The Participle
Participle forms:
Active Passive
Playing Simple played
played Continuous being played
Perfect having played having been played
Past Played
Participle forms:
Active Passive
Playing Simple played
played Continuous being played
Perfect having played having been played
Past Played
2. An active participle is the ing form of a verb, e.g. laughing, waiting.
I heard you laughing.
We sat there waiting patiently.
3. A passive or past participle is a form such as covered, annoyed, broken, left.
Although covered by insurance, Tom was annoyed about the accident.
I stepped on some broken glass.
There are two parcels left on the doorstep.
4. A passive participle can be simple or continuous.
Simple: They wanted the snow cleared away.
Continuous: We saw the snow being cleared away.
5. A participle can also be perfect.
Having waited an hour, the crowd were getting impatient.
Having been delayed for an hour, the concert started at nine o’clock.
6. In the negative, not comes before the participle.
He hesitated, not knowing what to do.
Not having been informed, we were completely in the dark.
Participle clauses
1. A participle clause can just be a participle on its own.
Every one just stood there talking.
There can be an object or adverbial.
We saw a policeman chasing someone.
Cut above the right eye, the boxer was unable to continue.
An adverbial usually comes after the participle, and an object always comes after it.
NOT We saw a policeman someone chasing.
2. A participle can sometimes have a subject.
The lights having gone out, we couldn’t see a thing.
If there is no subject, then it is understood to be the same as in the main clause.
The men sat around the table playing cards. (=The men were playing cards)
Note:
The understood subject is usually the same as in the main clause.
Walking across the field, we saw a plane fly past.
(= As we were walking … , we saw … )
We can’t use a main clause without we, the understood subject of the participle.
NOT Walking across the field, a plane flew past.
This suggests that the plane was walking across the field, which is nonsense.
Now look at this example.
Sitting at a table, the band played for them.
This might lead to a misunderstanding because it suggests that the band was sitting at a
table.
The following sentence is correct.
Sitting at a table, they listened to the band.
(= As they were sitting …, they listened … )
Note: Here the understood subject of the participle
is the same as the subject of the main clause.
But sometimes the subjects can be different when there is no danger of misunderstanding.
Knowing how little time she had, this new delay infuriated her.
(=Because she knew …, she was infuriated … )
When adjusting the machine, the electricity supply should be disconnected.
(= When you adjust …, you should disconnect)
• Here the understood subject of the participle can also be understood as the subject of the
main clause.
The subjects do not need to be the same when we use following (=after), considering
(=in view of), and regarding (=about)
Following the lecture, we were able to ask questions.
Considering the awful weather, our Open Day was a great success.
No action has been taken regarding your complaint.
The subjects can also be different with strictly speaking, having said that and talking of.
Participle + noun
1) We can use an active or passive participle before a noun.
Active: Boiling water turns to steam. (=water which is boiling)
The team was welcomed by cheering crowds.
Passive: I had a reserved seat. (= a seat which had been reserved)
The experiment must be done under controlled conditions.
The terrorist used a stolen car.
The pattern is often neater than using a finite clause as When water boils, it turns to steam,
or The terrorists used a car they had stolen. The participle modifies a noun like adjective.
Compare hot water, enthusiastic crowds, a special seat. But we can’t always use the
pattern. For example, we can say a barking dog but NOT an eating dog.
Note:
a) Be + passive participle can express either a state or an action.
State: The terrorists’ car was stolen. It wasn’t theirs.
Action: The car was stolen two days before the accident.
b) Adjective in ing expresses what something is like, the effect it has on us. Such as, a show
can be amusing, interesting or boring. Adjectives in ed express how feel about something.
For example, the audience can feel amused, interested or bored.
Some pairs of adjectives like this are:
alarming/alarmed, amusing/amused, annoying/annoyed, confusing/confused,
depressing/depressed, disappointing/disappointed, exciting/excited,
fascinating/fascinated, puzzling/puzzled, relaxing/relaxed, surprising/surprised,
tiring/tired.
2) Sometimes we put an adverb before the participle.
Fanatically cheering crowds, properly trained staff.
