Joining sentences
with present participles ('-ing')
The present participle is
the '-ing' form of a verb: find - finding.
We can use the present participle
in place of and, so, etc. to join two simple sentences:
I found the front door locked. I
went round the back. (two simple sentences )
1)
I found the front door locked and went round
the back.
Finding the front door
locked, 1 went round the back.
2)
To make a
negative, we put not in front of the -ing form:
Not knowing his phone number,
I wasn't able to ring him. (= I didn't know ...)
3)
Note how we can use being in place of is or was:
I was short of money. I
couldn’t afford to buy it.
Being short of money, I
couldn’t afford to buy it.
Write: Rewrite these
sentences using -ing, making any necessary changes.
1)
She got very worried and thought we had had an
accident.
…. She got very
worried, thinking we had had an accident….
2)
He went to his room and closed the door behind him
......................................................................................................................................
3)
I didn't hear what he said and asked him to repeat it.
......................................................................................................................................
4)
You didn't ask me for permission because you knew I
would refuse.
......................................................................................................................................
5)
I'm not a lawyer, so I can't give you the
advice you are looking for.
......................................................................................................................................
The present
participle in place of adverbial clauses
We often use the present participle after a ‘joining word’ (or conjunction).
Instead
of: Since we arrived here, we have made many new friends.
We can say: Since arriving
here, we have made many new friends.
Write: Rewrite these
sentences using a joining word + -ing.
1)
They broke this window when
they tried to get into the house.
…..
They broke this window when trying to get into the house….
2)
Though he refused to eat, he admitted he was very
hungry.
.......................................................................................................................................
3)
I damaged the car while I was trying to park it.
.......................................................................................................................................
4)
While I agree you may be right, I still object
to your argument.
.......................................................................................................................................
5)
After we looked at the map, we tried to find the right
street.
.......................................................................................................................................
6)
Don't get into any arguments before you check your
facts.
.......................................................................................................................................
The
present participle in place of relative clauses
1) We can sometimes omit who or which
+ is/are when we use the present progressive.
Instead of: The
man who is serving at the counter is very helpful.
We can say: The
man serving at the counter is very helpful.
Instead of: The
new law applies to vehicles which are carrying heavy loads.
We can say: The
new law applies to vehicles carrying heavy loads.
2) We can sometimes use -ing in place
of who or which + simple present:
Instead of: This
job will suit students who want to work during the holidays.
We can say: This
job will suit students wanting to work during the holidays.
Write: Circle the words
you can delete and/or change to use -ing.
1)
The plane which
is flying overhead is travelling north.
2)
The candidates who are sitting for this examination
are all graduates.
3)
The woman who is waiting to see you has applied for a
job here.
4)
What can you do about a dog which is barking all
night?
5)
Trains which leave from this station take an hour to
get to London.
6)
Customers who complain about the service should see
the manager.
7)
Passengers who travel on planes shouldn't smoke.
8)
There's a pension scheme for people who work for this
company.
9)
There's a crime prevention scheme for people who are
living in this neighbourhood.
10)
There's someone who is knocking at the door.
Write: Use the -ing form
of the verbs in brackets and put in after, as, when and who.
THE CASE OF THE
POISONED MUSHROOMS
While (prepare)
preparing a meal for her guests, Mrs Grant got rather worried about
some unusual mushrooms which a kind friend had sent her from the country. (Feel)
...................s suspicious, she gave a mushroom to her dog.
...................the dog ate it with no ill effects, Mrs Grant decided to
cook the mushrooms for her guests. That evening the guests greatly enjoyed the
mushrooms, (comment) ................... on their unusual flavour. They
quickly changed their minds................... Mrs Grant's daughter, Jill,
burst into the dining-room and announced that the dog was dead. On (hear) ..................the
news, Mrs Grant, now in a state of shock, phoned Dr Craig,
..................came round immediately and pumped out the stomachs of all
those who had eaten the mushrooms - a very unpleasant experience for them.
................... Dr Craig asked if he could see the dog, he was led out of
the house. He soon discovered that the dog had been killed by a passing car. Not
(know) .................anything of her mother's suspicions about the
mushrooms, Jill hadn't mentioned this important fact when (announce)...................
the death of the dog.
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