SFL/METU
Dept. of B.E.
GHO 3
April 2017
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE GROUP
REDUCTION OF ADVERB CLAUSES
Below is a text about Antonio Meucci. Read it and answer the following questions.
Antonio Meucci was an Italian inventor who is known for developing a
voice-communication apparatus. Several sources credit him, not Alexander
Graham Bell, as the inventor of the first telephone. Meucci was born in
1808. He studied design and mechanical engineering at the Academy of
Fine Arts in Florence. After graduating from the academy, he started
working as a stage technician at a theater in Florence. There, he developed a
primitive system to help his colleagues communicate.
In the 1830s, he moved to Cuba. He spent all his spare time on research,
working on methods to treat illnesses with electric shocks. While working on these methods, he found that
sound could travel by electrical impulses. This discovery excited and inspired him a great deal. Seeing the
potential in this idea, he decided to move to Staten Island, NY to develop the technology.
Meucci continued to work with ceaseless vigor on the project he had begun in Havana, Cuba. He set up a
communications link in his new home, which connected the basement with the first floor. After being told by
the doctors that his wife had developed arthritis, he created a permanent link between his lab and his wife's
second floor bedroom, which he called “the electrophone.”
Having spent all his money pursuing his work, he couldn’t commercialize his invention. He looked for
Italian capitalists who were willing to finance his project. However, military expeditions in Italy had made
the political situation in the country too unstable for anybody to invest. From the mid-1850s to the early
1860s, his financial situation deteriorated, which gradually reduced him to poverty. Not being granted a
patent for his invention, he died in despair and poverty. A few years later, Alexander Graham Bell filed a
patent for a telephone, and became an instant celebrity.
1. When did Meucci start working as a stage technician?
After graduating from the academy. / After he (had) graduated from the academy.
2. Why did he decide to move to Staten Island, NY?
Because Meucci saw the potential in this idea. / To develop the technology.
3. When did he create a permanent link to his lab and his wife’s second floor bedroom?
After being told by the doctors that his wife had developed arthritis. / After he was told
by the doctors that his wife had developed arthritis.
4. Why couldn’t he commercialize his invention?
Because he had spent all his money pursuing his work.
In order to answer the questions above, you needed to recognize and understand “reduced adverb clauses”.
Just like relative clauses, adverb clauses, which show time, manner and reason / result, can be reduced using
participle phrases. Study the examples below that have been taken from the text on Antonio Meucci, and see
how the clauses are reduced.
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Adverb Clauses of Time
 While working on these methods, Meucci found that sound could travel by electrical impulses.
While Meucci was working on these methods, he found that sound could travel by electrical impulses.
 After graduating from the academy, Meucci started working as a stage technician at a theater in
Florence.
After Meucci had graduated from the academy, he started working as a stage technician at a theater in
Florence.
 After being told by the doctors that his wife had developed arthritis, Meucci created a permanent
link between his lab and his wife's second floor bedroom, which he called “the electrophone.”
After Meucci was told by the doctors that his wife had developed arthritis, he created a permanent link
between his lab and his wife's second floor bedroom, which he called “the electrophone.”
Adverb Clauses of Reason / Result
 Seeing the potential in this idea, Meucci decided to move to Staten Island, NY to develop the
technology.
Because Meucci saw the potential in this idea, he decided to move to Staten Island, NY to develop the
technology.
 Not being granted a patent for his invention, Meucci died in despair and poverty.
Since Meucci wasn’t granted a patent for his invention, he died in despair and poverty.
 Having spent all his money pursuing his work, Meucci couldn’t commercialize his invention.
Meucci had spent all his money pursuing his work. Therefore, he couldn’t commercialize his invention.
Adverb Clauses of Manner (and)
 Meucci spent all his spare time on research, working on methods to treat illnesses with electric
shocks.
Meucci spent all his spare time on research, and worked on methods to treat illnesses with electric
shocks.
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THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE
FORM
Active
(not) Ving
THE PAST PARTICIPLE
FORM
Passive
(not) (being) V3
THE PERFECT PARTICIPLE
FORM
Active
(not) having V3
Passive
(not) having been V3
adverb clauses of time
adverb clauses of time
adverb clauses of time
 When I looked in my wallet, I discovered that I didn’t
have enough money to pay the bill.
(Upon / On) looking in my wallet, I discovered I
didn’t have enough money to pay the bill.
