Participle clauses

A participle clause shortens a sentence when both parts share one subject. The -ing form is active: walking home, I met Sam. The past participle is passive: built long ago, the house needs repairs.

Having plus the participle shows an earlier action: having finished the report, she went home. Put a comma after the clause when it comes first.

Beware the dangling participle: the subject after the comma must be the one doing the action. Walking home, the rain started says the rain was walking; write walking home, I got caught in the rain.