The complex sentence: present participle constructions

1.11А Joining sentences with present participles ('-ing') [>leg 1.56-1.58.1]

The present participle is the '-ing' form of a verb: find - finding [ > 16.5].

1 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 > 1.2A) > I found the front door locked and wentround the back. [> 1.4A] > Finding the front door locked, I 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 І 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.

 

1.11 В The present participle in place of adverbial clauses [> leg І.56-60]

We often use the present participle after a 'joining word' (or conjunction). Instead of: Since we arrived here, we have made many new friends. [ > 1.8A] 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.

 

1.11С The present participle in place of relative clauses [> leg 1.58.6]

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: Underline 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.

 

1.11D 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)1 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)2...suspicious, she gave a mushroom to her dog.3... 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, (comment4 ⁴... on their unusual flavour. They quickly changed their minds5... Mrs Grant's daughter, Jill, burst into the dining-room and announced that the dog was dead. On hear6... the news, Mrs Grant, now in a state of shock, phoned Dr Craig,7... came round immediately and pumped out the stomachs of all those who had eaten the mushrooms - a very unpleasant experience for them.8... 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)9 … anything of her mother's suspicions about the mushrooms, Jill hadn't mentioned this important fact when (announce)10... the death of the dog.

1.12A 'Being and 'having been' [>leg 1.60]

1 We sometimes use being in place of is, are, was or were, though this is often formal:

Instead of: / was lost, so I had to ask someone the way. > We can say: Being lost, I had to ask someone the way.

2 We sometimes use having been in place of have been or had been (also formal):

Instead of: I've been abroad, so I missed the elections. > We can say: Having been abroad, I missed the elections.

Write:Rewrite these sentences using being or having been. 1 I am out of work, so I spend a lot of my time at home. Being out of work, I spend a lot of my time at home. 2 John is a scientist, so he hasn't read a lot of novels. 3 He has been promised a reward, so he hopes he'll get one. 4 I was near a newsagent's, so I went in and got a paper. 5 They had been up all night, so they were in no mood for jokes.

1.12B It being' and 'there being' [ > leg І.60]

1 We sometimes use it being in place of it is or it was (formal):

Instead of: It was Sunday,so it was hard to find a garage open. > We can say: It being Sunday,it was hard to find a garage open.

2 We sometimes use there being in place of there is or there was (formal): Instead of: There was so much noise, I couldn't hear what was going on. >We can say: There being so much noise, I couldn't hear what was going on.

3 We can use it being and there being after without (formal): They often dig up the roads without it being necessary. (= it isn't necessary) She suddenly began shouting without there being any reason. (= there was no reason)

Write:Rewrite these sentences using itbeing or therebeing, making any necessary changes. 1 There were no questions so the meeting ended quickly. There being no questions the meeting ended quickly. 2 He kept helping himself to money and it wasn't noticed, (without it...) 3 He kept asking awkward questions and there was no reason for it. (without there...) 4 It was a holiday, so there were thousands of cars on the roads. 5 There was no one in, so I left a message.

 

1.12C Agreement between present participle and subject [> leg 1.61]

We have to be very careful to make the participle agree with the subject of both verbs: Turning the corner, I saw a tile fell off the roof. (= I turned... and I saw...) If we say or write 'Turning the corner, the tile fell off the roof’, this means 'the tile was turning the corner and then fell off the roof. The sentence is nonsense!

Write:What's wrong with these sentences?

1 Opening the door of the refrigerator, the smell was bad. It wasn’t the smell that was opening the door. Opening the door of the refrigerator, I felt that the smell was bad. 2 Changing gear, the bus had difficulty getting up the hill 3 Burning the rubbish, all my important papers were destroyed.

 

1.12D Past participle constructions [ > leg 1.62]

1 The past participle is the third part of a verb [> 9.3A-B]: play - played - played (regular verbs); build - built - built (irregular verbs)

2 We sometimes use the past participle instead of the passive: Viewed from a distance, it resembled a cloud. (When it was viewed...)

Although built years ago, it was in good order. (Although it was built...) If accepted for the job, you will be informed soon. (If you are accepted...)

3 We can omit who and which: The system used here is very successful (which is used...)

Write:Rewrite these sentences using past participles.

1 The painting was lost for many years. It turned up at an auction. Lost for many years the painting turned up at an auction.

2 Although the meat was cooked for several hours, it was still tough. 3 If the picture is seen from this angle, it looks rather good. 4 The vegetables which are sold in this shop are grown without chemicals. 5 When the poem is read aloud it is very effective.

 

1.12EWrite:Put in suitable words (and forms where necessary) in the spaces below. YAH BOOH! My cat Blossom is always getting into fights with Ginger, the tomcat next door1.... I see Ginger through my window, I shout and wave my arms to frighten him away2.... out of the window yesterday, I saw Ginger near my front door. There3... no one around, I pulled a hideous face, stuck out my tongue, waved my arms over my head and started screaming, 'Yah booh! Yah booh!'4... the front door, I was determined to chase Ginger away.5... I succeeded admirably, I terrified the postman as well! ['hɪdɪəs] огидний, бридкий; потворний

 

2 Nouns2.1A Noun endings: people who do things/people who come from places [ > LEG 2.2, App 2]

1 We use some words only as nouns: e.g. desk, hat, tree, etc.

2 However, we often make nouns from other words by adding different endings or suffixes and sometimes making other small changes. For example, if we add – er to a verb like play, we get the noun player, if we add - ity to the adjective active, we get the noun activity. There is no easy rule to tell us which endings to use to make nouns.

3 Typical endings which make nouns: people who do things: actor, assistant, beggar, driver, engineer, historian, pianist.