LoginParticiple Clauses
To get to know participle clauses, first of all, you have to be familiar with the concept of participles and clauses separately.
What Is a Participle Clause?
A participle clause is a type of dependent clause that uses a participle to modify a noun or pronoun in a sentence. It is a non-finite clause, meaning that it does not have a specific tense or subject. Participle clauses often act as adjectives in a sentence, providing additional information about the noun or pronoun they modify. Participle clauses can also be used to shorten a sentence by replacing a longer clause.
Participle Clauses: Types
There are different types of participles and accordingly, different types of participle clauses in English which include:
- Present participle clauses
- Past participle clauses
- Perfect participle clauses
Present Participle Clauses
Present participle clauses are used to:
- show that two actions are taking place simultaneously
- show that an action is the result of the other action
The volcano erupted,
- indicate that an action is the reason of the other action
- provide additional information about the subject of the main clause
using a participle clause in a sentence
Past Participle Clauses
Past participle clauses are used in the following contexts:
- to shorten a passive clause
Alan,
- to show condition similar to an if condition
- to give the reason for an action
- to add extra information about the subject of the main clause
Perfect Participle Clauses
'Perfect participle' clauses are used to indicate an action that was completed before the action in the main clause. 'Perfect participles' can be used to form either active or passive sentences.
Participle Clauses: Functions
A participle clause can function as an adjective, an adverb, or a noun.
Participle Clauses Functioning as Adjectives
A participle clause can often function as an adjective modifying a noun or a pronoun. When it functions as an adjective, the participle clause usually directly follows the noun. For example:
Marcus,
Three old men
Participle Clauses Functioning as Adverbs
Participle clauses can also function as adverbs giving information about the time, reasons, results, conditions, etc. of the events described in the sentence.
Participle Clauses Functioning as Nouns
Only present participle clauses can function as a noun, for example, as the subject of a sentence:
When to Use Participle Clauses?
A 'participle clause' is used when the subjects of the participle and the verb are the same. Here's an example:
The Tense in Participle Clauses
These types of clauses do not have a specific tense. The tense in the main clause would decide the tense of the participle clause.
It is very important to remember that participle verbs do not change their form to show tense and they just mimic the tense of the main clause.
Tip!
Participle clauses are common in written English, especially in literary, academic, or journalistic style, because they allow the writer to include information without making long or complicated sentences.
Participle Clauses: Negation
To make the participles negative, all we have to do is to add the word 'not' before the participles. check out the examples:
Participle Clauses with Prepositions and Conjunctions
Prepositions such as 'before', 'after', 'instead of', 'on', 'since', 'when', 'while', and 'in spite of' are commonly used with participles (especially present participles) to further emphasize or clarify the order, time, cause, and effect of the event. Pay attention to the examples:
Review
Participle clauses begin with a participle. They are used to shorten a long structure or sentence. Remember participle clauses are non-finite. Participle clauses are used to express:
- results
- reasons
- same ideas
- conditional
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