Participle clauses

The point

The subject of the participle is the subject of the next clause. Written describes something that received the action. Having plus a past participle puts one action before another. If the note did not do the action, the note cannot be the subject.

Form and use

A participle clause shortens a full clause when the subject is the same as the subject of the main clause. An -ing participle means the subject does the action, often at the same time: Walking into the room, she opened the file. A past participle means the subject receives the action: Written in a hurry, the note was still clear. Having plus a past participle means the action finished earlier: Having read the note, she replied.

Forms: -ing — active, same time Opening the file, she saw the gap. Past participle — passive Sent on Monday, the file arrived late. Having + past participle — earlier active action Having checked the date, he called. Having been + past participle — earlier passive action Having been warned, they waited.

The subject test is strict. The implied subject of the participle must be the subject of the main clause. Writing in a hurry, the note was still clear is wrong, because the note did not do the writing. Say Writing in a hurry, she kept the note clear. Or use a full clause: When she wrote in a hurry, the note was still clear.

A dangling participle hides the real actor and attaches the action to the wrong noun. Read the note, she replied is also wrong: a bare past participle is not a command here, and the link is unclear. Use Having read the note, she replied. Keep the same person or thing on both sides of the comma.

Don't translate it like this

The note was written. It did not write. The participle has to match the subject that follows.

Short examples