Level 07 – Step 06 : Participial Constructions (Present Participle) (Feeling tired, he went to bed. Smiling, she greeted us.)
/Level 07 – Step 06 : Participial Constructions (Present Participle) (Feeling tired, he went to bed. Smiling, she greeted us.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to use present participles to show two actions at the same time.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to use present participles to show two actions at the same time.
🐧Igupen: Do you mean words like “feeling” and “smiling”?
/🐧Igupen: Do you mean words like “feeling” and “smiling”?
🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho. Yes — we use the -ing form at the start or in the middle of a sentence to add information about the subject.
/🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho. Yes — we use the -ing form at the start or in the middle of a sentence to add information about the subject.
🦉Professor Owl: Listen to the examples and try making your own short sentences.
/🦉Professor Owl: Listen to the examples and try making your own short sentences.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What is a present participial construction?
/What is a present participial construction?
A present participial construction uses a verb with -ing (the present participle) to add extra information about the subject.
/A present participial construction uses a verb with -ing (the present participle) to add extra information about the subject.
We often use it to show two actions happening at the same time or to explain why something happens: Feeling tired, he went to bed.
/We often use it to show two actions happening at the same time or to explain why something happens: Feeling tired, he went to bed.
The subject of the -ing phrase and the main clause must be the same person or thing: Smiling, she greeted us (she is smiling and greeting).
/The subject of the -ing phrase and the main clause must be the same person or thing: Smiling, she greeted us (she is smiling and greeting).
Put a comma after the -ing phrase when it comes at the beginning.
/Put a comma after the -ing phrase when it comes at the beginning.
Use present participles to make sentences shorter and more natural.
/Use present participles to make sentences shorter and more natural.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
Check that the subject of the -ing phrase is the same as the subject of the main sentence; if not, rewrite the sentence to avoid confusion.
/Check that the subject of the -ing phrase is the same as the subject of the main sentence; if not, rewrite the sentence to avoid confusion.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
Feeling tired, he went to bed → he was tired and he went to bed.
/Feeling tired, he went to bed → he was tired and he went to bed.
Smiling, she greeted us → she smiled while she greeted us.
/Smiling, she greeted us → she smiled while she greeted us.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 Feeling tired, he went to bed.
/No.01 Feeling tired, he went to bed.
No.02 Smiling, she greeted us.
/No.02 Smiling, she greeted us.
No.03 Watching the rain, they drank hot tea.
/No.03 Watching the rain, they drank hot tea.
No.04 Hearing the noise, I opened the window.
/No.04 Hearing the noise, I opened the window.
No.05 Carrying a heavy bag, she walked slowly.
/No.05 Carrying a heavy bag, she walked slowly.
No.06 Feeling happy, he called his friend.
/No.06 Feeling happy, he called his friend.
No.07 Singing softly, the children fell asleep.
/No.07 Singing softly, the children fell asleep.
No.08 Checking the time, he ran to the bus stop.
/No.08 Checking the time, he ran to the bus stop.
No.09 Smiling and waving, she left the room.
/No.09 Smiling and waving, she left the room.
No.10 Looking at the map, we found the way.
/No.10 Looking at the map, we found the way.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Combine into one sentence with an -ing phrase: He was tired. He went to bed.
/Q1: Combine into one sentence with an -ing phrase: He was tired. He went to bed.
Q2: Combine: She smiled. She greeted us.
/Q2: Combine: She smiled. She greeted us.
Q3: Choose the correct sentence: A) Reading a book, the light was turned on. B) Reading a book, I turned the light on.
/Q3: Choose the correct sentence: A) Reading a book, the light was turned on. B) Reading a book, I turned the light on.
Q4: Fill in the blank with -ing form: _____ the alarm, he woke up. (hear)
/Q4: Fill in the blank with -ing form: _____ the alarm, he woke up. (hear)
Q5: Correct the sentence if needed: Driving fast, the accident happened.
/Q5: Correct the sentence if needed: Driving fast, the accident happened.
Q6: Rewrite using an -ing phrase: She checked her phone and then walked into class.
/Q6: Rewrite using an -ing phrase: She checked her phone and then walked into class.
Q7: True or False: The subject of the -ing phrase must be the same as the subject of the main clause.
/Q7: True or False: The subject of the -ing phrase must be the same as the subject of the main clause.
Q8: Choose the best sentence: A) Carrying the box, the door was opened by Tom. B) Carrying the box, Tom opened the door.
/Q8: Choose the best sentence: A) Carrying the box, the door was opened by Tom. B) Carrying the box, Tom opened the door.
Q9: Fill in the blank: _____ the map, we found the cafe. (look)
/Q9: Fill in the blank: _____ the map, we found the cafe. (look)
Q10: Combine: The children sang softly. They fell asleep.
/Q10: Combine: The children sang softly. They fell asleep.
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: Feeling tired, he went to bed.
/A1: Feeling tired, he went to bed.
A2: Smiling, she greeted us.
/A2: Smiling, she greeted us.
A3: B is correct: Reading a book, I turned the light on.
/A3: B is correct: Reading a book, I turned the light on.
A4: Hearing the alarm, he woke up.
/A4: Hearing the alarm, he woke up.
A5: Incorrect as written — it sounds like the accident was driving; correct: Driving fast, he had an accident. or The car was driving fast when the accident happened.
/A5: Incorrect as written — it sounds like the accident was driving; correct: Driving fast, he had an accident. or The car was driving fast when the accident happened.
A6: Checking her phone, she walked into class.
/A6: Checking her phone, she walked into class.
A7: True.
/A7: True.
A8: B is correct: Carrying the box, Tom opened the door.
/A8: B is correct: Carrying the box, Tom opened the door.
A9: Looking at the map, we found the cafe.
/A9: Looking at the map, we found the cafe.
A10: Singing softly, the children fell asleep.
/A10: Singing softly, the children fell asleep.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Great work today.
/🦉Professor Owl: Great work today.
🦉Professor Owl: Remember to use -ing phrases when the same subject does two things at once and to put a comma after the -ing phrase at the start.
/🦉Professor Owl: Remember to use -ing phrases when the same subject does two things at once and to put a comma after the -ing phrase at the start.
🐧Igupen: I will try writing ten short sentences with -ing phrases today.
/🐧Igupen: I will try writing ten short sentences with -ing phrases today.
🦉Professor Owl: Wonderful.
/🦉Professor Owl: Wonderful.
🦉Professor Owl: Keep practicing and your sentences will sound more natural and clear.
/🦉Professor Owl: Keep practicing and your sentences will sound more natural and clear.