We can also form compounds with adverbs or nouns.
a fast-growing economy, a wood burning stove, handwritten notes, undercooked meat,
a nuclear-powered submarine.
But we can’t use longer phrases.
NOT written in pencil notes.
NOT at the top of their voices cheering crowds.
3) We can use a few past participles in this pattern.
the escaped prisoner, a retired teacher, fallen rocks.
4) We can sometimes add ed to a noun to form a similar kind of modifier.
a walled city (=a city with a wall)
This happens mostly with compounds.
a dark-haired man (=a man with dark hair)
a short-sleeved shirt (=a shirt with short sleeves)
Verb + participle
1) The pattern We stood watching
We can use a participle after stand, sit, lie, go and run.
The whole family stood waving in the road.
She sat at the table reading a newspaper.
The girl lay trapped under the wreckage for three days.
People ran screaming for help.
Note: We also use busy + active participle
She was busy doing the accounts.
But sometimes the subjects can be different when there is no danger of misunderstanding.
Knowing how little time she had, this new delay infuriated her.
(=Because she knew …, she was infuriated … )
When adjusting the machine, the electricity supply should be disconnected.
(= When you adjust …, you should disconnect)
• Here the understood subject of the participle can also be understood as the subject of the
main clause.
The subjects do not need to be the same when we use following (=after), considering
(=in view of), and regarding (=about)
Following the lecture, we were able to ask questions.
Considering the awful weather, our Open Day was a great success.
No action has been taken regarding your complaint.
The subjects can also be different with strictly speaking, having said that and talking of.
Participle + noun
1) We can use an active or passive participle before a noun.
Active: Boiling water turns to steam. (=water which is boiling)
The team was welcomed by cheering crowds.
Passive: I had a reserved seat. (= a seat which had been reserved)
The experiment must be done under controlled conditions.
The terrorist used a stolen car.
The pattern is often neater than using a finite clause as When water boils, it turns to steam,
or The terrorists used a car they had stolen. The participle modifies a noun like adjective.
Compare hot water, enthusiastic crowds, a special seat. But we can’t always use the
pattern. For example, we can say a barking dog but NOT an eating dog.
Note:
a) Be + passive participle can express either a state or an action.
State: The terrorists’ car was stolen. It wasn’t theirs.
Action: The car was stolen two days before the accident.
b) Adjective in ing expresses what something is like, the effect it has on us. Such as, a show
can be amusing, interesting or boring. Adjectives in ed express how feel about something.
For example, the audience can feel amused, interested or bored.
Some pairs of adjectives like this are:
alarming/alarmed, amusing/amused, annoying/annoyed, confusing/confused,
depressing/depressed, disappointing/disappointed, exciting/excited,
fascinating/fascinated, puzzling/puzzled, relaxing/relaxed, surprising/surprised,
tiring/tired.
2) Sometimes we put an adverb before the participle.
Fanatically cheering crowds, properly trained staff.
We can also form compounds with adverbs or nouns.
a fast-growing economy, a wood burning stove, handwritten notes, undercooked meat,
a nuclear-powered submarine.
But we can’t use longer phrases.
NOT written in pencil notes.
NOT at the top of their voices cheering crowds.
3) We can use a few past participles in this pattern.
the escaped prisoner, a retired teacher, fallen rocks.
4) We can sometimes add ed to a noun to form a similar kind of modifier.
a walled city (=a city with a wall)
This happens mostly with compounds.
a dark-haired man (=a man with dark hair)
a short-sleeved shirt (=a shirt with short sleeves)
Verb + participle
1) The pattern We stood watching
We can use a participle after stand, sit, lie, go and run.
The whole family stood waving in the road.
She sat at the table reading a newspaper.
The girl lay trapped under the wreckage for three days.
People ran screaming for help.
Note: We also use busy + active participle
She was busy doing the accounts.
2) Go shopping and do the shopping
a) We use go/come + active participle to talk about some activities away from home,
especially leisure activities.
I would love to go swimming.
Come cycling with us.
We went riding yesterday.
She goes jogging every morning.
b) We use do the + gerund for some kind of work, especially housework.
I usually do the washing at the weekend.
Someone comes in to do the cleaning for us.
Have you done the ironing yet?
