Participle clauses (C1) — English exercises with answers

Present, past and perfect participle clauses replacing relative, time and reason clauses

Correct answers are marked. Add the set to your exercises to open it in the editor, where you can adjust tasks, play them on screen or add them to a lesson.

1
Multiple choice
the instructions carefully, she started the experiment.
Having readHaving readingReadReading ofA perfect participle ('Having + past participle') shows an action completed before the main action.
2
Multiple choice
The man by the window is my uncle.
standingstandstoodis standingThe present participle 'standing' replaces 'who is standing', describing the man at the time of speaking.
3
Multiple choice
in a small village, she had never seen the sea before moving to the city.
Having grown upGrown upGrowingHaving grow up'Having grown up' (perfect participle) explains the reason for a past situation before the main clause.
4
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses a participle clause?
Not knowing what to say, she stayed silent.Not know what to say, she stayed silent.Not knowing what to say, she stays silence.Don't knowing what to say, she stayed silent.A negative participle clause is formed with 'not' + the -ing form: 'Not knowing...'.
5
Fill the gap
(exhaust) after the long flight, he went straight to bed.
Answer: ExhaustedThe past participle 'Exhausted' describes the subject's state, replacing 'As he was exhausted'.
6
Fill the gap
(not want) to wake the baby, she closed the door quietly.
Answer: Not wantingNegative -ing participle clauses begin with 'Not' + the -ing form.
7
Fill the gap
The letter, (write) in French, was difficult to understand.
Answer: writtenThe past participle 'written' forms a reduced passive relative clause: 'which was written'.
8
Fill the gap
(finish) her homework, she went out to meet her friends.
Answer: Having finished'Having finished' is a perfect participle showing one action completed before another.
9
Fill the gap
The passengers (wait) for the delayed train grew increasingly impatient.
Answer: waitingThe present participle 'waiting' replaces 'who were waiting', describing an ongoing action.
10
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'Having lost her keys, she couldn't get into the flat.'
Answer: TrueA perfect participle clause correctly shows that losing the keys happened before she couldn't get in.
11
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'Walking home, it started to rain.'
Answer: FalseThe subject of a participle clause must match the main clause's subject; here 'it' didn't walk home.
12
Discussion question
Describe your morning routine using at least two participle clauses (for example, 'Having woken up...', 'Feeling tired...').
Sample answer: Having woken up at seven, I checked my phone for messages. Feeling a bit sleepy, I made myself a strong coffee before getting ready for work.

Present, past and perfect participle clauses replacing relative, time and reason clauses

Correct answers are marked. Add the set to your exercises to open it in the editor, where you can adjust tasks, play them on screen or add them to a lesson.

1
Multiple choice
the instructions carefully, she started the experiment.
Having readHaving readingReadReading ofA perfect participle ('Having + past participle') shows an action completed before the main action.
2
Multiple choice
The man by the window is my uncle.
standingstandstoodis standingThe present participle 'standing' replaces 'who is standing', describing the man at the time of speaking.
3
Multiple choice
in a small village, she had never seen the sea before moving to the city.
Having grown upGrown upGrowingHaving grow up'Having grown up' (perfect participle) explains the reason for a past situation before the main clause.
4
Multiple choice
Which sentence correctly uses a participle clause?
Not knowing what to say, she stayed silent.Not know what to say, she stayed silent.Not knowing what to say, she stays silence.Don't knowing what to say, she stayed silent.A negative participle clause is formed with 'not' + the -ing form: 'Not knowing...'.
5
Fill the gap
(exhaust) after the long flight, he went straight to bed.
Answer: ExhaustedThe past participle 'Exhausted' describes the subject's state, replacing 'As he was exhausted'.
6
Fill the gap
(not want) to wake the baby, she closed the door quietly.
Answer: Not wantingNegative -ing participle clauses begin with 'Not' + the -ing form.
7
Fill the gap
The letter, (write) in French, was difficult to understand.
Answer: writtenThe past participle 'written' forms a reduced passive relative clause: 'which was written'.
8
Fill the gap
(finish) her homework, she went out to meet her friends.
Answer: Having finished'Having finished' is a perfect participle showing one action completed before another.
9
Fill the gap
The passengers (wait) for the delayed train grew increasingly impatient.
Answer: waitingThe present participle 'waiting' replaces 'who were waiting', describing an ongoing action.
10
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'Having lost her keys, she couldn't get into the flat.'
Answer: TrueA perfect participle clause correctly shows that losing the keys happened before she couldn't get in.
11
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'Walking home, it started to rain.'
Answer: FalseThe subject of a participle clause must match the main clause's subject; here 'it' didn't walk home.
12
Discussion question
Describe your morning routine using at least two participle clauses (for example, 'Having woken up...', 'Feeling tired...').
Sample answer: Having woken up at seven, I checked my phone for messages. Feeling a bit sleepy, I made myself a strong coffee before getting ready for work.