Page 111 - IELTS Preparation Grammar and Vocab

Participle, to-infinitive and reduced clauses 15

We can use either having + -ed or a present participle with a similar meaning to describe events that follow one
after another. However, having + -ed emphasises that the action in the participle clause is complete before the
action in the main clause begins:
Having climbed to the top of the hill, I could see all the way to the Mediterranean. or Climbing to the top of the
hill, ...
Being made so welcome at the hotel, I was reluctant to leave. (= because I was made so welcome)
Having been woken up by a scratching sound, I found a large rat trying to get into my backpack. (= after I had
been woken up)
2.4 Participle clauses after conjunctions and prepositions
We can use a present participle clause after a number of conjunctions and prepositions, including after, before,
by, in, on, since, when, while, with, without, unless, until:
Before leaving Naples, I bought yet more walking socks, or less formally Before I left Naples, I bought yet more
walking socks.
We can also use with (or informally what with )to introduce a reason for something in the main clause.
Notice that a subject has to come between with and -ing:
With Naples being such a busy city, I was surprised to find a hotel room so easily.
What with sleeping badly, and some very steep hills to walk over, it was quite a relief to get to Amalfi this
afternoon. (= because I had slept badly)
In formal contexts we can use a past participle after (al)though, as, if, once, when, while, unless and until:
Walking through Italy was a fantastic experience, but Y asked, I'm not sure I'd do it again, or... but if I was asked...
Egi To-infinitive clauses
We can use a clause beginning with a to-infinitive to talk about purpose, result or condition:
I walked up into the hills to avoid the long trek around the coast. (= purpose)
I got to the hotel early, only to find that I couldn't check in until later. (= result)
To hear him grumbling last week, you'd think he was about to get on the next flight home (= if you had heard
him grumbling)

2.6 Reduced clauses
We can sometimes use a 'reduced clause beginning with a conjunction or adjective, but with no verb. Reduced
clauses are usually fairly formal:
While in Naples, I did what all visitors do. or While I was in Naples, ...
Exhausted by my walk, I went straight to bed. or Because I was exhausted...

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