Passive Sentences

We use the past participle to shorten a passive clause.

Example:

Blown to the right by the hair-dryer, her hair could easily be cut.

Long form: Her hair was blown to the right by the hair-dryer and could easily be cut.

To Note

We use the perfect participle (having been + past participle) to stress that the action in the participle clause took place before the action in the
main clause. However, this form is rarely used.

Example:

Having been cut, her hair looked strange.

Long form: After her hair had been cut, it looked strange.

Construction

There is no subject in a participle clause. The subject of the main clause is also the subject of the participle clause.
Example:
Having washed her hair, Susan reached for the hair-dryer and scissors.

The main verb is changed into a participle. We have to pay attention to whether the action in the participle clause takes place at the
same time as the action in the main clause or before it, and whether we are using the active or the passive voice.
Example:
Holding the hair-dryer in her left hand, Susan cut her hair.
(simultaneous action, activepresent participle)

In negative participle clause we put not befor the participle.

Example:
Not having any money, Susan decided to cut her hair herself.

participle
form
active simulataneo
us action

present
participle

example
Holding the hair-dryer in her left hand, she
cut her hair.

participle
form

example

(ing-form)

sequential
action

simulateous

passiv and
sequential
e
actions

perfect
participle
(having +
3rd verb
form)
past
participle
(3rd verb
form)

Having washed her hair, she cut it.

Blown by the hair-dryer, her hair could

easily be cut.

The conjunctions as, because, and since, as well as the relative pronouns whoand which, are not used in the participle clause.
Example:
As the hair was blown to the right by the hair-dryer, it could easily be cut.
Blown to the right by the hair-dryer, the hair could easily be cut.

Her hair, which has been cut, looks strange now.

Her hair, having been cut, looks strange now.

But, the conjunctions before and when are used in the participle clause.
Example:
Before she cut her hair, she washed it.
Before cutting her hair, she washed it.

The conjunctions after and while can either be used or not.

Example:
After she had washed her hair, she cut it.
(After) having washed her hair, she cut it.

(for tips on constructing participles, see the chapter on Participles)

Participle Clauses with a Different Subject

In certain exceptional cases, the participle clause can have a subject that is not the same as the subject of the main clause. This is the case when
a main clause has one of the following verbs plus an object:

feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, smell, watch

In this case, the participle clause has to come directly after the object to which it refers.

Example:

Have you ever seen anyone cutting their hair this way?

Long form: Have you ever seen anyone who would cut their hair this way?

Exercises
Type in the present participle.
1.

(search)

for her gloves, she dug through the entire wardrobe.

2.

(whistle)

a song, she danced through the house with the mop.

3.

(sit)

4.

The child sat at the desk (paint)

5.

(run)

in the shade, we ate cake and drank coffee.

a picture.
to the bus stop, she lost her shoe.

Type in the past participle.

1.

(blind)

2.

(prepare)

3.

(sing)

4.

(misuse)

5.

Though (bear)

by the sun, the driver didnt see the stop sign.

by the chef himself, the dinner will be a real treat.
by him, every song sounds just wonderful.
as a refuse dump, the place became more and more shabby.
in England, she spent most of her childhood in the United States.

Type in the present perfect participle.

1.

(park)

the car, we searched for the ticket machine.

2.

(drink)

one litre of water, she really needed to go to the toilet.

3.

(leave)

the party too early, we couldnt see the fireworks anymore.

4.

(finish)

her phone call, she went back to work.

5.

(lose)

ten kilogrammes, Anne finally fit into her favourite dress again.

Turn the underlined part of the sentence into a participle clause.

1.

We are lying in the sun and we are enjoying life.

, we are enjoying life.

2.

The boy had brushed his teeth. He was allowed to watch a few more minutes of television.

, the boy was allowed to watch a few more minutes of television.

3.

The children sat on their beds and watched the thunderstorm.

the children watched the thunderstorm_.

4.

They were surprised by a sudden storm and had to seek shelter under a tree.

, they had to seek shelter under a tree.

5.

When they had found the secret island, they started searching for the treasure.

, they started searching for the treasure.

Exercises
Type in the present participle.

1.

Searching for her gloves, she dug through the entire wardrobe.

2.

Whistling a song, she danced through the house with the mop.

3.

Sitting in the shade, we ate cake and drank coffee.

4.

The child sat at the desk painting a picture.

5.

Running to the bus stop, she lost her shoe.

Type in the past participle.

1.

Blinded by the sun, the driver didnt see the stop sign.

2.

Prepared by the chef himself, the dinner will be a real treat.

3.

Sung by him, every song sounds just wonderful.

4.

Misused as a refuse dump, the place became more and more shabby.

5.

Though born in England, she spent most of her childhood in the United States.

Type in the present perfect participle.

1.

