Participle clauses: -ing, -ed and having done

Walking home, built in 1900, having finished: short clauses without a subject or a tense.

Not sure C1 is your level? Find out in 8–40 questions, no account needed.

A participle clause is a short clause with no subject and no tense. It is built on an -ing form, a past participle or having + past participle. Participle clauses replace longer clauses with when, because, after, if or who / which. They are typical of written English: stories, reports and news.

Form	Meaning	Example
-ing	active, at the same time	Walking home, I saw an old friend.
past participle	passive	Built in 1900, the bridge is still used.
having + past participle	active, earlier	Having finished the report, she left.
having been + participle	passive, earlier	Having been told the news, he called home.

-ing: at the same time, or a reason

An -ing clause can describe something happening at the same time as the main action, or give a reason.

Walking along the beach, we found a message in a bottle.
While we were walking along the beach, ...
Feeling tired, she went to bed early.
Because she felt tired, ...
Not knowing what to say, I kept quiet.
Because I didn't know what to say, ...
Living in the centre, we never need a car.

In the negative, put not before the participle.

Past participle: a passive meaning

A past participle clause has a passive meaning: the subject of the main clause receives the action.

Built in 1900, the bridge is still in use today.
The bridge was built in 1900.
Asked about the delay, the spokesperson refused to comment.
Seen from the air, the island looks like a heart.
Incorrect: Building in 1900, the bridge is still in use.
Correct: Built in 1900, the bridge is still in use.
The bridge didn't build anything; it was built.

Having + past participle: one action before another

Having + past participle shows that the first action was complete before the second began. For a passive meaning, use having been + past participle.

Having finished the report, she went home.
After she had finished the report, ...
Having lived in Tokyo for ten years, he speaks fluent Japanese.
Having been warned about the traffic, we left early.
Not having read the book, I couldn't join in the discussion.

The subject must be the same

The hidden subject of a participle clause is the subject of the main clause. If they are different people or things, the sentence says something you don't mean. This mistake is called a dangling participle.

Incorrect: Walking home, the rain started.
Correct: Walking home, I got caught in the rain.
Correct: As I was walking home, it started to rain.
The rain wasn't walking home.
Incorrect: Having eaten dinner, the dishes were washed.
Correct: Having eaten dinner, we washed the dishes.
Incorrect: Being a sunny day, we went to the beach.
Correct: It being a sunny day, we went to the beach.
A clause with its own subject (it being) is correct, but formal. In everyday English: As it was a sunny day, ...

After while, before, on, once, if and unless

A participle clause can follow a conjunction or a preposition. This makes the link between the two actions clear.

While waiting for the bus, I read the news on my phone.
Before signing the contract, read it carefully.
On arriving at the hotel, we were given a welcome drink.
As soon as we arrived ...
Once opened, the jar should be kept in the fridge.
If asked, say you don't know.
Unless told otherwise, assume the meeting is at ten.

Reduced relative clauses

A participle can replace a defining relative clause: -ing for an active meaning, a past participle for a passive one. Leave out who / which and the form of be together.

The woman sitting next to me was a doctor.
who was sitting next to me
Most of the products made in this factory are exported.
which are made
Anyone wanting to join the course should sign up by Friday.
who wants to join: an -ing form can also replace a simple tense.
Incorrect: The students who interested in the course should apply now.
Correct: The students interested in the course should apply now.
Correct: The students who are interested in the course should apply now.
Either leave out who and are together, or keep both.