In the previous lesson, you learned how to vary your sentences by using a mixture of the four types of sentence structures. In today’s lesson, you’ll learn how to use a participle clause to help your essay sentences have even more variety.
We can modify the structure of a complex sentence using the participle clause. Generally speaking, we can use the participle clause
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We can simplify adverb clauses into participle clauses if the subject of the adverb clause and the subject of the main clause are the same.
Here are the steps to simplify: (2) If the verb in the adverb clause is in the passive voice, eliminate the 'be' verb. |
Example 1:
When I walked down the street yesterday night, I saw James.
👉 Both the subject of the adverb clause and the main clause are “I”. Hence, we can simplify this sentence using the participle clause.
Step 1: We first remove the subordinating conjunction “When” and the subject “I” in the adverb clause
When I walked down the street yesterday night, I saw James.
Step 2: Next, change the verb “walk” to “walking”, and you will get:
Walking down the street last night, I saw James.
Example 2:
Since it is situated right downtown, the department store is always busy during the weekend.
👉 The subject “it” in the adverb clause refers to “the department store”. Hence, we can simplify this sentence using the participle clause.
Step 1: We first remove the subordinating conjunction “Since” and the subject “it” in the adverb clause
Since it is situated right downtown, the department store is always busy during the weekend.
Step 2: Since the word “is situated” is in the passive voice, we can remove the “is”, so the sentence will become:
is Situated right downtown, the department store is always busy during the weekend.
More examples of participle clauses:
Because I have spent all my savings on a new house, I couldn't afford to buy a new car. = Having spent all my savings on a new house, I couldn't afford to buy a new car.
After she had unpacked the suitcases, she took a shower. = Having unpacked the suitcases, she took a shower.
Sometimes, we keep the subordinating conjunctions. For example:
After we ate, we sat on the couch = After eating, we sat on the couch.
Since I came to Japan, I have met a lot of new people.= Since coming to Japan, I have met a lot of new people.
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When the subjects of two dependent clauses are the same, we can simplify the sentence using participle clauses. The simplified steps are:
Step 1 : Omit one of the subjects and remove the coordinating conjunction. Step 2: The verb after the omitted subject should be changed to a participle (1) If the verb is in the active voice, change the verb to a gerund (Ving). If the converted verb is “being”, it can be omitted as well. (2) If the verb is in the passive voice, remove the be verb |
Let's look at two examples.
Example 1
The manager came into the meeting room, and he eagerly found a place to sit.
👉 “he” refers to the manager, so the subject of the two dependent clauses is the same.
Step 1: Let’s omit the subject “he” in the second dependent clause and remove the coordinating conjunction “and”.
The manager came into the meeting room, and he eagerly found a place to sit.
Step 2: The verb after the omitted subject should be changed to a participle. If the verb is in the active voice, change the verb to a gerund (Ving).
The manager came into the meeting room, eagerly finding a place to sit.
Example 2
The manager was not satisfied with the proposal, so he asked Bob to rewrite the proposal.
👉 “he” refers to the manager, so the subject of the two dependent clauses is the same. Hence, we can simplify this sentence using the participle clause.
1. The first way to rewrite:
Step 1: Let’s omit the subject “he” in the second dependent clause and remove the coordinating conjunction “so ”.
The manager was not satisfied with the proposal, so he asked Bob to rewrite the proposal.
Step 2: The verb after the omitted subject should be changed to a participle. If the verb is in the passive voice, remove the be verb.
The manager was not satisfied with the proposal, asking Bob to rewrite the proposal.
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We can simplify sentences with non-defining clauses introduced by “which" using participle clauses. The simplified steps are:
Step 1: omit “which” Step 2: The verb after “which” needs to be changed into a participle (1) If the verb is in the active voice, change the verb to a gerund (Ving). If the converted verb is “being”, it can be omitted as well. (2) If the verb is in the passive voice, remove the be verb |
Let's look at an example:
Cancer is one of the most common diseases in modern society, which kills millions of people each year.
Step 1: We first remove the relational pronoun “which”
Cancer is one of the most common diseases in modern society, which kills millions of people each year.
Step 2: Next, change the verb “kill” to “killing”, and the sentence becomes:
Cancer is one of the most common diseases in modern society, killing millions of people each year.
Here are more example sentences:
Wind power costs about the same as coal, which makes it an affordable source of alternative energy. = Wind power costs about the same as coal, making it an affordable source of alternative energy.
Many drivers use their mobile phones while driving, which causes increasing numbers of road accidents. = Many drivers use their mobile phones while driving, causing increasing numbers of road accidents.
You've completed the lesson: Achieving Sentence Variety - Part 2
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Start the next lesson: Achieving Sentence Variety - Part 3
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