Having parked the car, we searched for the ticket machine.

2.

Having drunk one litre of water, she really needed to go to the toilet.

3.

Having left the party too early, we couldnt see the fireworks anymore.

4.

Having finished her phone call, she went back to work.

5.

Having lost ten kilogrammes, Anne finally fit into her favourite dress again.

Turn the underlined part of the sentence into a participle clause.

1.

We are lying in the sun and we are enjoying life.

Lying in the sun, we are enjoying life.

2.

The boy had brushed his teeth. He was allowed to watch a few more minutes of television.
Having brushed his teeth, the boy was allowed to watch a few more minutes of television.

3.

The children sat on their beds and watched the thunderstorm.

Sitting on their beds the children watched the thunderstorm_.

4.

They were surprised by a sudden storm and had to seek shelter under a tree.
Surprised by a sudden storm, they had to seek shelter under a tree.

5.

When they had found the secret island, they started searching for the treasure.
Having found the secret island, they started searching for the treasure.

Combine the clauses using participle constructions (Present Participle or Past Participle).
1.

The boy who carried a blue parcel crossed the street.

2.

The battle was fought at this place. The battle was very significant.

3.

She lay in her bed and wept bitter tears.

4.

The books which were sent to us are for my aunt.

5.

She stood at the corner and talked to her friends.

6.

The children went from house to house. They played trick or treat.

7.

He was very tall. He became a basketball player.

8.

He was waiting in the hall. He overheard a conversation.

9.

The picture which was stolen from a museum was offered on Ebay.

10.

The song which was sung last night is still in my head.

Combine the clauses using participle constructions (Present, Past or Perfect Participle).
1.

We were sitting in the bus shelter and waited for the rain to stop.

2.

The documentation which was telecast last Tuesday was impressive.

3.

We had great fun at the party. We played silly games.

4.

He had saved a little money. He travelled to Australia.

5.

They were chatting along and didn't see the car coming.

6.

The reception had been prepared carefully and was a great success.

7.

He was picked up by his mother and didn't have to wait for the bus.

8.

She had finished her degree and started to work for an international company.

9.

She was listening to the radio and didn't hear the doorbell.

10.

The room had not been tidied up yet and looked like a battlefield.

Combining Clauses with Participle Constructions (Mix)

Combine the clauses using participle constructions (Present, Past or Perfect Participle).
1.

We were sitting in the bus shelter and waited for the rain to stop.

2.

The documentation which was telecast last Tuesday was impressive.

3.

We had great fun at the party. We played silly games.

4.

He had saved a little money. He travelled to Australia.

5.

They were chatting along and didn't see the car coming.

6.

The reception had been prepared carefully and was a great success.

7.

He was picked up by his mother and didn't have to wait for the bus.

8.

She had finished her degree and started to work for an international company.

9.

She was listening to the radio and didn't hear the doorbell.

10.

The room had not been tidied up yet and looked like a battlefield.

Combine the clauses using participle constructions (Present, Past oder Perfect Participle). Decide whether to use the conjunctions in
the participle clause or not.
1.

As she didn't have a boyfriend, she flirted with every guy she met.

2.

Since he had never been there before, he was stunned.

3.

Before he left the house, he switched off the lights.

4.

As she was on holiday, she couldn't go to the party.

5.

While she was preparing dinner, she cut her finger.

6.

When I travel around Ireland, I always stay in youth hostels.

7.

Since she didn't hear the doorbell, she missed the delivery.

8.

After I had dropped him at the station, I drove straight to the supermarket.

9.

Since he didn't feel well, he stayed in bed.

10.

While they were talking on the phone, they forgot everything around them.

Combine the clauses using participle constructions (Present, Past oder Perfect Participle). Decide whether to use the conjunctions in
the participle clause or not.
1.

As she didn't have a boyfriend, she flirted with every guy she met.
Not having a boyfriend, she flirted with every guy she met.

2.

Since he had never been there before, he was stunned.

Not having been there before, he was stunned.

3.

Before he left the house, he switched off the lights.

Before leaving the house, he switched off the lights.

4.

As she was on holiday, she couldn't go to the party.

Being on holiday, she couldn't go to the party.

5.

While she was preparing dinner, she cut her finger.

While preparing dinner, she cut her finger.

6.

When I travel around Ireland, I always stay in youth hostels.

When travelling around Ireland, I always stay in youth hostels.

7.

Since she didn't hear the doorbell, she missed the delivery.
Not hearing the doorbell, she missed the delivery.

8.

After I had dropped him at the station, I drove straight to the supermarket.
Having dropped him at the station, I drove straight to the supermarket.

9.

Since he didn't feel well, he stayed in bed.

Not feeling well, he stayed in bed.

10.

While they were talking on the phone, they forgot everything around them.
While talking on the phone, they forgot everything around them.