-ing clauses

UNIT 64   -ing clauses

A.   A clause is a part of a sentence. Some sentences have two clauses:

• Feeling tired, I went to bed early

In this sentence, "I went to bed early" is the main clause.

Feeling tired is the -ing clause.


B.   When two things happen at the same time, you can use -ing for one of the verbs. The main clause usually comes first:

• She was sitting in an armchair reading a book. (= she was sitting, and she was reading)

• I ran out of the house shouting. (= I was shouting when I ran out of the house)

We also use -ing when one action happens during another. Use -ing for the longer action. The longer action is the second part of the sentence.

• Jim hurt his arm playing tennis. (= while he was playing)

• I cut myself shaving. (= while I was shaving)

You can also use -ing after while or when:

• Jim hurt his arm while playing tennis. (= while he was playing)

• Be careful when crossing the street. (= when you are crossing)                       

C.   When one happens before another action, you can use having (done) for the first
action:

Having found a hotel, they looked for somewhere to have dinner.

Having finished our work, we went home.

You could also say After -ing:

• After finishing our work, we went home.

If the second happens immediately after the first, you can use the simple -ing form (doing instead of having done):

Taking a key out of his pocket, he opened the door.
These structures are used mainly in written English.


D.   You can also use an -ing clause to explain something or to say why someone did something. The -ing clause usually comes first:

• Feeling tired, I went to bed early. (= because I felt tired)

• Being unemployed, she doesn't have much money. (= because she is unemployed)

• Not having a car, she finds it difficult to get around. (= because she doesn't have a car)

• Having already seen the film twice, didn't want to go to the movies. (= because I had already seen it twice)