Introduction

Participle clauses are shortened dependent clauses that use a present participle or a past participle.
We use participle clauses very often in written English. In this way we can include a lot of information in a
sentence without making it too long or complicated.

Example
Having washed her hair, Susan reached for the hair-dryer and scissors.
Holding the hair-dryer in her left hand, Susan cut her hair with the scissors in her right hand.
Blown to the right by the hair-dryer, her hair could easily be cut.
Having been cut, her hair looked strange.
Have you ever seen anyone cutting their hair this way?

Usage
We mostly use participle clauses in written language.
Participle clauses can be constructed using the present participle, the past participle, and the perfect
participle.

With the present participle (ing-form) we show that both 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.

With the past participle we can 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.

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

In English, the perfect participle can express actions in both the active and the passive voice. For
the active voice we usehaving + full verb as past participle, and for the passive we use having
been + full verb as past participle.
Active:
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 the scissors.
Passive:
Having been cut, her hair looked strange.
Long form: After her hair had been cut, it looked strange.

Construction

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 full 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)

participle form
simultaneous
action

active

present participle
(ing-form)

Holding the hair-dryer in her left hand, she cut her hair.

passive

past participle
(3rd verb form)

Blown by the hair-dryer, her hair could easily be cut.

active

perfect participle
(having + 3rd
verb form)

Having washed her hair, she cut it.

passive

perfect participle
(having been +
3rd verb form)

Having been cut, her hair looked strange.

sequential
action

example

The conjunctions as, because, and since, as well as the relative pronouns who and which, are not
used in the participle clause.
Example:

As the hair was blown to the right by the hair-dryer, it could easily be cut.
Blown to the right by the hair-dryer, the hair could easily be cut.
Her hair, which has been cut, looks strange now.
Her hair, having been cut, looks strange now.

The conjunctions before and when are also used in the participle clause.
Example:
Before she cut her hair, she washed it.
Before cutting her hair, she washed it.

The conjunctions after and while can either be used or not.

Example:
After she had washed her hair, she cut it.
(After) having washed her hair, she cut it.

(for tips on constructing participles, see the chapter on Participles)

Participle Clauses with a Different Subject

In certain exceptional cases, the participle clause can have a subject that is not the same as the subject
of the main clause. This is the case when a main clause has one of the following verbs plus an object:
feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see smell, watch
In this case, the participle clause has to come directly after the object to which it refers.
Example:
Have you ever seen anyone cutting their hair this way?
Long form: Have you ever seen anyone who would cut their hair this way?

Participles
There are three kinds of participles in English: present participle, past participle and perfect participle. You probably know
the first two from certain tenses and adjective forms. Apart from that, participles are also used to shorten sentences.

Present Participle
The present participle is the ing-form. You surely know this form:

from progressive / continuous tenses (e. g. Present Progressive) I am speaking.

as an adjective form The film is interesting.

as a gerund He is afraid of flying.

Not the exceptions in spelling when adding 'ing':

Exception

Example

final e dropped (but: ee is not changed)

come coming (but: agree - agreeing)

final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled

sit sitting

final consonant l after vowel is always doubled (in British English)

travel travelling

final ie becomes y

lie lying

The present participle can be used to describe the following verbs:

come, go, sit

Example: The girl sat crying on the sofa.

The present participle can also be used after verbs of the senses if we do not want to emphasise that the action was
completed. (see Infinitive or Ing-Form)
feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, smell, watch

Example: Did you see him dancing?

Furthermore, the present participle can be used to shorten or combine active clauses that have the same subject.

Example: She left the house and whistled. She left the house whistling.

Past Participle
The past participle is the participle that you find in the third column of lists with irregular verbs. You surely know this form:

from perfect tenses (z. B. Present Perfect Simple) I have spoken.

from passive voice The letter was written.

as an adjective form I was bored to death.

For irregular participle forms see third column of irregular verbs. Regular verbs form the past participle by adding ed,
however, note the following exceptions in spelling:

Exceptions when adding ed

Example

after a final e, only add d

love loved

final consonant after a short, stressed vowel

or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled

admit admitted
travel travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i

hurry hurried

The past participle can also be used to shorten or combine passive clauses that have the same subject.

Example: The boy was given an apple. He stopped crying. Given an apple, the boy stopped
crying.

Perfect Participle
The perfect participle can be used to shorten or combine clauses that have the same subject if

one action (the one where the perfect participle is used) is completed before the next action starts.
Example: She bought a bike and cycled home. Having bought a bike, she cycled home.

one action has been going on for a period of time when another action starts.
Example: He had been living there for such a long time that he didn't want to move to another town. Having
lived there for such a long time, he didn't want to move to another town.
The perfect participle can be used for active and passive voice.

active voice: having + past participle (Having cooked, he set the table.)

passive voice: having been + past participle (Having been cooked, the food looked delicious.)

