Grammar Notes

1. Participles: -ing/-ed

- Present participles (-ing) and past participles (-ed) are often used as adjectives that describe nouns.

- These participles can be used either in front of or after the noun, depending on the sentence.

- Choose the active -ing form (present participle) if the noun modified by the participle does the action or causes the feeling.

- Choose the passive -ed form (past participle) if the noun modified by the participle receives the action or experiences the feeling.

- The broken window will be repaired within the next couple of days.
(The window is broken because it received the action of someone breaking it.)

- The dropped document will be stepped on.
(The document is dropped because it is the receipt of the action of dropping)

- The staff needed a long break after the tiring work.
(Work is tiring because it causes the tiredness.)

- The tired employees needed a long break after finishing the project.
(Employees are tired because they experience the feeling of tiredness.)

2. Participle Clauses
A. Present Participle (-ing)
Use the -ing form if the meaning is active and progressive, and when:
- two things occur at the same time;
- one action occurs during another action;
- an -ing clause can be an explanation of its main clause.
- Stacy walked around the department looking for the lost receipt.
(two actions: walked, looking)
- The two men shook hands, agreeing to the business deal.
(one action during another: shook, agreeing)
- Worrying the company would lose more money by waiting, the company's legal
team urged the CEO to agree to the merger.
(explaining the main clause: worrying the company would lose money)

B. Past Participle (-ed)
- Use the -ed form for a past or completed action.
- Use the -ed form to express the passive.
- John arrived first, followed by the new corporate director.
(The actions were completed in the past.)
- Stunned by the response to the ad campaign, the CEO ordered a meeting with
the marketing team.
(The CEO was stunned and he ordered a meeting.)

3. Present vs. Past Participles

A. Use an -ing form when:
- the verb expressed in the participle is intransitive;
- the verb expressed in the participle is transitive and its object comes after it.

B. Use an -ed form when the object of the verb expressed in the participle serves as the subject of the main clause.

- Walking to the train station, I came across one of our old clients.

- Hoping they had received more stock, Daniel went back to the store.

- Located on a hill, the restaurant commands a great view.

4. Omission of Being or Having Been

- The participles being and having been are often left out of clauses.

- These clauses are often reduced to noun phrases or phrases beginning with an adjective or a past participle.

- (Being) A minor, Gerry was not permitted to work.
(Because he was a minor, Gerry was not permitted to work.)

- (Being) Offered a better position elsewhere, Sandy submitted her resignation letter.
(Because she was offered a better position elsewhere, Sandy submitted her resignation letter.)

- (Having been) Promoted by his company recently, he is understandably proud.
(Because he was promoted by his company recently, he is understandably proud.)