-ing condensers

PARTICIPLE CONSTRUCTIONS

(Based on Alexander, L.G. Longman English Grammar, Longman)

Co-ordinate clauses

She lay awake all night and recalled the events of the day.

recalling

Clauses of time

When she (had) finished all her housework, she sat down to watch television.

Having finished all her housework, ………

When I was walking along Prague Street, I met Paul.

(When/while) walking along Prague Street, I met Paul.

Present participles can be used after the time conjunctions AFTER, BEFORE, SINCE, WHEN, WHILE. ON, IN can be used to mean WHEN, WHILE.

When I found the front door open, I became suspicious.

On finding the front door open, I ….

While I was trying to open the can, I cut my hand.

In/while trying to open the can, I cut my hand.

When it was viewed from the distance, it looked picturesque.

When viewed from the distance it looked ………..

After we were informed about the delay, we made other arrangements.

After being informed about the delay, we made other arrangements.

AFTER, BEFORE, SINCE, ON, IN cannot be followed directly by a past participle. They require being plus past participle.

Clauses of reason

As I was anxious to please him, I bought him a nice present.

Being anxious to please him, I ……..

Since he had worked hard all his life, he decided to take a long vacation.

Having worked hard all his life, he decided ………..

Because I have been made redundant, I am going abroad.

Having been made redundant, I am going abroad.

Clauses of condition

Unless you pay by credit card, please pay in cash.

Unless paying by credit card, please pay in cash.

If you are accepted for this post, you will be informed in 14 days.

If accepted, you will ……….

Clauses of concession

While he admitted that he had received the stolen lewellery, he denied his participation in the robbery.

While admitting that ……………….

Although it was built before the war, the engine is still in perfect order.

Although built before the war, the engine ………………..

Relative clauses

The woman who is washing the dishes is our new cook.

washing

Anyone who violates this law will be punished.

violating

Doctors often recommend rabies shots for anyone who is bitten by a strange dog.

bitten

Those houses which are being pulled down were built 50 years ago.

being pulled down

The orchestra members, who had been practicing all day, were very tired.

having been practising

Mr. Richards, who had been wounded in the last war, was receiving a pension from the government.

having been wounded

Punctuation – the same as in relative clauses.

A student hoping to finish college in 3 years must work very hard.

Robert, hoping to finish college in 3 years, must work very hard.

ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTIONS WITH PARTICIPLES

Normally the subject of a participle clause is the same as the subject of the main clause in a sentence.

Using a participle clause which has its own subject.

As nobody had any more to say, the meeting was closed.

Nobody having any more to say, the meeting was closed.