Participial Clauses

Participial Clauses in English

Participial clauses are a type of dependent clause that use participles to provide additional information about the action in the main clause. They are used to make sentences more concise and to add variety to writing. There are two main types of participles: present participles (ending in -ing) and past participles (usually ending in -ed or -en).


Types of Participial Clauses:

  1. Present Participial Clauses
  2. Past Participial Clauses

Present Participial Clauses

Form: Present participle (-ing form of the verb) + additional information

Use:

  • To show an action happening at the same time as the action in the main clause.
  • To give reasons or explanations.
  • To describe a result.

Examples:

  • Simultaneous Action: She walked down the street, singing happily.
    • (She walked and sang at the same time.)
  • Reason: Knowing he was late, he ran to the bus stop.
    • (Because he knew he was late, he ran to the bus stop.)
  • Result: The book was so boring, putting me to sleep.
    • (The result of the book being boring was that it put me to sleep.)

Example (adjective clause modifying the noun “dog”):

  • “The barking dog chased the ball.”

In this example, “barking” is the present participle, and the participial clause “barking dog” modifies the noun “dog,” providing information about what kind of dog it is.

Past Participial Clauses

Form: Past participle (usually the -ed or -en form of the verb) + additional information

Use:

  • To show a completed action or state in relation to the main clause.
  • To provide passive voice information.
  • To describe conditions.

Examples:

  • Completed Action: Tired from the journey, he went straight to bed.
    • (He was tired because of the journey, so he went to bed.)
  • Passive Voice: Built in the 19th century, the house has a lot of character.
    • (The house, which was built in the 19th century, has a lot of character.)
  • Condition: Given the right conditions, these plants can thrive.
    • (If they are given the right conditions, these plants can thrive.)

Example (adverbial clause modifying the main clause):

  • “Exhausted from the long journey, she went straight to bed.”

In this example, “exhausted” is the past participle, and the participial clause “Exhausted from the long journey” provides additional information about the subject “she” and explains why she went straight to bed.

Exercise 1: Identifying Participial Clauses

Underline the participial clause in each sentence and identify if it is a present or past participial clause.

  1. Hearing the news, she burst into tears.
  2. Confused by the instructions, he asked for help.
  3. The child, running through the park, tripped and fell.
  4. Built in 1990, the bridge is still in excellent condition.
  5. Knowing the risks, they decided to proceed.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences Using Participial Clauses

Rewrite the sentences by combining them with participial clauses.

  1. She was exhausted from the workout. She sat down to rest.
  2. He was impressed by her skills. He offered her the job.
  3. The students were talking loudly. They were asked to leave the library.
  4. The project was completed on time. It received high praise.

Exercise 1

  1. Present: Hearing the news, she burst into tears.
  2. Past: Confused by the instructions, he asked for help.
  3. Present: The child, running through the park, tripped and fell.
  4. Past: Built in 1990, the bridge is still in excellent condition.
  5. Present: Knowing the risks, they decided to proceed.

Explanation:

  • Present participles end in -ing and indicate ongoing or simultaneous actions.
  • Past participles often end in -ed or -en and indicate completed actions or states.

Exercise 2

  1. Exhausted from the workout, she sat down to rest.
  2. Impressed by her skills, he offered her the job.
  3. Talking loudly, the students were asked to leave the library.
  4. Completed on time, the project received high praise.
  1. Not knowing the answer, she guessed.

Explanation:

  • Participial clauses can make sentences more concise and varied by combining actions or states in a single clause.
  • Use present participles for ongoing or simultaneous actions.
  • Use past participles for completed actions or states.

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