Participle clauses

A participle clause is a type of dependent clause that uses the participle form of a verb (present, past or perfect). Participle clauses can function as adjectives or adverbs. When they function as adjectives (often called reduced relative clauses), they describe the subject or another noun in the main clause and answer the question which one? When they function as adverbs, they modify the whole situation in the main clause and answer questions such as when, why, how, with what result, or under what condition the action happens. Participle clauses allow us to give information in a more concise way.

This guide and a number of participle clause activities are available to download as PDF documents.

Subjects of participle clauses

As participles are a type of non-finite verb (they do not show tense or agree with a subject), no grammatical subject is expressed in the clause. However, participle clauses have an implied subject, and in most cases (with exceptions explained below), this implied subject must refer to the same person or thing as the subject of the main clause. For example:

• Walking home, I saw an accident. (While I was walking home, I saw an accident)
• Exhausted, she went to bed. (Because she was exhausted, she went to bed)
• Having finished his homework, he watched a TV show. (After he had finished his homework, he watched a TV show)

In these sentences, the action or state in the participle clause refers to the same subject as in the main clause. If the implied subject of the participle clause does not match the subject of the main clause, the result is a dangling participle, which is considered incorrect. For example:

• Walking home, a car nearly hit me. (While I was walking home, a car nearly hit me)
• Exhausted, the bed was very comfortable. (Because she was exhausted, the bed was very comfortable)
• Having finished his homework, the phone rang. (After he had finished his homework, the phone rang)

In these cases, we must use a full finite clause instead:

• While I was walking home, a car nearly hit me.
• Because she was exhausted, the bed was very comfortable.
• After he had finished his homework, the phone rang.

Present participle clauses

A present participle clause uses an -ing verb to describe an action or situation that explains, results from or is happening at the same time as the action in the main clause. Present participle clauses have a number of uses:

To show a simultaneous action with the main clause (when it happened)

• Walking home, I saw an accident. (While I was walking home, …)
• Waiting for the train, she read through her notes. (While she was waiting for her train, …)
• I overheard their conversation sitting in the café. (While I was sitting in the café, …)

To show the reason of the main clause (why it happened)

• Recognising the risks, the committee postponed the vote. (Because they recognised the risks, …)
• Realising her mistake, she apologised immediately. (Because she realised her mistake, …)
• Expecting delays, they left much earlier than usual. (Because they expected delays, …)

To show the result of the main clause (what happened as a result) – always in the end position

• The driver lost control of the car, crashing into a lamppost.
• She forgot her passport, causing a long delay at the airport.
• The storm hit overnight, flooding large parts of the city.

To show the manner of the main clause (how it happened)

• He left the room slamming the door.
• He walked away shaking his head.
• Laughing loudly, the child ran across the room.

To add optional information about the subject of the main clause

• She stood by the door, smiling nervously.
• Talking quietly, they walked through the park.
• She waited outside, checking her phone.

To add information to the main clause (similar to a sentential relative clause; in this use, the participle clause refers to the whole situation described by the main clause, not necessarily to its subject and must always be placed at the end of the sentence)

• She missed the last bus, leaving her stranded. (…, which left her stranded)
• The company raised its prices, leading to a drop in sales. (…, which led to a drop in sales)
• He missed the deadline, jeopardising the entire project. (…, which jeopardised the entire project)

Past participle clauses

Past participle clauses use a past participle (e.g. given, built, shocked, covered) to describe the state a subject is in as the result of an earlier action. This state is often passive in meaning, and it can either explain what happens in the main clause (as a condition, cause, or prerequisite) or simply provide descriptive background.

To show a condition

• Given clearer instructions, the task would be much easier. (If given…)
• The team would work far more efficiently provided with the right tools. (If provided…)
• Left untreated, the condition could become serious. (If left…)

To show a reason or cause

• Shocked by the results, the committee called an emergency meeting. (Because they were shocked…)
• Interested in physics, she attended the Faraday lecture. (Because she was interested…)
• Alarmed by the sudden drop, investors sold their shares. (Because they were alarmed…)

To show a prerequisite for a resulting state

• Cleared of snow, the runway was ready for use.
• Signed by both parties, the contract became legally binding.
• Checked for errors, the report was sent to the client.

To describe the subject’s condition

• Dressed in black, the singer walked onto the stage.
• Exhausted after the flight, she fell asleep immediately.
• Covered in dust, the old books filled the shelves.

To show descriptive background information

• Hidden behind the trees, the house was hard to see.
• Surrounded by high walls, the garden felt very private.
• Built in the 1800s, the bridge is still in use today.

Perfect participle clauses

Perfect participle clauses use having + past participle (e.g. having finished, having lost, having been born) and are used to show that the action or state in the clause happened before the action in the main clause. They can therefore be used to show sequence, reason, or simply earlier background information:

• Having locked the door, she left the house.
• Having lost his passport, he couldn’t go on the trip.
• Having studied the report, they decided to cancel the project.
• Having gathered all the evidence, the police made an arrest.
• Having saved enough money, they bought a house.
• Having been born in Germany, he knew all about great beers.

Participle clause sentence position

Because participle clauses often provide background information, they are very often placed at the beginning of a sentence. However, they are also extremely common at the end when the information is less important. At the end of the sentence, use a comma if the clause adds extra information, and no comma if it is essential to the meaning. Note that participle clauses showing results or adding information to the entire main clause always appear at the end.

• Walking home, I saw an accident. (here, the participle clause sets the scene)
• I saw an accident walking home. (here, the participle clause simply tells you when the main clause happened)
• Recognising the potential risks, the committee postponed the vote. (here, the participle clause emphasises the why)
• The committee postponed the vote recognising the potential risks. (here, the reason is background information)
• Left untreated, the condition could become serious. (emphasises the condition)
• The condition could become serious left untreated. (does not emphasise the condition)
• Exhausted after the flight, she fell asleep immediately. (emphasises the subject’s condition)
• She fell asleep immediately, exhausted after the flight. (now the subject’s condition is secondary information)
• Having studied the report, they decided to cancel the project. (emphasises the action that resulted in the main clause)
• They decided to cancel the project having studied the report. (now the action that resulted in the main clause is secondary information)
• Having been born in Germany, he knew all about great beers. (emphasises the background information)
• He knew all about great beers having been born in Germany. (now the background information is just additional)

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