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Participle Clauses
Participle Clauses
1
PARTICIPLE CLAUSES: Theory
1. Introduction
E.g.: Opening her eyes, the baby began to cry. OR...
When she opened her eyes, the baby...
The baby, who opened her eyes, began...
E.g.: Feeling tired, Marcos went to bed early. OR...
Because he was feeling tired, Marcos...
Marcos, who was feeling tired, went...
E.g.: Impressed by Gerrys work, the manager extended his contract for 5 more
years. OR...
As he was impressed by Gerrys work, the manager...
The manager, who was impressed by Gerrys work, extended...
Question 1:
What are opening, feeling, and impressed in the above sentences?
A- Opening/feeling present participle
Impressed past participle
Question 2:
What are opening her eyes, feeling tired, and impressed by Gerry's work?
A- Participle clauses
Question 3:
What is the meaning of these clauses with respect to the main sentences within
which they are embedded?
A-They have adverbial meaning: time, reason, result
Question 4:
What other types of clauses are they similar to?
A- Non-defining relative clauses (only that these have a relative pronoun)
GRAMMAR: PARTICIPLE CLAUSES
Question 5:
Read the 3 sentences again and say...
a) whos the subject of the participle clause:
The baby/Marcos/the manager (implied subject).
b) whos the subject of the main clause:
The baby/Marcos/the manager (stated subject).
Now read this sentence:
E.g.: Having wanted to drive a train all his life, this was an opportunity not to be
missed.
Question 6:
Is the subject of the participle clause stated in the main clause?
NO
Question 7:
Are the subject of the participle clause and the subject of the main clause the
same?
NO
THE USE OF THIS KIND OF CLAUSES INSTEAD OF CLAUSES BEGINNING
WITH A CONJUNCTION (WHEN, BECAUSE, AS, ETC.) OR A NON-DEFINING
RELATIVE CLAUSE MAKES WHAT WE WRITE OR SAY MORE FORMAL.
2. When do we use participle clauses?
3.
2.1. Participle clauses can replace and in sentences with two main (coordinated)
clauses: