NILZAMI R YAZIM

PARTICIPLES

The participle has three tense forms : Present Past Perfect

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

Talking, writing The girl talking on the telephone is

my secretary.

PAST PARTICIPLE

Talked, written The article, beautifully written,

appeared in last week’s Post. The president, surrounded by

bodyguards, was only slightly wounded in the assassin’ attack.

The law currently being debated is about abortion.

PERFECT PARTICIPLE

Having talked, having written The letter, having been typed and

signed, was ready for mailing.

The present participle refers to action happening at the same time as the the action of the main verb.

Entering the office he confirms his appointment.(The main verb is in the present tense; therefore the present participle entering carries the idea of present time)

Entering the office he confirmed his appointment.(with the change in the tense of the main verb to the past, we also change the time of the participle.)

The perfect participle refers to action occurring before the action of the main verb.

Having finished the repairs, the plumber is preparing to leave.

Having finished the repairs, the plumber was preparing to leave.

Study the following pairs of sentences for the use of the present and perfect participle Being late for work, I ran up the stairs. Having been late for work, I decided to stay

and finish the report after hours. Intending to return immediately, I left the

door open when I went out Having intended to return immediately, I was

disappointed at having to be away so long. Selling their house, they prepared to move to

florida. Having sold their house, they were free to

leave.

CLAUSE

A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a predicate.

INDEPENDENT (MAIN) CLAUSE An independent (main) clause makes

a complete statement and is not introduced by any subordinating word. When it stands alone, it is a simple sentence.

We shall print the report by the end of the month.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

A dependent (or subordinate) clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it depends upon some word in the independent clause to complete its meaning.

Dependent clauses are classified as: Noun clause Adverbial clause Adjective clause

Noun clause Whoever conducts the meeting will be able

to answer your questions. Can you tell me what the meeting will be

about? Adverbial clause

As soon as you have finished the letter, bring it to my office.

Adjective clause This is the man who wrote to us for

information. I have the report he is looking for

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

True in the present or future Untrue (contrary to fact) in the

present/future Untrue (contrary to fact) in the past

TRUE IN THE PRESENT OR FUTURE

If I don’t eat breakfast, I always get hungry during class.( The simple present is used in the result clause to express a habitual activity or situation)

Water freezes (will freeze) if the temperature goes below 32oF/00C( Either the simple present or the simple future is used in the result clause to express an established, predictable fact)

If I don’t eat breakfast tomorrow morning, I will get hungry during class.*

If the weather is nice tomorrow, we will go on a picnic.**The simple future is used in the result clause when the

sentence concerns a particular activity or situation in the future

UNTRUE (CONTRARY TO FACT) IN THE PRESENT/FUTURE If I thought this class, I wouldn’t give

tests.( In truth, I don’t teach this class) If he were here right now , he would

help us.(In truth, he is not here right now)

If I were you, I would accept their invitation.(In truth, I’ am not you) were is used for both singular and plural.

UNTRUE (CONTRARY TO FACT) IN THE PAST If you had told me about the problem, I

would have helped you. (In truth, you did not tell me about it)

If they had studied, they would have passed the exam. (In truth, they did not study. They failed the exam)

If I hadn’t slipped on the ice, I wouldn’t have broken my arm. (In truth, I slipped on the ice, I broke my arm)