having and -ed participle: results
8.137 If you want to say that someone did or experienced one thing before another, you mention the first thing in a clause containing having and an -ed participle. Often this kind of construction shows that the second event was a result of the first one.
I did not feel terribly shocked, having expected him to take the easiest way out.
Having admitted he was wrong, my husband suddenly fell silent.
-ed participle: earlier events
8.138 If you want to say what happened to someone or something before a situation or event described in the main clause, you say what happened in a clause containing an -ed participle on its own.
Angered by the policies of the union, she wrote a letter to the General Secretary.
mentioning the subject
8.139 Sometimes you want to use a non-defining clause that has a different subject from the subject of the main clause. These clauses are explained in the following paragraphs 8.140 to 8.143.
8.140 In this kind of non-defining clause, you usually have to mention the subject.
Jack being gone, Stephen opened his second letter.
However, if the non-defining clause comes after the main clause, and it is clear from the context that it relates to the object of the main clause, you do not need to mention the object again.
They picked me up, kicking and screaming, and carried me up to the road.
-ing participle
8.141 You use a non-defining clause containing a subject and an -ing participle:
The embarrassed young man stared at me, his face reddening.
Bats are surprisingly long-lived creatures, some having a life-expectancy of around twenty years.
With is sometimes added at the beginning of the non-finite clause.
The old man stood up with tears running down his face.
-ed participle
8.142 You use having and an -ed participle to mention something that happened before the thing described in the main clause.
The argument having finished, Mr Lucas was ready to leave.
George having gone to bed, Mick had started watching a movie.
The question having been asked, he had to deal with it.
You use an -ed participle on its own to say that something was done or completed before the event or situation described in the main clause.
He proceeded to light his pipe. That done, he put on his woollen scarf and went out.
8.143 In a negative non-defining clause, you put not in front of the participle, or in front of having.
He paused, not wishing to boast.
He didn’t recognize her at first, not having seen her for fifteen years or so.
He began to shout, their reply not having come as quickly as he wanted.
Using defining clauses
8.144 Defining non-finite clauses explain which person or thing you are talking about. They are always placed after the noun in a noun phrase.
The old lady driving the horse was dressed in black.
The bus carrying the musicians arrived just before noon.
use after pronouns
8.145 Defining clauses can be used after indefinite pronouns such as anyone.
Anyone following this advice could get in trouble.
Ask anybody nearing the age of retirement what they think.
Other structures used like non-finite clauses
8.146 Phrases that do not contain a verb are sometimes used in writing in a similar way to non-finite clauses.
8.147 In writing, you can add a phrase containing one or more adjectives to a sentence. This is another way of making two statements in one sentence.
For example, instead of writing We were tired and hungry. We reached the farm, you could write Tired and hungry, we reached the farm.
Surprised at my reaction, she tried to console me.
Much discouraged, I moved on to Philadelphia.
The boy nodded, pale and scared.
He knocked at the door, sick with fear.
Of course, said Alison, astonished.
8.148 In a similar way, you can use a phrase to describe something that is connected with the subject of a sentence. The phrase consists of a noun, followed by an adjective, an adverbial, or another noun.
For example, instead of writing He came into the room. His hat was in his hand, you could write He came into the room, his hat in his hand.
What do you mean by that? said Hugh, his face pale.
She stood very straight, her body absolutely stiff with fury.
He was waiting, drumming with his fingers, his eyes on his napkin.
With is sometimes added at the beginning of a phrase.
She walked on, with her eyes straight ahead.
It was a hot, calm day, with every object visible for miles.
Linking words, phrases, and clauses together
8.149 When you say or write something, you often want to put together two or more clauses of equal importance. You do this by using a coordinating conjunction.
Anna had to go into town and she wanted to go to Bride Street.
I asked if I could borrow her bicycle but she refused.
He was a great player, yet he never played for Ireland.
Here is a list of the most common coordinating conjunctions:
and
but
nor
or
then
yet
Coordinating conjunctions are also used to link words and phrases.
The boys shouted and rushed forward.
…domestic animals such as dogs and cats.