PARTICIPLE CLAUSES

Participle clauses

We can use participle clauses after a noun in the same way as relative clauses. This gives more information about the noun. We sometimes call this a 'reduced relative clause'.

1.  A present participle (verb + ing) can be used in the same way as an active relative clause:

The man driving the car is a friend of mine.

(= The man who is driving the car is a friend of mine).

The present participle can replace any active tense, not just the present continuous tense:

Lorries coming over the bridge have to be careful of the wind.

(= Lorries that come over the bridge have to be careful of the wind).

Who was the girl wearing the red dress?

(= Who was the girl who was wearing the red dress?).

Students handing in their essays late will lose ten marks.

(= Students who hand in their essays late will lose ten marks).

2.   A past participle can be used in the same way as a simple passive relative clause:

We read the email sent by the manager.

(= We read the email that had been sent by the manager).

This vase, made in China in the 14th century, is very valuable.

(= This vase, which was made in China in the 14th century, is very valuable).

She only eats cakes made by her mother.

(= She only eats cakes that are made by her mother).

3. 'Being + past participle' can be used in the same way as a continuous passive relative clause:

The poem being read by the actor was written by my brother.

(= The poem that is being read by the actor was written by my brother).

The strawberries being eaten at the wedding were grown in Scotland.

(= The strawberries that are being eaten at the wedding).

Things to notice:

1: We generally don't use perfect participles ('having + past participle') in this case.

2: We can't use this kind of participle clause if we're talking about one finished action which is not repeated:

Not: Who was the girl dropping the coffee?

Instead, we use a normal relative clause:

Who was the girl who dropped the coffee?

 Participle clauses can be used as “reduced relative clauses”

·         Do you know those children standing at the bus stop? (who are standing at the bus stop)

But they can also give information about the time, cause or result of the events described:

·         Opening her eyes, the baby began to cry (when he opened her eyes)

·         Faced with a huge bill, John has taken an extra job (because he is faced with a huge bill)

·    Looked after carefully, the plant can live through the Winter (if it is looked after carefully)

Note that the subject of the participle clause is usually the same as the subject of the main clause.

Note that we can use either a present participle (-ing) or having + past participle with a similar meaning when the action in the participle clause is complete before the action in the main clause begins:

·         Taking off his shoes, Ray walked into the house (= having taken off his shoes)

Have some practice following the LINKS:

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3