English Exercises: Participle Clause

Downloadable worksheets:

Relative clauses - participle/infinitiv e constructions. KEY included
Level: intermediate
Age: 12-17
Downloads: 304

Present and past participle clauses
Level: intermediate
Age: 12-17
Downloads: 138

Participial Clause Activity
Level: advanced
Age: 12-17
Downloads: 53

Grammar-time clause and participle clause
Level: intermediate
Age: 14-17
Downloads: 41

Identifying the gerund/ gerund phrase, participle / participle phrase, infinitive, adjective clause/ phrase, noun clause/ phrase, or adverb clause/ phrase.
Level: intermediate
Age: 14-17
Downloads: 35

Student Credit Cards - Benefits and Consequences
Level: intermediate
Age: 12-17
Downloads: 25

Types of Participle Clauses:

The present participle active (-ing) is used to make a statement where the subject is omitted because it is the same as the subject of the main clause. The events of the two clauses can relate to each other in various ways:

1 cause and effect; the participle clause, which states the cause, normally comes first: Realising the mountain top was covered in mist, we decided to turn back. (= Because we realised...)

2 description of the subject of the main clause; the participle clause normally comes second: The volunteers arrived at the clinic feeling a little nervous.

3 two simultaneous events with the same subject; the participle clause normally comes second: The woman hurried after her dog, calling to him to come back.

4 one event happening during another; the longer event is in the participle clause, which normally comes second: The new volunteer hurt himself (while) playing football.

The perfect participle, active (having -ed) is used to show that the event of the participle clause happened first. The clauses can be in either order: Having eaten all the food it could find in the camp, the bear wandered away.

The perfect participle, passive (having been -ed) is used when the action of the participle clause happens before the action of the main clause. The participle clause usually comes first: Having been attacked during his previous visit, he was very careful about where he went.

The past participle (-ed) has a passive meaning. The participle clause usually comes first. It can express1 cause: Ignored by the other children, the boy played by himself. (= Because he was ignored ...) 2 description: Surrounded on three sides by mountains, the village rarely enjoys much sunshine. 3 condition: Kept in a cool place, yoghurt will remain fresh for a long time. (= If yoghurt is kept in a cool place ...)

Activity

Please, choose the correct option or type your answer to rewrite the story below.

(1) We left at 6 am and we headed north.

= we headed north.

(2) We didn't want to waste time, so we walked up the steep valley which led to the foothills.

= , we walked up the steep valley .

(3) Once we'd reached the top of those, we saw the much higher peaks ahead.

= we saw the much higher peaks ahead.

(4) They were covered in snow and looked forbidding.

= , they looked forbidding.

(5) We came to a river where we crossed a stone bridge, which was built centuries ago.

= we crossed a stone bridge, .

(6) After another hour, because we were feeling hungry, we stopped for a snack.

= After another hour, , we stopped for a snack.

(7) There were dark clouds over the peaks. As we realised that would mean more snow, we discussed it.

= There were dark clouds over the peaks. , we discussed it.

(8) After we'd decided to carry on, we continued our trek uphill.

= , we continued our trek uphill.

(9) When I look back at that moment, I sometimes wonder whether that was the right decision if one bears in mind what followed.

= , I wonder whether that was the right decision .

But climbing is about taking risks, and we all survived to tell the tale.