C1 Advanced Adverbs, participle clauses and ellipsis
Past and perfect participle clauses
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can choose correctly between V-ing, V3, Having + V3 and Having been + V3 in participle clauses.
When to use it
- A passive idea: Built in 1990, the bridge is still strong.
- An earlier action: Having finished the report, she went home.
- Both passive and earlier: Having been warned, he left early.
- Very common in academic reading and formal writing.
Form
| Form | Voice | Time |
|---|---|---|
| V-ing | active | at the same time |
| V3 | passive | at the same time, or a state |
| Having + V3 | active | happened earlier |
| Having been + V3 | passive | happened earlier |
Step by step
- Question 1: does the subject act or is it acted on?
- Acted on → use a form with the V3.
- Question 2: is this simultaneous or does it happen earlier?
- Earlier → add Having at the front.
Two questions, four answers
| Active, same time | Passive, same time | Active, earlier | Passive, earlier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking home, | Built in 1990, | Having finished, | Having been warned, |
| I met Nam. | the bridge stands. | she went home. | he left early. |
Examples
Built in 1990, the bridge is still in good condition.
Written in 1850, the novel is still popular today.
Damaged by the storm, the house needed major repairs.
Having finished her homework, she went out.
Having lived in Hue for ten years, he knows the city well.
Having been warned by the police, he slowed down.
Common mistakes
Building in 1990, the school is still new. → Built in 1990, the school is still new.
The school was built → passive → use the V3. This is the commonest wrong-form error.
Having warned by the police, he slowed down. → Having been warned by the police, he slowed down.
been is missing. The perfect passive is Having been + V3.
Finished the report, she went home. → Having finished the report, she went home.
She did the report → active, so Having is needed. The bare V3 is only for passive meaning.
Memory tip
Two questions settle everything: acting or acted on? and same time or earlier? The first decides the V3; the second decides the Having.
Summary
- V-ing active, same time · V3 passive.
- Having + V3 active, earlier · Having been + V3 passive, earlier.
- All forms must share the subject of the main clause.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.