-ing and -ed Clauses
the woman talking to Tom · the boy injured in the accident · there is/was + -ing/-ed — Complete Guide
Propositions en -ing et en -ed
the woman talking to Tom · the boy injured in the accident · there is/was + -ing/-ed — Guide Complet
Learn to use -ing clauses (active meaning: the road connecting the two villages) and -ed clauses (passive meaning: the gun used in the robbery) as compact alternatives to relative clauses.
Apprenez à utiliser les propositions en -ing (sens actif : the road connecting the two villages) et les propositions en -ed (sens passif : the gun used in the robbery) comme alternatives compactes aux propositions relatives.
Instead of a full relative clause (who is talking, which was injured), English often uses a shorter participial clause. An -ing clause has an active meaning; an -ed clause has a passive meaning. Both work like adjectives, describing the noun they follow.
Au lieu d’une proposition relative complète (who is talking, which was injured), l’anglais utilise souvent une proposition participiale plus courte. Une proposition en -ing a un sens actif ; une proposition en -ed a un sens passif. Toutes deux fonctionnent comme des adjectifs qualifiant le nom qu’elles suivent.
-ing Clauses — Active Meaning
Propositions en -ing — Sens Actif
Use an -ing clause to say what somebody/something is doing at a particular time, or what something does all the time. The -ing clause replaces an active relative clause.
Utilisez une proposition en -ing pour dire ce que quelqu’un/quelque chose fait à un moment précis, ou en permanence. Elle remplace une proposition relative active.
Who is the woman talking to Tom? = who is talking to Tom
Police investigating the crime are looking for three men. = who are investigating
I was woken up by a bell ringing. = that was ringing
All the time (permanent):En permanence :
The road connecting the two villages is very narrow. = that connects
I have a large room overlooking the garden. = that overlooks
Can you think of a flower beginning with T? = that begins with T
-ing clause (active — compact)
Proposition en -ing (actif — compacte)
Full relative clause (equivalent)
Proposition relative complète (équivalent)
-ed Clauses — Passive Meaning
Propositions en -ed — Sens Passif
An -ed clause (past participle clause) has a passive meaning. The noun receives the action. Many past participles are irregular: stolen, made, built, written, known, spoken, taken, broken, etc.
Une proposition en -ed (participe passé) a un sens passif. Le nom reçoit l’action. Beaucoup de participes passés sont irréguliers : stolen, made, built, written, known, spoken, taken, broken, etc.
George showed me pictures painted by his father. = they were painted
The gun used in the robbery has been found. = the gun was used
The police never found the money stolen in the robbery. = irregular: stolen
Most goods made in this factory are exported. = irregular: made
-ed clause (passive — compact)
Proposition en -ed (passif — compacte)
Full relative clause (equivalent)
Proposition relative complète (équivalent)
there is/was + -ing and -ed · left (= remaining)
there is/was + -ing et -ed · left (= restant)
Use there is/was with both -ing and -ed clauses. Also: left (past participle of leave) means “remaining / still there” and always comes after the noun.
Utilisez there is/was avec des propositions en -ing et en -ed. Aussi : left (participe passé de leave) signifie « restant / encore là » et se place toujours après le nom.
There were some children swimming in the river.
Is there anybody waiting?
there is/was + -ed (passive):
There was a big red car parked outside the house.
There was nobody injured in the accident.
left (= remaining / not used / still there):
There are only a few chocolates left. Is there any coffee left?
There’s nothing left to do. ✗ any left coffee (wrong position!)
Make one sentence using an -ing clause.
Faites une phrase en utilisant une proposition en -ing.
Complete with an -ed clause from the box.
Complétez avec une proposition en -ed du cadre.
damaged in the storm · made at the meeting · injured in the accident · involved in the project · stolen from the museum · surrounded by trees
Complete with the correct form (-ing or -ed) of the verb in brackets.
Complétez avec la bonne forme (-ing ou -ed) du verbe entre parenthèses.
Make sentences with There is / There was etc.
Construisez des phrases avec There is / There was etc.
Frequently Asked Questions — -ing and -ed Clauses
Questions Fréquentes — Propositions en -ing et -ed
An -ing clause is active — the noun is doing the action: the woman talking to Tom (= she is talking). An -ed clause is passive — the noun receives the action: the boy injured in the accident (= he was injured). Always ask: is the noun doing or receiving the action?
Une proposition en -ing est active — le nom fait l’action. Une proposition en -ed est passive — le nom reçoit l’action.
Yes. -ing clauses can describe both a current action AND a permanent feature: the road connecting the two villages (= always connects). Compare: the man running down the street (= right now) vs the pipe supplying water to the town (= permanent).
Oui. Les propositions en -ing peuvent décrire une action en cours ET une caractéristique permanente.
Yes — very frequently. The label “-ed clause” is just a name; the actual form uses the past participle: stolen · made · built · written · blown · taken · broken · spoken · known · grown · driven · worn · chosen. Example: the money stolen in the robbery.
Oui — très fréquemment : stolen · made · built · written · blown · taken · broken · spoken. Exemple : the money stolen in the robbery.
Left (past participle of leave) = remaining/not used/still there. It always comes after the noun: ✓ Is there any bread left? ✗ Is there any left bread? Common with there is/are: There are only three left.
Left = restant/encore là. Toujours après le nom : ✓ Is there any bread left? ✗ Is there any left bread?
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