Exercise – Joining Ideas

A. Form sentences starting with –ing participles.

E.g. Pete woke up late. He had to go to work by taxi.
Pete woke Waking up late, He Pete had to go to work by taxi.
Waking up late, Pete had to go to work by taxi.

1. The tourists jumped into their truck. They quickly drove away
from the lion.
Jumping into their truck, the tourists quickly drove away from the
lion.
2. We heard the sound of the elephants. We all rushed to see them.
Hearing the sound of the elephants, we all rushed to see them.
3. I want to do something different this year. I decide to go on an
eco-tour.
Wanting to do something different this year, I decide to go on an
eco-tour.
4. We were climbing up the mountains. We saw some fantastic
scenery.
Climbing up the mountain, we saw some fantastic scenery.
5. The tourists were walking in the jungle. They felt tired but
excited.
Walking in the jungle, the tourists felt tired but excited.
*6. We did not want to disturb the birds. We all stood in total silence.
Not wanting to disturb the birds, we all stood in total silence.
*7. Many people are swimming in the pool. We decide to go home.
Many people swimming in the pool, we decide to go home.

B. Form sentences starting with –ed participles.

E.g. I was frightened by the snake. I ran away.
I was fFrightened by the snake, I ran away.
Frightened by the snake, I ran away.

1. Gary was told that he could take a rest. He sat down and drank
some water.
Told that he could take a rest, Gary sat down and drank some
water.
2. The parrot was startled by a noise. It flew away.
Startled by a noise, the parrot flew away.
3. Bob was persuaded that the holiday was cheap. He became
interested in it.
Persuaded that the holiday was cheap, Bob became interested in
it.
4. The monkeys were confused by the tourists. They surrounded
them.
Confused by the tourists, the monkeys surrounded them.
5. The park rangers were alarmed by the shouts. They rushed into
the jungle.
 Alarmed by the shouts, the park rangers rushed into the jungle.
*6. Joe was not fully satisfied with his room. He asked if he could
move to a better one.
Not fully satisfied with his room, Joe asked if he could move to a
better one.
*7. The group was taken into the jungle. They didn’t see any
interesting animals.
Taken into the jungle, the group didn’t see any interesting animals.

C. Form sentences using appositives.

E.g. Anna stared at Mary. Mary was calmly eating the hotdog.
(ending)
Anna stared at Mary, calmly eating the hotdog.
Mary retired from her tennis career this year. She was a ten-time
world champion. (middle)
Mary, a ten-time world champion, retired from her tennis career this
year.
My uncle taught me to use watercolours. He is a well-known artist.
(beginning)
A well-known artist, my uncle taught me to use watercolours.

1. Mr. Tang loves Chinese calligraphy. Chinese calligraphy is a

traditional Chinese art. (ending)
Mr. Tang loves Chinese calligraphy, a traditional Chinese art.
2. iPhone 4 is a state-of-the-art mobile phone. It is released this
year. (middle)
iPhone 4, released this year, is a state-of-the-art mobile phone.
3. My son is visiting us this week. He is a policeman. (middle)
My son, a policeman, is visiting us this week.
4. John is a talented musician. He makes the family proud.
(beginning)
A talented musician, John makes the family proud.
5. Citizen Cane is the greatest movie ever made. It only won one
Oscar award. (beginning)
The greatest movie ever made, Citizen Cane only won one Oscar
award.
6. Paul Newman is an actor. He directed only one picture.
(beginning)
An actor, Paul Newman directed only one picture.

D. Form sentences using relative clause (defining/non-defining).

E.g. My flat is in an old part of the city. It was built in the 1920s.
My flat, which was built in the 1920s, is in an old part of the city.

1. A boy is leaning against the lamppost. He is my classmate.

(defining)
A boy who is leaning against the lamppost is my classmate.
2. Yao Ming is a famous basketball player. He plays for Houston
 Rockets. (non-defining)
Yao Ming, who plays for Houston Rockets, is a famous basketball
player.
3. French is a difficult language to learn. It has a complicated verb
system. (non-defining)
French, which has a complicated verb system, is a difficult
language to learn.
4. The house is for sale. I was born in it. (defining)
The house in which I was born is for sale.
5. Mr. Tsang is a healthy man. He retired last year. (non-defining)
Mr. Tsang, who retired last year, is a healthy man.

Links about the grammar items above

Starting sentences with participles (-ing and -ed)
http://www.edict.com.hk/vlc/clauses/participleclause.htm

Relative clauses
http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/CILL/eap/2004/u6/relativeclauses.htm

Appositives
http://grammar.about.com/od/basicsentencegrammar/a/buildapposit
ive.htm