 When the chairperson was asked whether he would resign, The perfect participle is used when there is a time
he remained silent.
gap between two actions. That is, the two actions
(When) asked whether he would resign, the take place at different times.
chairperson remained silent.
(Upon / On being) asked whether he would resign, the
chairperson remained silent.
 When (=after) she had collected sufficient data,
 When it is exposed to water, iron will eventually rust.
Liz started to write her thesis.
(When) exposed to water, iron will eventually rust.
Having collected sufficient data, Liz started to
write her thesis.
 He fainted while he was being questioned at the police
station.
He fainted while being questioned at the police station.
 When you cross the street, you must be careful.
When crossing the street, you must be careful.
not omitted (as it means ‘whenever’ / ‘everytime’)
 While I was walking to class, I ran into an old friend.
(While) walking to class, I ran into an old friend.
 After he finished his homework, Peter went to bed.
After finishing his homework, Peter went to bed.
(Also see Perfect Participles)
 After the refugees were rescued, they were taken to the
reception camp.
After being rescued, the refugees were taken to the reception
not omitted
 I ran into an old friend while walking to class.
Peter went to bed after finishing his homework.
camp.
(Also see Perfect Participles)
Please note that if the participle phrase follows the  Notice the use of passive with the adverb clauses of time
main clause, AFTER, WHEN and WHILE are NOT
expressed by after, before and while.
omitted.
(Also see Perfect Participles)
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 After he (had) finished his homework, Peter
went to bed.
After finishing his homework, Peter went to
bed.
After having finished his homework, Peter
went to bed.
Having finished his homework, Peter went to
bed.
THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE
(not) Ving
 Before I left for work, I ate breakfast.
Before leaving for work, I ate breakfast.
THE PAST PARTICIPLE
(not) (being) V3
 Before an exam is given, it is always proofread.
Before being given, an exam is always proofread.
THE PERFECT PARTICIPLE
(not) having V3 / (not) having been V3
not omitted
 Since Maria came to this country, she has made many
friends.
Since coming to this country, Maria has made many friends.
_______________________________
 Please note that BEFORE and SINCE (as a time
coordinator) are always KEPT in participle clauses.
adverb clauses of reason
adverb clauses of reason
adverb clauses of reason
 Because he lacked the necessary qualifications, he was not  Because the dog is seriously injured, it may die.
 Because I had seen that movie before, I
considered for the job.
(Being) seriously injured, the dog may die.
didn’t want to go again.
Lacking the necessary qualifications, he was not considered
Having seen that movie before, I
for the job.
didn’t want to go again.
 Since Sam didn't want to hurt her feelings, he didn't tell her  Since she was unable to afford a car, she bought a bicycle.
 Since she hadn’t slept well, she felt
the bad news.
(Being) unable to afford a car, she bought a bicycle.
tired in the morning.
Not wanting to hurt her feelings, Sam didn't tell her the
Not having slept well, she felt tired in
bad news.
the morning.

As
he
was
found
guilty
of
behavior
contrary
to
Hippocratic

As I hadn’t been asked, I didn’t really
 As I felt tired, I went to bed early.
Oath,
Mr.
Drake
lost
his
license.
want to interfere.
Feeling tired, I went to bed early.
(Being)
found
guilty
of
behavior
contrary
to
Hippocratic
 Please note that the participle phrase which shows reason
Not having been asked, I didn’t really
Oath,
Mr.
Drake
lost
his
license.
precedes the main clause which shows result.
want to interfere.
adverb clauses of manner (and)
 Mary smiled warmly, and she shook hands with me.
Smiling warmly, Mary shook hands with me.
Mary shook hands with me, smiling warmly.
adverb clauses of manner
_______________________________
adverb clauses of manner
_______________________________
 She wrote him a friendly letter. She thanked him for his help.
She wrote him a friendly letter, and thanked him for his
help.
She wrote him a friendly letter, thanking him for his help.
adverb clause of condition / concession
adverb clause of condition / concession
adverb clause of condition / concession
 If this method is properly used, it will be highly effective.
(If) properly used, this method will be highly effective.

Although / (Even) Though it was published in 1960, the
_______________________________
_______________________________
book wasn’t much of a success until the late 1970s.
Although / (Even) Though published in 1960, the book
wasn’t much of a success until the late 1970s.
