-ing Clauses | Unit 68 | PrepMyEnglish

Unit 68 · Grammar Lesson

Unité 68 · Leçon de Grammaire

-ing ClausesSimultaneous actions · having (done) · -ing to give reasons · Not -ing Propositions en -ingActions simultanées · having (done) · -ing pour les raisons · Not -ing

Use -ing clauses to combine simultaneous actions, show sequence with having (done), and explain reasons elegantly.

Utilisez les propositions en -ing pour combiner des actions simultanées, montrer une séquence avec having (done), et expliquer les raisons élégamment.

B1–B2 3 Rules · 4 Exercises · 200-Q Quiz · PDF 3 Règles · 4 Exercices · Quiz 200 Q · PDF 🇬🇧 EN / 🇫🇷 FR

-ing clauses let you join two ideas elegantly in one sentence. They are especially common in written English. Always place a comma after a sentence-opening -ing clause.

Les propositions en -ing permettent de relier deux idées élégamment. Elles sont surtout fréquentes en anglais écrit. Mettez toujours une virgule après une proposition en -ing en début de phrase.

Simultaneous or during — two actions at the same time

Simultané ou pendant — deux actions en même temps

Kate is in the kitchen making coffee. (= and making coffee at the same time)
A man ran out of the house shouting. (= he ran and was shouting)
Joe hurt his knee playing football. (= while he was playing)
Did you cut yourself shaving? (= while you were shaving)

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You can also say while/when + -ing: Joe hurt his knee while playing football.On peut aussi dire while/when + -ing : Joe hurt his knee while playing football.

having (done) — one action completed before another

having (done) — une action accomplie avant une autre

Having found a hotel, we looked for somewhere to eat.
(= after finding a hotel, we looked for food)
Having finished her work, she went home. ← comma required

Also correct: After finishing her work, she went home. ✓

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Past participle — not present participle:Participe passé — pas participe présent : ✓ Having finished ✗ Having finishing ✓ Having finished ✗ Having finishing

-ing to explain / give reasons

-ing pour expliquer / donner des raisons

-ing (positive)

-ing (positif)

Feeling tired, I went to bed early.

Being unemployed, he has little money.

Knowing the area, she offered to guide us.

Not -ing (negative)

Not -ing (négatif)

Not having a car, she finds it hard to get around.

Not knowing what to do, I called a friend.

Not speaking the language, they used gestures.

Having (done) — past reason

Having (done) — raison passée

Having seen the film twice, I didn’t want to see it again.

Having travelled extensively, she understood other cultures.

Not having booked in advance, we couldn’t get tickets.

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NOT comes FIRST:NOT vient EN PREMIER : ✓ Not knowing… ✗ Knowing not… ✓ Not knowing… ✗ Knowing not…

✓

The comma rule:La règle de la virgule : Always write a comma after a sentence-opening -ing clause: Feeling tired, I went to bed. Mettez toujours une virgule après une proposition en -ing en début de phrase.

EX 1

Combine the two sentences using an -ing clause.

Combinez les deux phrases avec une proposition en -ing.

Kate was in the kitchen. She was making coffee. → Kate was in the kitchen .

Amy was sitting in an armchair. She was reading a book. → Amy was sitting in an armchair .

Joe hurt his knee. He was playing football. → Joe hurt his knee .

Did you cut yourself? You were shaving. → Did you cut yourself ?

A man ran out of the house. He was shouting. → A man ran out of the house .

Lisa worked in Rome. She taught English. → Lisa worked in Rome .

Answers: 1. making coffee · 2. reading a book · 3. playing football · 4. shaving · 5. shouting · 6. teaching English

EX 2

Complete using Having + a suitable past participle.

Complétez avec Having + un participe passé approprié.

, Katherine left the office and went home.

our tickets, we went into the theatre.

the problem, I think we can find a solution.

his job recently, James is now unemployed.

most of his life in London, Sam moved to a small village.

the film twice, she didn’t want to see it again.

Answers: 1. Having finished · 2. Having bought · 3. Having identified · 4. Having lost · 5. Having spent · 6. Having seen

EX 3

Rewrite using an -ing or Not -ing clause to give a reason. Add a comma.

