Participle clauses

Participles can combine with other words into participle clauses. We often use participle
clauses after nouns in order to define or identify the nouns. Participle clauses are often very like
relative clauses.

● I saw a girl standing at the gate. (= I saw a girl who was standing at the gate.)
● We saw walls covered with graffiti. (We saw walls which were covered with graffiti.)
● Most of the people invited to the party didn't turn up. (= Most of the people who were
invited to the party didn't turn up.)
● The child sitting in that corner is John. (=The child who is sitting in that corner is
John.)
● The books lying on the table are mine. (=The books that are lying on the table are
mine.)

Exercises
Make one sentence each time using a participle clause, NOT a relative clause. Keep the
meaning the same.

Example: The woman is sitting over there. She’s my teacher.

The woman sitting over there is my teacher.

1. The actor who stars in that film is my hero.

The actor _starting____

2. Do you know the girl? She's sitting with Jack.

Do you know the girl ___sitting__________________________

3. A man was arrested last night. He's my neighbor.

The man ___arreded last night is my _______________________

4. The student, who's just going into the cafe, is new.

The student __going______________________

5. People who live in that area are very rich.

People _living__________________________

6. That shop sells clothes. They aren't very good.

The clothes ________________________________________

7. The blue parcel which was delivered by that boy was wet.
The blue parcel __delivered___________________

8. The battle was fought at this place. The battle was very significant.
The battle __fought at this place us very_______________________

9. She lay in her bed and wept bitter tears.

She lay ___in her bed wepting__________________________

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

The books __sendt_________________________

11. Kids who play in the streets may get run over.
Kids ________________________________________________

12.The students who were waiting for their funding from the government were disappointed.
The ____students waiting__________________