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Note: We can reduce adverb clauses to a participle phrase only when the subjects of the two clauses are the
same.
e.g. Walking down Main Street, some trees were beautiful. (incorrect)
Walking down Main Street, I saw some beautiful trees. (correct)
TASK 1. Study each sentence carefully and mark (√) the correct one (there can be more than one).
1. Left alone in that cabin, my fear increased.
Left alone in that cabin, I became more fearful. (√)
2. Ruined by the rain, the suede jacket had to be thrown away. (√)
Ruined by the rain, I threw the jacket away.
I threw away the jacket ruined by the rain. (√)
3. Viewed from afar, the cloud looked like a horse. (√)
Viewed from afar, I thought the cloud looked like a horse.
Viewing from afar, the cloud looked like a horse.
TASK 2. Rewrite the following sentences using present participles if possible.
1. As I didn’t know his room number, I asked the receptionist.
Not knowing his room number, I asked the receptionist.
2.
He tripped and broke his leg while he was going down the stairs.
(While) going down the stairs, he tripped and broke his leg. / He tripped and broke his leg while
going down the stairs.
3.
Since Bob opened his new business, he has been working 16 hours a day.
Since opening his new business, Bob has been working 16 hours a day.
4.
After Jack had finished breakfast, he left the house and went to his office.
After finishing / (After) having finished breakfast, Jack left the house and went to his office.
5.
While Jane was taking a photo, her camera fell and broke down.
CANNOT be reduced to a participle phrase since the SUBJECTS are NOT the SAME.
6.
You should always read a contract before you sign your name.
You should always read a contract before signing your name.
7.
When Tina crossed the marathon finish line, she fell in exhaustion.
(Upon/On) crossing the marathon finish line, Tina fell in exhaustion.
8.
Because the little boy believed that no one loved him, he ran away from home.
Believing that no one loved him, the little boy ran away from home.
TASK 3. Rewrite the following sentences using past participles.
1.
Because he was dismissed from school, he decided to join the army.
(Being) Dismissed from school, he decided to join the army.
2.
When Richard was asked whether he would stay or not, he said that he might.
(When) asked whether he would stay or not, Richard said that he might.
3.
As I was unprepared for the test, I didn’t get a good grade.
(Being) unprepared for the test, I didn’t get a good grade.
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4.
If your plants are watered regularly, they will stay green for a long time.
(If) watered regularly, your plants will stay green for a long time.
5.
Although the article was written by a famous journalist, it didn’t interest many people.
Although written by a famous journalist, the article didn’t interest many people.
TASK 4. Rewrite the following sentences using perfect participles if possible.
1.
As he had witnessed the crime, he was expected to appear in court.
Having witnessed the crime, he was expected to appear in court.
2.
I had lost my key; therefore, I had to spend the night at my sister’s.
Having lost my key, I had to spend the night at my sister’s.
3.
After the police stopped the flight, they arrested two men and a woman.
After stopping the flight, the police arrested two men and a woman.
(After) having stopped the flight, the police arrested two men and a woman.
4.
Because the students were judged the best, the administration decided to give them scholarships.
CANNOT be reduced to a participle phrase since the SUBJECTS are NOT the SAME.
5.
Chris has been dismissed from school, so now he is looking for a new job.
Having been dismissed from school, Chris is looking for a new job.
TASK 5. Rewrite the following using a suitable participle.
1.
He was unable to remember where he had parked, so he went through street after street and looked at each car.
(Being) Unable to remember where he had parked, he went through street after street and looked at
each car.
2.
Because they had not taken serious measures against pollution, the members of the committee were not
reelected.
Not having taken serious measures against pollution, the members of the committee were not
reelected.
3.
The three homeless people moved into the house since they thought it was unoccupied.
Thinking that it was unoccupied, the three homeless people moved into the house.
4.
As they had not planned their policies carefully, the ruling party leaders had difficulty handling the
problems of the country.
Not having planned their policies carefully, the ruling party leaders had difficulty handling the
problems of the country.
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TASK 6. Choose the best answer.
1. ________ to represent the Association of Engineers at the International Convention, ________.
a) Selecting / the members applauded
b) Having been selected / he delivered a short speech
c) Having selected / a speech had to be given
d) To be selected / the members congratulated him.