Note: Go shopping usually means leisure shopping, for example for clothes. Do the shopping
means buying food.
c) We can do some …, do a lot of/ a bit of … etc for both leisure and work.
I once did some surfing in California?
She does a lot of cooking.
I don’t do much fishing these days.
Note: We can use do + gerund.
I can’t do sewing. I always make a mess of it.
Participle clause of time, reason etc
1) Time
a) A clause with an active participle (e.g. playing, serving) means an action at the same time
as the action of the main clause.
Mike hurt his hand playing badminton.
We were rushing about serving tea to every one.
Note: For conjunction + participle, e.g. Mike hurts his hand while playing badminton.
b) The participle clause can come first, but this is rather literary.
Coming up the steps, I fell over.
c) We can also use a participle clause when two short, connected actions are close in time,
even if they do not happen at exactly the same time.
Taking a note from her purse, she slammed it down on the counter.
Opening the file, the detective took out a newspaper cutting.
This pattern is rather literary. It is more neutral to use two main clauses.
She took a note from her purse and slammed it down on the counter.
Note: We mention the actions in the order they happen. The participle usually comes in the first
clause, but it can sometimes come in the second.
She took a note from her purse, slamming it down on the counter.
d) We can also use a perfect participle for an action which comes before another connected
one.
Having filled his glass/Filling his glass, Max took a long drink.
Note: But when the first action is not short, we must use the perfect.
Having dug a hole in the road, the men just disappeared.
NOT Digging a hole in the road, the men just disappeared.
The clause with the perfect participle can come after the main clause.
e) In the passive we can use a simple, continuous or perfect participle.
The old woman walked slowly to the lift, assisted by the porter.
I don’t want to stay out here being bitten by insects.
A hole having been dug, the men just disappeared.
a) We use go/come + active participle to talk about some activities away from home,
especially leisure activities.
I would love to go swimming.
Come cycling with us.
We went riding yesterday.
She goes jogging every morning.
b) We use do the + gerund for some kind of work, especially housework.
I usually do the washing at the weekend.
Someone comes in to do the cleaning for us.
Have you done the ironing yet?
Note: Go shopping usually means leisure shopping, for example for clothes. Do the shopping
means buying food.
c) We can do some …, do a lot of/ a bit of … etc for both leisure and work.
I once did some surfing in California?
She does a lot of cooking.
I don’t do much fishing these days.
Note: We can use do + gerund.
I can’t do sewing. I always make a mess of it.
Participle clause of time, reason etc
1) Time
a) A clause with an active participle (e.g. playing, serving) means an action at the same time
as the action of the main clause.
Mike hurt his hand playing badminton.
We were rushing about serving tea to every one.
Note: For conjunction + participle, e.g. Mike hurts his hand while playing badminton.
b) The participle clause can come first, but this is rather literary.
Coming up the steps, I fell over.
c) We can also use a participle clause when two short, connected actions are close in time,
even if they do not happen at exactly the same time.
Taking a note from her purse, she slammed it down on the counter.
Opening the file, the detective took out a newspaper cutting.
This pattern is rather literary. It is more neutral to use two main clauses.
She took a note from her purse and slammed it down on the counter.
Note: We mention the actions in the order they happen. The participle usually comes in the first
clause, but it can sometimes come in the second.
She took a note from her purse, slamming it down on the counter.
d) We can also use a perfect participle for an action which comes before another connected
one.
Having filled his glass/Filling his glass, Max took a long drink.
Note: But when the first action is not short, we must use the perfect.
Having dug a hole in the road, the men just disappeared.
NOT Digging a hole in the road, the men just disappeared.
The clause with the perfect participle can come after the main clause.
e) In the passive we can use a simple, continuous or perfect participle.
The old woman walked slowly to the lift, assisted by the porter.
I don’t want to stay out here being bitten by insects.
A hole having been dug, the men just disappeared.
2) Comparison
of patterns
a) After he had left the building, the man hailed a taxi
b) After leaving the building …
c) After having left the building …
d) Having left the building …
e) Leaving the building …
Sentence (a) is the most neutral in style and the most usual of these pattern in everyday
speech. (b) is also fairly usual, although a little more formal. (c) is less usual because after
and having both repeat the idea of one action following the other. (d) and (e) are rather
literary. (e) means that the two actions were very close in time.
