Participle

1. Present Participle

2. Past Participle

3. Perfect Participle

Verb + ing

V.3

Walking Dancing

Walked

Danced

Having + v.3

Having walked

ParticipleI saw a snake. I ran away.

Seeing a snake, I ran away.

1

After I had had my breakfast, I went to school.

Present participial phrase, + S + V

Having had my breakfast, I went to school.

2

Perfect participial phrase, + S + V

The theatre was full. We went home.

The theatre being full, we went home.

3

Present ParticipleThe sleeping baby

The baby who is sleeping.

Active voice

4

Past Participle

Bitten by a snake, the girl was sent to hospital.

The girl was bitten by a snake. The girl was sent to hospital.

Past ParticipleA painted doll

A doll which was painted.

Passive voice

Look at that girl sitting in the corner.

Who is the man being interviewed by the

journalist?

Who is sitting in the corner

Who is being interviewed by the journalist

Participle clauses with a present participle can be used

adjectivally.

Adjective

Feeling exhausted after the flight, I went to bed as soon as I got to the

hotel.

Because I felt exhausted after the flight, I went to bed

as soon as I got to the hotel.

Washed by hand, this jersey will keep its shape

for years.

If it is washed by hand, this jersey will keep its

shape for years.

All participle clauses can be used adverbially.

Having made your decision, it is not

possible to change your mind.

When you have made your decision, it is not

possible to change your mind.

Having spent happy holidays in Spain as a child, she was

keen to return there with her own family.

Because she had spent happy holidays in Spain as a child,

she was keen to return there with her own family.

Perfect participle clauses are often adverbial clauses showing when or why something

happened.

There being no money left, we had to start making our way home.

Because there was no money left, we had to start making our way home.

It being too late to get a bus, we took a taxi.

Because it was too late to get a bus, we took a taxi.

The subject of the participle clause is usually the same as that of the main clause. However, it is possible to have participle clauses with a

different subject.

I was beginning to get a headache with the children all talking at the same time.

With it / It being Sunday in New Zealand, we couldn’t find any shops open.

When the participle clause describes a situation, a different subject is often introduced

with the word with.