[Linguists’ Forum] Achieving Concise Writing with Participle Clauses (1), By Lateef Kugbayi, PhD

One of the features that set formal writings apart from other forms of writing is their being free from superfluous detail. They are also free of ambiguity. That suggests that candidates who desire to obtain high scores in national examinations like NECO, WASSCE and IELTS need to develop the capacity to write concisely. Principal among the skills required to achieve this is the correct use of participle clauses. While a participle can be defined in several ways, in this context, it is a form of a verb that is used to indicate present and past actions. Thus, a participle clause is a dependent clause that begins with a participle and provides additional information to the subject or the action in the main clause of a sentence. The ability to use this clause correctly will help the writer to use varied, sophisticated and concise sentences in his/her essay.

Categorisation of Participle Clauses
Participle clauses are generally categorised as:
i. Present Participle Clauses: verb + ing (write + ing = writing)
ii. Past Participle Clauses: They are the past participle forms of the verb (written)
iii. Past Perfect Participle Clauses: having + past participle verb (having written)
In this week’s episode of Linguists’ Forum, attention is given to the present participle clause type. The other two types will be discussed in the subsequent episode.
The Present Participle Clause
As stated above, the present participle clause is a combination of the present tense form of the verb and “ing,” as in:
read + ing = reading
start + ing = starting
These are not verbal nouns/gerunds. Although both gerunds and present participle clauses are formed by adding “ing” to the verb, they are not the same. While gerunds function as nouns, participle clauses specifically provide additional information to the subject or the action in the main clause of a sentence. Let us consider the following examples:

1. “Writing” is her hobby (gerund as subject of the sentence).

2. “Writing the assignment,” he tore the book (participle clause: additional information to the main clause).
Present participle clauses are usually used:
i. when two actions are performed by the same subject simultaneously, e.g.

3. “Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday,” Obi confirmed that he would contest the 2027 election.
Two actions, “wrote” and “confirmed” are performed simultaneously by Obi. The construction with the participle clause is more concise compared to “While Obi spoke to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Obi confirmed that he would contest the 2027 election.”
ii. to show the reason for an action, as in:

4. Because I wanted to cheer the Super Eagles, I slept in the stadium (without a present participle clause).
= “Wanting to cheer the Super Eagles,” I slept in the stadium (with a present participle clause “Wanting to cheer the Super Eagles”).
iii. to show the result/consequence of an action, as in:

5. The team played energetically, “beating all their opponents in the tournament.”
iv. to reduce the length of a relative clause, e.g.

6. The management would invite the candidates “applying for the positions.”
Instead of “The management would invite the candidates (who applied) for the positions.”
Note: Participle clauses, regardless of their types, should be close to the elements the sentence they modify in the main clause. If they are far from the sentence elements they modify, the sentences in which they are used will be rendered incorrect or ambiguous. For example:
* Applying for the positions, the management would invite the candidates.
Who is applying for the positions (the management or the candidates)?
The management would invite the candidates “applying for the positions” (correct).
* Mr Ojo saw Titilayo going to the office.
Who is going to the office (Mr Ojo or Titilayo)?
“Going to the office,” Mr Ojo saw Titilayo (correct).
* The girl knelt before Mama apologising for her mistakes.
Who is apologising for her mistakes (the girl or Mama)? “Apologising for her mistakes,” the girl knelt before Mama (correct).
Discussions on participle clauses will continue in the subsequent episode, where emphasis will be on past participle and past perfect participle clauses.

Lateef Iyanda Kugbayi, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Department of English Language
Zamfara State University
Talata Mafara
[email protected]/+2347032985052