3) Conjunction + participle
We can use active or passive participle after when, where, whenever, while, once, until,
if and although.
You should wear gloves when using an electric saw.
Once opened, the contents should be consumed within three days.
Although expecting the news, I was greatly shocked by it.
This pattern is little more formal than a finite clause such as when you use an electric saw.
4) Reason
a) A participle clause can express reason.
Crowds were waiting at the airport, hoping to see Madonna arrive.
(=because they were hoping to see her arrive.)
Not feeling very well, James decided to lie down.
Having lost my passport, I have to apply for a new one.
The restaurant having closed, there was nowhere to eat.
Being rather busy, I completely forgot the time.
b) In the passive we can use a simple, continuous and perfect participle.
He died at thirty, stuck down by a rare disease.
In summer the ducks have it easy, always being fed by the tourists.
Having been renovated at great expense, the building looks magnificent.
a) After he had left the building, the man hailed a taxi
b) After leaving the building …
c) After having left the building …
d) Having left the building …
e) Leaving the building …
Sentence (a) is the most neutral in style and the most usual of these pattern in everyday
speech. (b) is also fairly usual, although a little more formal. (c) is less usual because after
and having both repeat the idea of one action following the other. (d) and (e) are rather
literary. (e) means that the two actions were very close in time.
3) Conjunction + participle
We can use active or passive participle after when, where, whenever, while, once, until,
if and although.
You should wear gloves when using an electric saw.
Once opened, the contents should be consumed within three days.
Although expecting the news, I was greatly shocked by it.
This pattern is little more formal than a finite clause such as when you use an electric saw.
4) Reason
a) A participle clause can express reason.
Crowds were waiting at the airport, hoping to see Madonna arrive.
(=because they were hoping to see her arrive.)
Not feeling very well, James decided to lie down.
Having lost my passport, I have to apply for a new one.
The restaurant having closed, there was nowhere to eat.
Being rather busy, I completely forgot the time.
b) In the passive we can use a simple, continuous and perfect participle.
He died at thirty, stuck down by a rare disease.
In summer the ducks have it easy, always being fed by the tourists.
Having been renovated at great expense, the building looks magnificent.
c) We can use with before participle
clause with a subject.
With prices going up so fast, we can’t afford luxuries.
It was a large room, with bookshelves covering most of the walls.|
5) Result
An active participle after the main clause can express result.
They pumped waste into the river, killing all the fish.
The film star made a dramatic entrance, attracting everyone’s attention.
6) Conditions
A participle clause can express a condition.
All being well, we should be home about six. (= if all is well … )
We plan to eat outside, weather permitting.
Taken daily, vitamin pills can improve your health.
7) Idioms
We can use a participle clause in some idiomatic phrases which comment on a statement
or relate it to a previous one.
Strictly speaking, you can’t come in here unless you’re a club member.
Things don’t look too good. But having said that, there are still grounds for optimism.
I’m going on a computer course next week. ~ Talking of computers, ours broke down.
With prices going up so fast, we can’t afford luxuries.
It was a large room, with bookshelves covering most of the walls.|
5) Result
An active participle after the main clause can express result.
They pumped waste into the river, killing all the fish.
The film star made a dramatic entrance, attracting everyone’s attention.
6) Conditions
A participle clause can express a condition.
All being well, we should be home about six. (= if all is well … )
We plan to eat outside, weather permitting.
Taken daily, vitamin pills can improve your health.
7) Idioms
We can use a participle clause in some idiomatic phrases which comment on a statement
or relate it to a previous one.
Strictly speaking, you can’t come in here unless you’re a club member.
Things don’t look too good. But having said that, there are still grounds for optimism.
I’m going on a computer course next week. ~ Talking of computers, ours broke down.
Verb + object + participle
1) The pattern I saw you doing it.
a) I saw two men cutting down a tree.
We heard you arguing with your brother.
Can you smell something burning?
We can use an object + active participle after these verbs of perception: see, look, watch,
notice, observe; hear, listen to; feel; smell.
b) A verb of perception can also take an object + bare infinitive.
