Grammatik · C1
Participle clauses
A participle clause replaces a full clause with a single participle, which makes writing shorter and more formal. Having read the report, she called the author. Built in 1890, the bridge is still in use. The -ing form is active, the -ed form is passive, and having plus the participle marks an earlier action.
Participle clauses drop the subject and the auxiliary, leaving only a participle. They are one of the clearest markers of formal written English.
The present participle is active and usually simultaneous: walking home, she noticed the lights were on.
The past participle is passive: built in 1890, the bridge is still in daily use. That is short for "which was built in 1890".
Having plus the past participle marks an action completed before the main verb: having checked the figures twice, he signed the report.
One rule matters above all: the subject of the participle must be the subject of the main clause. Otherwise you get a dangling participle, which is the single most common error with this structure.
Jetzt anwenden
11 Aufgaben von dieser Seite. Gespeichert wird nichts außer in Ihrem eigenen Konto.
Die Übungen und ihre Erklärungen sind auf Englisch. Das ist Absicht: Es geht darum, in der Sprache zu denken, die Sie lernen.
Aufgabe 1 von 11
the report twice, she was certain that two pages were missing.