Common Errors In The Use Of Participles

Study the examples given below.

• I was feeling bored. I decided to watch a movie.

We can combine these two sentences using a present participle. We can write:

• Feeling bored, I decided to watch a movie.

When two things happen at the same time, we use the -ing form.

• The child felt scared. He started crying.
• Feeling scared, the child started crying.

When one action had completed before another action commenced, we use the perfect participle (having + past participle)

• I won the match. I felt elated.
• Having won the watch, I felt elated.

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the participle.

1. ……………………… the message, he departed. (Delivering / Having delivered)
2. …………………….. loudly at the door, he demanded admission. (Knocking / Having knocked)
3. ……………………… a hot day, we cancelled the outing. (Being / It being)
4. The rain ………………………., we resumed the journey. (stopping / having stopped)
5. ………………………. down the street, I saw many familiar faces. (Walking / Having walked)
6. ………………………. the most deserving candidate, he got the job. (Being / Having been)
7. ……………………….. what to say, I just smiled. (Not knowing / Not known / Not having known)
8. ………………………. the only child, he was pampered by his parents. (Being / He being)
9. ………………….. the only child, his parents pampered him. (Being / He being)
10. …………………… too expensive, I could not buy the watch. (Being / It being)

Answers

1. Having delivered, 2. Knocking, 3. It being, 4. having stopped, 5. Walking, 6. Being, 7. Not knowing, 8. Being, 9. He being, 10. It being

See also

Common errors in the use of participles