Present VS Past participles
Choose the correct form: The coach gave an inspiring/inspired speech before the match.
inspiring
Combine to show earlier action first: He checked the timetable. He boarded the train.
Having checked/After checking the timetable, he boarded the train.
Rewrite to show reason: He was embarrassed, so he left early.
Feeling embarrassed, he left early.
Rewrite using “while”: She was eating lunch. She read messages.
While eating lunch, she read messages.
She has finished homework. She is relaxing.
Having finished her homework, she is relaxing.
The students looked confusing/confused after the pop quiz.
confused
She heard her name. She turned around.
Hearing her name, she turned around.
Rewrite: She was praised for her project, so she smiled.
Praised for her project, she smiled.
Rewrite using “before”: You choose your electives. You should talk to your teacher.
Before choosing your electives, you should talk to your teacher.
He had saved money. He bought a laptop.
Having saved enough money, he bought a laptop.
The museum displayed a ________ mask from an ancient tribe.
a) fascinate
b) fascinated
c) fascinating
fascinating
Combine with a negative: He didn’t bring an umbrella. He got soaked.
Not bringing an umbrella, he got soaked.
Rewrite with a negative reason: He didn’t understand the instructions, so he asked for help.
Not understanding the instructions, he asked for help.
Rewrite using “after”: He delivered his speech. He answered questions.
After delivering his speech, he answered questions.
He had been invited. He felt honoured.
Having been invited, he felt honoured.
Choose the best option and justify your choice:
The principal addressed several (press/pressed/pressing) concerns that are urgent.
Answer: pressing
“Pressing” describes concerns that are urgent (active quality from the noun). “Pressed concerns” would imply they were physically compressed; “press” is not an adjective.
Choose the better order and form: She finished her meal. Then she paid the bill. Write one sentence with a participle phrase.
Having finished her meal, she paid the bill.
Combine for reason with past participle: The shop was decorated for Lunar New Year, so it looked festive.
Decorated for Lunar New Year, the shop looked festive.
Rewrite using “without”: He didn’t say anything. He walked out of the room.
Without saying anything, he walked out of the room.
Negative perfect: She hadn’t practised. She performed poorly.
Answer: Not having practised, she performed poorly.
Identify and correct all issues (word choice and logic):
The exhausting students found the lecture exhausted, so they left early.
Fix the sentence—Walking down the corridor, the bell suddenly rang. (Hint: use a pronoun)
Walking down the corridor, he/she heard the bell suddenly ring.
Error hunt—explain and fix: Feeling tired, the homework was finished late. (hint: use a pronoun)
Error: subject mismatch. Fix: Feeling tired, he/she finished the homework late.
Rewrite the sentence using a participle phrase with “while"
While she was criticised for her bold ideas, she stayed confident.
While being criticised for her bold ideas, she stayed confident.
Choose between being vs having been: ____ awarded a scholarship, he felt motivated.
Having been awarded a scholarship, he felt motivated.