Use of Participle Clauses

If a clause is shortened using a participle construction, the clause is called participle clause.

Example: Watching TV, she forgot everything around her.

In English, participle clauses are mainly used in writing in order to put a lot of information into one sentence.
When shortening or combining clauses with a participle construction, keep the following rules in mind:

Both clauses should have the same subject.

The less important part becomes the participle clause. Important information should always be in the main clause.

Make sure, you use the correct participle form (see above).

The conjunctions as, because, since and relative pronouns who, which are left out.

The conjunctions before, when are used in the participle clause.

The conjunctions after, while can be used or left out.

Participle Clauses with different Subjects

Sometimes participle clauses can be used even if the clauses to be combined do not have the same subject. This is the
case for example if the main clause contains one of the following verbs + object:
feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, smell, watch

Example: I heard him playing the guitar.

Here, the participle clause must directly follow the object it is relating to. (Note: Some of the verbs mentioned here can
also be used with the infinitive. For further information see Infinitive or Ing-Form)
A participle construction is also possible, if both subjects are mentioned (often the word 'with' is put before the subject in
the participle clause). This is very formal, however, and not often used.

Example: Mrs Jones went to New York. Mr Smith took up her position.
(With) Mrs Jones going to New York, Mr Smith took up her position.

Incorrect Participle Clauses

Apart from the exceptions mentioned above, participle clause and main clause should have the same subject. Otherwise
the sentences might sound rather strange.

Example: I was driving on the motorway, when the baby started to cry.
Falscher Partizipialsatz: Driving on the motorway, the baby started to cry.
In this example you get the feeling that the baby has driven the car. So these participle clauses are considered wrong in
standard English. In colloquial English, these 'incorrect participle clauses' are usually okay, and you can even find an
example in Shakespeare's Hamlet:

Now, Hamlet, hear. Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, a serpent stung me.
As the text goes, it is said that Hamlet's father was bitten by a snake. Strictly speaking, however, the snake was asleep
when it bit Hamlet's father.

[Pitbull]
Mr. Worldwide to infinity
You know the roof on fire

We gon' boogie oogie oggi, jiggle, wiggle and dance

Like the roof on fire
We gon' drink drinks and take shots until we fall out
Like the roof on fire
Now baby give a booty naked
Take off all your clothes, and light the roof on fire
Tell her, tell her baby, baby, baby, baby
I'm on fire
I tell her baby, baby, baby, baby
I'm a fireball
(Fireball)
I saw, I came, I conquered
Or should I say, I saw, I conquered, I came
This little chico on fire and he no liar
While y'all slippin' he's runnin' the game
Now big bang boogie
Get that kitty little noogie
In a nice, nice little shade
I gave Suzie a little pat up on the booty
And she turned around and said
Walk this way
[John Ryan]
I was born in a flame
Mama said that everyone would know my name
I'm the best you never had
If you think I'm burning out, I never am
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
(Fireball)
[Pitbull]
Sticks and stones may break my bones
But I don't care what y'all say
Cause as the world turns, y'all boys gon' learn
That chico right here don't play
That boy's from the bottom, bottom of the map
M.I.A U.S.A
I gave Suzie a little pat up on the booty
And she turned around and said
Walk this way

[John Ryan]
I was born in a flame
Mama said that everyone would know my name
I'm the best you never had
If you think I'm burning out, I never am
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
I'm on fire
(Fireball)
[Pitbull]
We're taking it, we're taking it, we're taking it down
We're taking it, we're taking it, we're taking it down
We're taking it, we're taking it, we're taking it down
We're taking it, we're taking it, we're taking it down
We're taking it, we're taking it, we're taking it down
We're taking it, we're taking it, we're taking it down
We're taking it, we're taking it, we're taking it down
We're taking it, we're taking it, we're taking it down
Now we're bringing it, we're bringing it, we're bringing it back
We're bringing it, we're bringing it, we're bringing it back
We're bringing it, we're bringing it, we're bringing it back
We're bringing it, we're bringing it, we're bringing it back
We're bringing it, we're bringing it, we're bringing it back
We're bringing it, we're bringing it, we're bringing it back
We're bringing it, we're bringing it, we're bringing it back
(Fireball)
I tell her baby, baby, baby, baby
I'm on fire
I tell her baby, baby, baby, baby
I'm a fireball

Read more: Pitbull - Fireball Lyrics | MetroLyrics