Not + -ing, etc.). (A C) 1. She was a doctor 2. I didn't expect anyone to be in the house 3. The room had been painted in dark colours 4. Dave was unemployed 5. I don't speak Italian 6. Barbara had been a teacher for 14 years a) she knew how to keep children interested. b) I found life in Sicily difficult. c) I walked straight in. d) she knew what side effects the medicine could have. e) he had time to consider what job he really wanted. f) the room needed some bright lights. Example 1 + (d) Being a. doctor, she knew what side-effects the medicine could have.