2. __________ by Ford in 1913, the assembly line revolutionized automobile production.
a) Introducing b) After introducing c) Having introduced d) Introduced
3. Having been served lunch, __________.
a) the committee members discussed the problem
b) the problem was discussed by the members of the committee
c) the meeting started
d) a discussion of the problems was started by the members
4. Sitting in a bulletproof and bombproof glass cage, __________.
a) the terrorist’s trial is an important milestone in the history of the country
b) the terrorist’s relatives are being allowed to attend court sessions
c) the relatives of the victims of the terrorist attack were heard shouting
d) the terrorist told the court he had not been subjected to torture
5.
__________ responsible for the death of some 3,000 civilians who lost their lives in terrorist attacks,
__________.
a) Held / the convict is being represented by a team of lawyers
b) Having held / a team of lawyers is allowed to attend the trial
c) Having been held / the court has refused to grant an adjournment
d) Holding / the convict’s lawyers have protested against the military judge
TASK 7. Read the following sentences about Maria Montessori, the famous educationalist and write
the full version of the reduced clauses.
1. Maria Montessori became the first female doctor in her country after graduating from medical
school in 1896.
Maria Montessori became the first female doctor in her country after she graduated from medical
school in 1896.
2. While working with deprived children, Maria Montessori set up a 'Children's House' in Rome.
While Maria Montessori was working with deprived children, she set up a 'Children's House' in
Rome.
3. Believing that the role of the teacher as a guide was very important, she established the teachertraining centers that would take her work forward.
As / Because / Since Maria Montessori believed that the role of the teacher as a guide was very
important, she established the teacher-training centers that would take her work forward.
4. When asked to explain her approach, Maria Montessori always said, “The goal is to prepare
children for a lifetime of creative thinking and learning.”
When Maria Montessori was asked to explain her approach, she always said, “The goal is to
prepare children for a lifetime of creative thinking and learning.”
5. When offered a range of activities, children can develop a social life based on cooperation rather
than competition.
When children are offered a range of activities, they can develop a social life based on
cooperation rather than competition.
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TASK 8. Correct the sentences where necessary.
1. Surprised by the loud noise, the little girl started to cry.
__(√)_______________________________________________ .
2.
Swimming out in the lake, a sudden thunderstorm forced the people to head quickly back towards the shore.
While the people were swimming out in the lake, a sudden thunderstorm forced them to head quickly
back towards the shore. / Swimming out in the lake, the people were forced to head quickly back
towards the shore.
3.
Weakened by the illness, I felt sure that another winter would kill the old man.
Because the old man had been weakened by the illness, I felt sure that another winter would kill him.
/ Weakened by the illness, the old man wouldn’t be able to survive another winter.
TASK 9. Read the text below, and reduce the sentences in bold using participle phrases.
Oxana Malaya was born in 1983, in a small farming village in southern Ukraine. Oxana's parents were
severe alcoholics, and her environment as a young child lacked the care and love that a child would need for
proper development. One night, when Oxana was around three years of age, she wandered outside. Her
parents were too drunk to even notice that she was gone. (1) The little girl came across a dog shelter while
she was looking for some warmth. She spent the night in the shelter, where, for the first time in her life,
Oxana felt warm and nurtured. (2) Her parents didn't want to take care of her anymore. Therefore, they
decided to keep her with the dogs. Oxana spent all her time with the dogs, ate off the ground, and barked
when she felt threatened. When the girl was eight years old, a concerned neighbor reported Oxana’s case to
the authorities, which resulted in her being placed in an orphanage in Ukraine. (3) Because she had been
brought up by dogs, she didn’t know how to walk or talk. She also had no social skills and no personal
hygiene, and she was very aggressive towards strangers.
Unsurprisingly, the education Oxana received at the orphanage didn’t improve her mental and physical
abilities. (4) After she had spent six months at the orphanage, she was taken to a new school for an
extensive rehabilitation program. At this new school, Oxana participated in a rigorous training program,
where she was taught how to walk and how to speak, learning new words each day. It took five years to get
her to the cognitive and social level of her peers. Oxana is now 33 years old and has come a very long way
since she was first taken from her parents. (5) When she is asked about her childhood, Oxana seems very
embarrassed to talk about it.
1. The little girl came across a dog shelter while looking for some warmth.
2. Not wanting to take care of her anymore, her parents decided to keep her with the dogs.
3. (Having been) brought up by dogs, she didn’t know how to walk or talk
4. After spending / (After) having spent six months at the orphanage, she was taken to a new school for an
extensive rehabilitation program.
5. (When) asked about her childhood, Oxana seems very embarrassed to talk about it.
(Upon / On being) asked about her childhood, Oxana seems very embarrassed to talk about it.
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