2. FORMEXAMPLE Active or present participleI fell asleep watching television. We’re taking a short break now. Past participleI’ve watched all those videos. The job had taken a long time. Passive participleThe game was watched by only a few. I was really taken by surprise. Perfect participleHaving cleared the snow, they were able to go. Perfect passive participleThe snow having been cleared she was able to go. Continuous passive participleThey watched the snow being cleared away.

3. to make verb forms:  be + active participle = continuous tenses She is leaving. The train was arriving.  be + passive participle = passive voice The new cafe is opened. We were stopped by a policeman.  have + past participle = perfect tenses The car has broken down. She had gone home earlier.

4. As adjectives or adverbs:  Modern art is interesting.  Pour boiling water over pasta.  She sat in the corner crying.  I’m interested in modern art.  Look at that broken doll.  He sat down, filled with horror.

5. used as adverbs they can describe:  two actions happening at the same time She sat by the fire reading a book.  two actions that happen one after another Opening his case, he took out a gun.  if the first action is completed before the second begins, use perfect participle Having finished lunch, we set off.  two actions happening one ‘cause of another Not knowing what to do, I waited patiently.

6.  used to modify nouns (to specify them or add extra information)  can contain relative pronouns who, which, that, what, whom, where, when, why, whose  there are two types: DEFINING and NON-DEFINING  defining are also called identifying or classifying  non-defining are also called adding or connective

7. identify or qualify a noun telling us exactly which person/thing is being referred to  She likes people who are good fun to be with.  A corkscrew is a thing you use to open a bottle.  Politicians who tell lies are odious.  I met a man who works in advertising.  The person I saw was wearing glasses.

8. use who for animate & which for inanimate  The woman who usually does my hair was ill.  It was a dream which came true. that can be used with any noun  The woman that usually does my hair was ill.  It was a dream that came true. NOTE: who is more usual with people, that with other nouns; which sounds rather formal

9.  relative pronoun can be the subject or the object of the clause subjectobject Never buy from people who sell out of suitcases. (They sell out of suitcases.) I’ve got a computer program that does the job for me. (It does the job.) They’re the same actors that we saw at the theatre. (We saw them at the theatre.) It’s a job which you could do yourself. (You could do it.) NOTE: we can leave out the pronoun They’re the same actors we saw at the theatre. It’s a job you could do yourself.

10. add secondary information to a sentence, almost as an afterthought  My friend Andrew, who is Scottish, is blind.  Politicians, who tell lies, are odious.  My favourite building is Durham Cathedral, which took 200 years to build.  Tony McNair, who graduated at UCLA, addressed the meeting. HENCE THE COMMAS!

11. pronoun can never be left out, regardless if it is a subject or an object of the clause  Paul Jennings, who has written several books, was awarded a Booker prize.  His last book, which received a lot of praise, has been a great success.  Paul Jennings, who I knew at university, was awarded a Booker prize.  His last book, which I didn’t like at all, has been a great success.

12. prepositions usually come at the end of the clause  Come and meet the people I work with.  She’s a friend I can always rely on.  He talked about theories of market forces, which I’d never even heard of.  The growth in economy, which is a goal our government is dedicated to, is very slow.

13. can be used in the non-defining clauses to refer to the whole sentence before  She arrived on time, which amazed everybody.  He gambled away all his money, which I thought wasn’t very smart.  The coffee machine isn’t working, which means we don’t have any coffee.

14. can be used in both types of relative clauses & denotes possession  That’s the man whose son was killed recently.  My parents, whose only interest is gardening, never go away on holiday.  Doctors are people whose work is obviously useful.  My best friend is Tony, at whose wedding I had met my future wife.

15. used in defining clauses; means the thing that  Has she told you what’s worrying her?  What I need to know is when we’re meeting.

16. used in defining clauses; means the reason why  I don’t know why we’re arguing.

17. can be used in both types of relative clauses & denotes time / place  Tell me when you expect to arrive.  The hotel where we stayed was excellent.  We go walking on Mondays, when the rest of the world is working.  He works in Oxford, where my sister lives. by Irene, 2008