English Grammar in Use With Answers » Unit 97: -ing and -ed clauses (the woman talking to Tom, the boy injured in the accident)

A clause is a part of a sentence. Some clauses begin with -ing or -ed. For example:

Do you know the woman talking to Tom ?
(the woman talking to Tom)
talking to Tom : -ing clause

The boy injured in the accident was taken to hospital.
(the boy injured in the accident )
injured in the accident : -ed clause

We use -ing clauses to say what somebody (or something) is (or was) doing at a particular time:
  • Do you know the woman talking to Tom? (the woman is talking to Tom)
  • Police investigating the crime are looking for three men. (police are investigating the crime)
  • Who were those people waiting outside? (they were waiting)
  • I was woken up by a bell ringing. (a bell was ringing)

You can also use an -ing clause to say what happens all the time, not just at a particular time.
For example:
  • The road connecting the two villages is very narrow. (the road connects the two villages)
  • I have a large room overlooking the garden. (the room overlooks the garden)
  • Can you think of the name of a flower beginning with T? (the name begins with T)

-ed clauses have a passive meaning:
  • The boy injured in the accident was taken to hospital.
    (he was injured in the accident)
  • George showed me some pictures painted by his father.
    (they had been painted by his father)

Injured and invited are past participles. Note that many past participles are irregular and do not end in -ed (stolen/made/written etc.):
  • The police never found the money stolen in the robbery.
  • Most of the goods made in this factory are exported.

You can use left in this way, with the meaning 'not used, still there':
  • We've eaten nearly all the chocolates. There are only a few left.

We often use -ing and -ed clauses after there is / there was etc. :
  • There were some children swimming in the river.
  • Is there anybody waiting?
  • There was a big red car parked outside the house.

97.1 Make one sentence from two. Complete the sentences with an -ing clause.

  1. A bell was ringing. I was woken up by it.
    I was woken up by .
  2. A man was sitting next to me on the plane. I didn't talk much to him.
    I didn't talk much to the __________ .
  3. A taxi was taking us to the airport. It broke down.
    The __________ broke down.
  4. There's a path at the end of this street. The path leads to the river.
    At the end of the street there's a __________ .
  5. A factory has just opened in the town. It employs 500 people.
    A __________ has just opened in the town.
  6. The company sent me a brochure. It contained the information I needed.
    The company sent me __________ .

97.2 Make one sentence from two, beginning as shown. Each time make an -ed clause.

  1. A boy was injured in the accident. He was taken to hospital.
    The boy was taken to hospital.
  2. A gate was damaged in the storm. It has now been repaired.
    The gate __________ has now been repaired.
  3. A number of suggestions were made at the meeting. Most of them were not very practical.
    Most of the __________ were not very practical.
  4. Some paintings were stolen from the museum. They haven't been found yet.
    The __________ haven't been found yet.
  5. A man was arrested by the police. What's his name?
    What's the name of __________ ?

97.3 Complete the sentences using the following verbs in the correct form:

  • blow
  • call
  • invite
  • live
  • offer
  • read
  • ring
  • sit
  • study
  • work
  1. I was woken up by a bell (1) .
  2. Some of the people (2) to the party can't come.
  3. Life must be very unpleasant for people (3) __________ near busy airports.
  4. A few days after the interview, I received an email (4) __________ me the job.
  5. Somebody (5) __________ Jack phoned while you were out.
  6. There was a tree (6) __________ down in the storm last night.
  7. The waiting room was empty except for a young man (7) __________ by the window (8) __________ a magazine.
  8. Ian has a brother (9) __________ in a bank in London and a sister (10) __________ economics at university in Manchester.

97.4 Use the words in brackets to make sentences using There is / There was etc.

  1. That house is empty. (nobody / live / in it)
    .
  2. The accident wasn't serious. (nobody / injure)
    .
  3. I can hear footsteps. (somebody / come)
    There __________ .
  4. The train was full. (a lot of people / travel)
    __________ .
  5. We were the only guests at the hotel. (nobody else / stay there)
    __________ .
  6. The piece of paper was blank. (nothing / write / on it)
    __________ .
  7. The college offers English courses in the evening. (a course / begin / next Monday)
    __________ .

Answer Key
Favorite Books
English Grammar Tests

PART A: 14 Elementary tests, 14 Pre-Intermediate tests, 8 Intermediate tests. Each test is specified on different grammar topics. PART B: 14 tests including Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate and Upper intermediate level grammar tests. Every test is focused on a different grammar topic. (2452 questions) PART C: 16 Multi-level grammar tests. Each test is specified on a different grammar topic. (1418 questions) PART D: 20 perfect multi-level grammar tests for assessment. (2000 questions) PART E: 6 Elementary, 5 Intermediate, 3 Advanced grammar tests. The formats of the tests are similar and the level gradually increases. (1400 questions)

Read more
Table of Contents