I saw two men cut down a tree.
We didn’t notice anyone leave the building.
A bare infinitive means the complete action, but the participle means an action for a period
of time, whether or not we see the whole action.
I saw them cut the tree down. It didn’t take long. (= I saw them. They cut it down)
I saw them cutting the tree down as I went past. (= I saw them. They were cutting it.)
But when we talk about a short action, we can use either pattern.
She saw the horse jump/jumping the horse.
We didn’t notice anyone leave/leaving the building.
Note: We can use these passive forms.
We saw the lions fed. We saw the lions being fed.
2) The patterns I kept you waiting
The trainer had the players running round the field.
We soon got the machine working again.
Doctor Jones is rather slow. He often keeps his patients waiting.
The driver left us standing at the side of the road.
They caught a student cheating in the exam.
We can use an object + active participle after have, get, start, keep, leave, find, and catch.
The participle here means action for a period of time.
Note:
a) We can also use a passive participle.
We had/got the machine working.
Police found a body buried in the garden.
b) After have, get, and leave we can use a infinitive for an action seen as a whole.
The trainer had the players run/got the players to run round the field.
The driver left us to find our own way home.
c) We can also use have in the sense of “have something happening to you”.
She suddenly realized she had two dogs following him.
I won’t have people treating this house like a hotel.
3) The pattern I spent some time waiting
I’ve spent half an hour looking for that letter.
The company wasted millions of pounds investing in out-of-date technology.
We can also use a participle after spend, waste or lose and an expression of time or money.
4) The pattern You were seen doing it.
The men were seen cutting down the tree.
We were left standing at the side of the road.
5) The pattern I want it done
She wanted the carpet (to be) cleaned.
I’d like this drawing (to be) photocopied, please.
We prefer the lights (to be) turned down.
We can use an object + passive participle ( or passive to-infinitive) after want, need,
(would) like, (would) love, (would) prefer, (would) hate.
1) The pattern I saw you doing it.
a) I saw two men cutting down a tree.
We heard you arguing with your brother.
Can you smell something burning?
We can use an object + active participle after these verbs of perception: see, look, watch,
notice, observe; hear, listen to; feel; smell.
b) A verb of perception can also take an object + bare infinitive.
I saw two men cut down a tree.
We didn’t notice anyone leave the building.
A bare infinitive means the complete action, but the participle means an action for a period
of time, whether or not we see the whole action.
I saw them cut the tree down. It didn’t take long. (= I saw them. They cut it down)
I saw them cutting the tree down as I went past. (= I saw them. They were cutting it.)
But when we talk about a short action, we can use either pattern.
She saw the horse jump/jumping the horse.
We didn’t notice anyone leave/leaving the building.
Note: We can use these passive forms.
We saw the lions fed. We saw the lions being fed.
2) The patterns I kept you waiting
The trainer had the players running round the field.
We soon got the machine working again.
Doctor Jones is rather slow. He often keeps his patients waiting.
The driver left us standing at the side of the road.
They caught a student cheating in the exam.
We can use an object + active participle after have, get, start, keep, leave, find, and catch.
The participle here means action for a period of time.
Note:
a) We can also use a passive participle.
We had/got the machine working.
Police found a body buried in the garden.
b) After have, get, and leave we can use a infinitive for an action seen as a whole.
The trainer had the players run/got the players to run round the field.
The driver left us to find our own way home.
c) We can also use have in the sense of “have something happening to you”.
She suddenly realized she had two dogs following him.
I won’t have people treating this house like a hotel.
3) The pattern I spent some time waiting
I’ve spent half an hour looking for that letter.
The company wasted millions of pounds investing in out-of-date technology.
We can also use a participle after spend, waste or lose and an expression of time or money.
4) The pattern You were seen doing it.
The men were seen cutting down the tree.
We were left standing at the side of the road.
5) The pattern I want it done
She wanted the carpet (to be) cleaned.
I’d like this drawing (to be) photocopied, please.
We prefer the lights (to be) turned down.
We can use an object + passive participle ( or passive to-infinitive) after want, need,
(would) like, (would) love, (would) prefer, (would) hate.
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