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Unit 97 · Relative clauses

-ing and -ed clauses (the woman talking to Tom, the boy injured in the accident)

Study

A

A clause is a part of a sentence. Some clauses begin with -ing. For example:

›

Who is the woman talking to Tom?

We use -ing clauses to say what somebody (or something) is (or was) doing at a particular time:

›

Who is the woman talking to Tom? (the woman is talking to Tom)

›

Police investigating the crime are looking for three men. (police are investigating the crime)

›

Who were those people waiting outside? (they were waiting)

›

I was woken up by a bell ringing. (a bell was ringing)

You can also use an -ing clause to say what happens all the time, not just at a particular time:

›

The road connecting the two villages is very narrow. (the road connects the two villages)

›

I have a large room overlooking the garden. (the room overlooks the garden)

›

Can you think of the name of a flower beginning with T? (the name begins with T)

B

Some clauses begin with -ed (injured, painted etc.). For example:

›

The boy injured in the accident was taken to hospital.

-ed clauses have a passive meaning:

›

The boy injured in the accident was taken to hospital. (he was injured in the accident)

›

George showed me some pictures painted by his father. (they were painted by his father)

›

The gun used in the robbery has been found. (the gun was used in the robbery)

Injured/painted/used are past participles. Most past participles end in -ed, but many are irregular (stolen/made/built etc.):

›

The police never found the money stolen in the robbery.

›

Most of the goods made in this factory are exported.

C

You can use there is / there was (etc.) + -ing and -ed clauses:

›

There were some children swimming in the river.

›

Is there anybody waiting?

›

There was a big red car parked outside the house.

We use left in this way, with the meaning 'not used, still there':

›

We’ve eaten nearly all the chocolates. There are only a few left.

→ see/hear somebody doing something ➜ Unit 67 · -ing clauses ➜ Unit 68 · there (is) ➜ Unit 84 · Irregular past participles (made/stolen etc.) ➜ Appendix 1

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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97.1

Make one sentence from two. Complete the sentence using an -ing clause.

  1. 1
    I was woken up by a bell .example
  2. 2
    The broke down.
  3. 3
    At the end of the street there’s .
  4. 4
    has just opened in the town.
  5. 5
    The was asleep most of the time.
  6. 6
    The company sent me a .
97.2

Complete the sentence with an -ed clause. Choose from:

damaged in the stormmade at the meetinginjured in the accidentinvolved in the projectstolen from the museumsurrounded by trees
  1. 1
    The boy was taken to hospital.example
  2. 2
    The paintings haven’t been found yet.
  3. 3
    We’ve repaired the gate .
  4. 4
    Most of the suggestions were not practical.
  5. 5
    Our friends live in a beautiful house .
  6. 6
    Everybody worked very well.
97.3

Complete the sentences. Use the following verbs in the correct form:

blowcallcauseinviteliveofferpaintreadringsitstudywork
  1. 1
    I was woken up by a bell .example
  2. 2
    George showed me some pictures by his father.example
  3. 3
    Some of the people to the party can’t come.
  4. 4
    Somebody Jack phoned while you were out.
  5. 5
    Life must be very unpleasant for people near busy airports.
  6. 6
    A few days after the interview, I received an email me the job.
  7. 7
    The building was badly damaged in a fire by an electrical fault.
  8. 8
    Did you see the picture of the trees down in the storm?
  9. 9
    The waiting room was empty except for an old man in the corner a magazine.
  10. 10
    Ian has a brother in a bank in London and a sister economics at university in Manchester.
97.4

Use the words in brackets to make sentences with There is / There was etc.

  1. 1
    That house is empty.
    (nobody / live / in it)example
  2. 2
    The accident wasn’t serious.
    (nobody / injure)example
  3. 3
    I can hear footsteps.
    (somebody / come)
  4. 4
    I’ve spent all the money I had.
    (nothing / leave)
  5. 5
    The train was full.
    (a lot of people / travel)
  6. 6
    We were the only guests at the hotel.
    (nobody else / stay there)
  7. 7
    The piece of paper was blank.
    (nothing / write / on it)
  8. 8
    The college offers English courses in the evening.
    (a course / begin / next Monday)