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Teacher cue
B2 · English Grammar

Participle
Clauses

Walking in, do you instantly pick up on the feelings of the people there?

-ing · past participle having (been) + p.p.
The idea

A clause with nothing in it

A participle clause has no subject and no tense. It borrows both from the main clause — which is why the two must share a subject.

From the article

When you walk in, do you pick up on the feelings there?

Walking in, do you pick up on the feelings there?

What's missing

× the subject

× the tense

Three forms exist. The form tells you active, passive, or earlier.

Form 1 · 2 · 3

Three forms, three meanings

Ask two questions: is the subject doing it or receiving it, and did it happen first?

Present participle
-ing · active

Walking in, do you instantly pick up on the feelings of the people there?

Past participle
past participle · passive

Called “reading a room” by psychologists, this is a skill anyone can learn.

Perfect participle
having (been) + p.p.

Having done this a few times, you'll find it natural.

Form 1 in detail

Four jobs for -ing

The -ing clause is always active, but it can mean four different things.

Walking in, do you pick up on the feelings there? ← at the same time
Scanning the room, she noticed who sat next to whom. ← one after the other
Not knowing much about them, I still came up with ideas. ← a reason
The room was full of negative energy, making it harder. ← a result
The golden rule

One subject only

The clause has no subject, so the reader attaches it to the subject of the main clause. Get that wrong and the sentence becomes accidentally absurd.

Works

Walking in, I felt the room was tense.

I walked in — the subjects match.

Dangles

Walking in, the room felt tense.

The room didn't walk in.

⚠ Watch out

Common mistakes

Walking in, the room felt tense.

Correct: Walking in, I felt the room was tense.

Knowing as “microexpressions,” these matter.

Correct: Known as “microexpressions”…

Having did this a few times…

Correct: Having done this a few times…

Annoyed at having ^ called to the meeting.

Correct: at having been called to the meeting.

Now it's your turn

Let's
practice.

Say the answer out loud — then tap to check.

Practice 1
tap the blank to reveal

Fill the gap

(when you walk) in, do you pick up on the feelings of the people there?
(which is called) “reading a room” by psychologists, this is a skill anyone can learn.
(which are known) as “microexpressions,” these are the clearest clue.
(after you have done) done this a few times, you'll find it natural.
Someone is annoyed at having (they were called) called at the last minute.
Practice 2
tap a sentence to reveal the error

Spot the mistake

Having finishA the report, she emailedB it toC the director andD went straight home.

AHaving finish → Having finished

✓ having + past participle

BuiltA in 1890, the theatre was restoredB twice, although its foundations remainsC unstableD.

Calthough its foundations remains → although its foundations remain

✓ its foundations is plural → remain

SurroundedA by mountains, the village isB hard to reach, andC the road, damaging by floods, is closedD.

Dthe road, damaging by floods, is closed → the road, damaged by floods, is closed

✓ a passive participle takes the past participle

Practice 3
tap to reveal a model answer

Make it a participle clause

While she scanned the room, she noticed a frown. →
The note, which was written in a hurry, confused everyone. →
After I had asked, I simply waited. →
Because she didn't know their names, she said nothing. →
Speak & write

Your turn

Use -ing, a past participle, or having (been) + p.p.

Describe walking into a room full of people.
Describe something known or called by another name.
How has experience changed something for you? Use Having…
Describe a time you were told something too late.
Recap

Remember this

Active
the -ing form
Passive
the past participle
Earlier action
having / having been + p.p.
Negative
not before the participle

No subject of its own — so it always belongs to the main clause.

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