Avoiding ambiguity with present participle constructions

The participle must relate to the subject of both verbs Reading my newspaper, I heard the doorbell ring ( =/ was reading my newspaper and / heard the doorbell ring ) Now compare "Reading my newspaper, the doorbell rang * This sentence suggests that the doorbell is the subject and it was reading my newspaper Reading is here called an 'unrelated participle' and the sentence is unacceptable However, this rule does not apply to a number of fixed phrases using 'unrelated participles', e g broadly/ generally/strictly speaking considering judging supposing taking everything into account

The complex sentence participle constructions

Strictly speaking, you ought to sign the visitors book before

entering the club (you are not strictly speaking)

Judging from past performances he is not likely to do very well in

his exams (he is not judging) When the participle construction follows the object it must be related to the ob|ect and then the sentence is acceptable

/ found him lying on the floor(= He was lying on the floor)

Past participle constructions in place of clauses

Past participle constructions are more likely to occur in formal and literary style than in conversation

Past participle constructions in place of the passive

The past participle can be used without any conjunction in front of it in place of the passive

When it was viewed from a distance the island of Nepenthe

looked like a cloud

Viewed from a distance the island of Nepenthe looked like a cloud

Past participle constructions in place of adverbial clauses

The past participle can also be used with a conjunction in front of it to

replace a passive

Although it was built before the war the engine is still in perfect

order

Although built before the war the engine is still in perfect order

If you are accepted for this post you will be informed by May I st

If acceptedfor this post you will be informed by May 1st

Unless it is changed this law will make life difficult for farmers

Unless changed this law will make life difficult for farmers

After before since on and in cannot be followed directly by a past participle they require being + past participle

After/When we were informed the flight would be delayed we

made other arrangements

After/On being informed the flight would be delayed we made

other arrangements