Active Sentences

Use the present participle (ing-form) to show that two actions are taking place at the same time.

Example:
Holding the hair-dryer in her left hand, Susan cut her hair with the scissors in her right
hand.
Long form: Susan was holding the hair-dryer in her left hand and cutting her hair with the
scissors in her right hand.

Use the perfect participle to indicate that the action in the participle clause took place before the
action in the main clause.

Example:
Having washed her hair, Susan reached for the hair-dryer and scissors.
Long form: After Susan had washed her hair, she reached for the hair-dryer and scissors.

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.

Forming Participle Clause in English Grammar

 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, active - present participle)
 In a negative participle clause we put not before the participle.

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

present
Holding the hair-dryer in her left hand,
simultaneous action participle
she cut her hair.
(ing-form)
active perfect
participle
sequential action Having washed her hair, she cut it.
(having + 3rd
verb form)
simultaneous and
passive
sequential actions