Advanced Participle Clauses: -ing and -ed: correct answers
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Participle clauses are a sophisticated way to provide more information in a sentence without relying on extra conjunctions or relative pronouns. For example, instead of saying "Because he had finished his work, he left," you can use a perfect participle: "Having finished his work, he left." Similarly, an -ing clause can be used to show a direct result: "The vase fell, shattering into pieces."
In this hard-level challenge, you will step into the shoes of editors, detectives, and clumsy wizards to fix their grammar. You'll tackle tricky sub-topics like passive perfect participles ("having been forced"), reduced relative clauses, and participle clauses showing result. You will also need to spot and correct dangling modifiers, a common trap where the participle phrase doesn't logically match the subject of the main sentence.
You'll work through 8 questions featuring single-choice, multi-choice, and drop-down formats.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
Complete the sci-fi author's manuscript by choosing the logically and grammatically correct continuation to avoid a "dangling participle."
Realizing the time machine was completely out of fuel, ____.
The correct answer is Professor Higgins frantically searched his pockets for spare plutonium.
When a sentence begins with a participle clause (Realizing...), the subject of the main clause must be the person or thing doing the action of the participle. Professor Higgins is the one who "realized," so he must be the subject of the main clause. The other options incorrectly make "a feeling," "the control panels," or "it" the subject, creating a dangling modifier.
Question 2
Hiding under the dessert cart...
We use the present participle (-ing) for an active action happening at the same time as the main clause ("While he was hiding...").
Having been served completely raw chicken...
We use the passive perfect participle (having been + past participle) because the critics received the chicken (passive) and the action happened before they stared at the waiter.
Overwhelmed by the sheer chaos...
We use the past participle (-ed) to describe how someone feels or to give a passive reason ("Because I was overwhelmed...").
Question 3
The correct answers are The printer, jammed with a half-eaten sandwich, finally caught fire. and Anyone caught microwaving fish in the breakroom will face immediate suspension.
Participle clauses can be used to reduce relative clauses.
"...jammed with a half-eaten sandwich" is a correct past participle clause replacing "which was jammed...".
"...caught microwaving fish" is a correct past participle clause replacing "who is caught...".
"Left on the desk overnight..." is a dangling participle because it implies Bob was left on the desk, not the sandwich.
"The sandwich eating..." is incorrect because it uses an active present participle (-ing) instead of the required passive past participle (-ed). It should be "The sandwich eaten by the intern...".
Question 4
Chased by a remarkably aggressive goose...
We use the past participle (-ed) to replace a passive clause ("Because I was chased...").
Not wanting to admit defeat...
We use the present participle (-ing) to give a reason for an active state ("Because I did not want..."). Notice that "not" goes before the participle.
Having finally recovered my dignity...
We use the perfect participle (having + past participle) to emphasize that one action was completely finished before the next one started ("After I had finally recovered...").
Question 5
Help the clumsy baker complete the tragic tale of the exploding dessert by selecting the correct phrase.
The giant five-tier wedding cake suddenly collapsed, ____ months of careful planning in a matter of seconds.
The correct answer is ruining.
We can use a present participle (-ing) clause at the end of a sentence to express the result or consequence of the action in the main clause. "Ruined" would require a conjunction (like and ruined), while "having ruined" incorrectly implies the ruining happened before the collapse.
Question 6
The correct answers are Having added too much frog extract, the wizard accidentally blew up the cauldron. and Startled by the sudden explosion, the wizard dropped his wand.
Having added... is a perfect participle clause correctly showing an action that happened before the main clause. The subject ("the wizard") matches the person who added the extract.
Startled by... is a past participle clause correctly showing a passive meaning (the wizard was startled).
"Added too much..." is incorrect because the cauldron didn't add the extract (this is a dangling participle).
"Startling by..." is incorrect because "startling" has an active meaning, but the context requires a passive meaning ("startled"). Additionally, the wand wasn't the one being startled!
Question 7
Help an angry food critic finish their scathing restaurant review by choosing the correct participle phrase.
____ to wait in the freezing rain for over an hour, the disgruntled customers finally gave up and went home.
The correct answer is Having been forced.
We use a perfect passive participle clause (having been + past participle) to show that an action was done to the subject before the action in the main clause. The customers didn't force anyone else; they were forced to wait.
Question 8
The correct answers are Disgusted by the undercooked chicken, the critic immediately demanded to see the chef. and Having waited an hour for a glass of water, we finally decided to eat elsewhere.
In participle clauses, the implied subject of the participle must be the same as the subject of the main clause.
The critic was disgusted, and "we" waited an hour. These are correct!
"Walking into the kitchen..." is incorrect because it implies the floor walked into the kitchen (a dangling participle).
"Served on a dirty plate..." is incorrect because it implies I was served on a dirty plate, rather than the pasta.