Participles and Relative Clauses

Short sentences with the same subject may be joined with participles (-ing/-ed) or relative pronouns
(who/which/whose).

The cottage stands at the top of a cliff. It faces out to sea.

The cottage, which stands at the top of a cliff, faces out to sea.
The cottage, standing at the top of a cliff, faces out to sea.
The farmhouse was built in 1850. It is surrounded by fields.
The farmhouse, (which was) built in 1850, is surrounded by fields.

The participial clause is often put at the beginning of the sentence.

Standing at the top of a cliff, the cottage faces out to sea.
Built in 1850, the farmhouse is surrounded by fields.

This means that we can give information about someone or something using an –ing, past participle (-ed) or
being + past participle clause after a noun. These clauses are often similar to defining relative clauses
beginning with which, who or that.

We stood on the bridge which connects / connecting the two halves of the building.
The weapon (that was) used in the murder has now been found.
The prisoners (who are) being released are all women.

We often use an –ing clauses instead of a defining relative clause with an active verb:
The man (who is) driving the bus is my brother.
The land which stretches / stretching away to the left all belongs to Mrs Thompson.
Police took away Dr. Li and item which belong / belonging to him.

We often use a past participle or being + past participle clause instead of a defining relative clause with a
passive verb:
The book (that was) published last week is his first written for children.
The boys (who are) being chosen for the team are under 9.

2- Match the sentences in the most likely way, and write them as one sentence using an –ing clause

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 operation 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 + e: The wooden beams holding up the roof have been damaged.

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3- Complete the sentences with the past participle form of an appropriate verb and one of these phrases.
from the jeweler on the label to the players on the motorway
to represent Britain at today’s meeting in the storm

a. The road repairs …………………………………………………………………… might delay traffic.

b. The decisions …………………………………………………………………… will affect all of us.
c. The building …………………………………………………………………… will have to be demolished.
d. Jack Sullivan …………………………………………………………………… was the man in the 100 metres.
e. The warning …………………………………………………………………… about their behaviour on the pitch was ignored.
f. All the rings and necklaces …………………………………………………………………… have now been recovered.
g. The instructions …………………………………………………………………… say it should only take a few minutes to cook.

Participle clauses with adverbial meaning

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, REASON OR 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. (= Louise, who was feeling tired, went…)
Formed 25 years ago next month, the club is holding a party for past and present members. (= 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…)

Note how the meaning of the sentence changes when two sentences with different subjects are joined with a
participle.
 Tourists walk through the streets.
 Noises and smalls greet them.
 Walking through the streets,  noises and smells greet the tourists.
This means that the noises and smells are walking. Instead, you must keep the same subject for both clauses,
or use time words such as ‘while’.
Walking through the streets, tourists are greeted by noises and smells.
While the tourists walk through the streets, noises and smells greet them.

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 the –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 having + past participle clause with similar meanings, although
using a having + past participle clause emphasizes that something is completed before the action in the main
clause begins. Compare
Taking off his shoes, Ray walked into the house.
Having taken off his shoes, Ray walked to 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.

4- Rewrite the sentences beginning with an –ing or past participle clause

a. Marie left work early because she didn’t feel well. Not feeling well, Marie left work early.
b. The manager was impressed by Jo’s work, so he extended her contract for a year.
c. He had acquired the money through hard work, so he was reluctant to give it away.
d. Because he had started the course, Alan was determined to complete it.
e. As we didn’t want to offend him, we said nothing about his paintings.
f. As I haven’t seen all the evidence, I am reluctant to make a judgement.

5- Rewrite the sentences. Put the quoted speech first, and use an –ing clause.
a. As I grabbed Don by the arm, I said, ‘Look, it’s Tim’s car.’ ‘Look, it’s Tim’s car,’ I said, grabbing Don by the
arm.
b. As she pointed to the empty table, Sandra said, ‘It was here a moment ago.’
c. As she turned over in bed, Helen groaned, ‘I’ll get up in an hour or so.’
d. As Mark smiled cheerfully at them, he exclaimed, ‘Well, I’m back.’

6- 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?
arrive climb spend take work
a. …………………………………………….. the wrong bus, Tony found himself in an unfamiliar town.
b. …………………………………………….. a tree, Lee was able to see a way out of the forest.
c. …………………………………………….. as a clerk, painted and bus driver, Neil decided to go back into university.
d. …………………………………………….. all morning working in the garden, Betty took a short lunch break.
e. …………………………………………….. early for his appointment, Ron spent some time looking at the magazines.

7- Match the sentence halves and write new ones beginning with an –ing, having been + past participle or
being + past participle clause.

1. She was a doctor a. She knew how to keep children interested.

2. I didn’t expect anyone to be in the b. I found life in Sicily difficult.
house c. I walked straight in.
3. The room had been painted in dark d. She knew what side effects the medicine could
colours have.
4. Dave was unemployed, e. He had time to consider what job he really
5. I don’t speak Italian wanted.
6. Barbara had been a teacher for 14 years f. The room needed some bright lights.

1 + d: Being a doctor, she knew what side-effects the medicine could have.

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8- Link the sentences below starting each sentence with the correct form of the word(s) in bold.

a. The castle dominates the skyline. It is built of local stone.

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b. The museum was opened in 1939. It is visited by thousands of people every day.
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c. The temple is surrounded by trees. It is difficult to see from a distance.
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d. Greater London covers 610 square miles. It is the largest city in Britain.
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e. The monument was erected in 1919. It is a memorial to those who died in World War I.
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9- Correct the following sentences as in the example.

Sinking behind the mountain, I watched the sun fill the sky with red. (WRONG)
Sinking behind the mountain, the sun filled the sky with red. (CORRECT)
OR As I watched the sun sinking behind the mountain, it filled the sky with red.

a. Stretching into the distance, we were amazed by the length of the queue.
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b. Squeezing your way onto the packed bus, the other passengers press even closer together to make room
for you.
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c. Shuffling towards the supermarket’s busy tills, heavy baskets hang from the shoppers’ tired arms.
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d. Standing squashed among the screaming fans, the roar of the enormous crowd was deafening.
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