Réécrivez avec une proposition -ing ou Not -ing pour donner une raison. Ajoutez une virgule.

I felt tired. So I went to bed early. → , I went to bed early.

Robert is a vegetarian. He doesn’t eat meat. → , Robert doesn’t eat meat.

I didn’t have a phone. I had no way of contacting anyone. → , I had no way of contacting anyone.

I couldn’t speak the local language. I had trouble communicating. → , I had trouble communicating.

Sarah has travelled a lot. She knows about other cultures. → , Sarah knows a lot about other cultures.

Answers: 1. Feeling tired · 2. Being a vegetarian · 3. Not having a phone · 4. Not being able to speak the local language · 5. Having travelled a lot

EX 4

Make one sentence. Begin with -ing, Not -ing, or Having …

Faites une seule phrase. Commencez par -ing, Not -ing ou Having …

I thought they might be hungry. I offered them something to eat. → , I offered them something to eat.

We had spent nearly all our money. We couldn’t afford a hotel. → , we couldn’t afford to stay at a hotel.

She knew the area very well. She offered to guide the group. → , she offered to guide the group.

He had read the report carefully. He was well prepared. → , he was well prepared for the meeting.

Answers: 1. Thinking they might be hungry · 2. Having spent nearly all our money · 3. Knowing the area very well · 4. Having read the report carefully

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions fréquentes

What is the difference between -ing and having (done)?Différence entre -ing et having (done) ?

Use -ing when actions happen at the same time: She left smiling. Use having (done) when the first action is completed before the second: Having finished, she left.

Utilisez -ing pour des actions simultanées. Utilisez having (done) quand la première action est terminée avant la deuxième.

Do I always need a comma after the -ing clause?Faut-il toujours une virgule ?

Yes — when the -ing clause comes at the start: Feeling tired, I went to bed. When it comes at the end, no comma is needed: She left the office smiling.

Oui — quand la proposition est au début : Feeling tired, I went to bed. En fin de phrase, pas de virgule.

What is the negative form of -ing clauses?Quelle est la forme négative ?

Put Not before the -ing: ✓ Not knowing what to do, I called a friend. ✗ Knowing not… Same for having done: ✓ Not having booked, we couldn’t get tickets.

Mettez Not avant le -ing. La négation vient toujours en premier.

Is ‘Having finishing her work’ correct?« Having finishing her work » est-il correct ?

No — always use the past participle after having: ✓ Having finished ✓ Having seen. Never -ing after having.

Non — utilisez toujours le participe passé après having. ✓ Having finished. Jamais -ing après having.

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres

Number of questionsNombre de questions

DifficultyDifficulté

Show explanationsExplications

-ing Clauses — Quiz

Quiz — Propositions en -ing

20 questions

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out ofsur 20 questionsquestions

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Correct

Correctes

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Wrong

Incorrectes

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Skipped

Non répondues

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-ing ClausesSimultaneous actions · having (done) · -ing to give reasons · Not -ing Propositions en -ingActions simultanées · having (done) · -ing pour les raisons · Not -ing

Simultaneous or during — two actions at the same time

Simultané ou pendant — deux actions en même temps

having (done) — one action completed before another

having (done) — une action accomplie avant une autre

-ing to explain / give reasons

-ing pour expliquer / donner des raisons

-ing (positive)

-ing (positif)

Not -ing (negative)

Not -ing (négatif)

Having (done) — past reason

Having (done) — raison passée

Unit 68 — Exercises

Unité 68 — Exercices

Combine the two sentences using an -ing clause.

Combinez les deux phrases avec une proposition en -ing.

Complete using Having + a suitable past participle.

Complétez avec Having + un participe passé approprié.

Rewrite using an -ing or Not -ing clause to give a reason. Add a comma.

Réécrivez avec une proposition -ing ou Not -ing pour donner une raison. Ajoutez une virgule.

Make one sentence. Begin with -ing, Not -ing, or Having …

Faites une seule phrase. Commencez par -ing, Not -ing ou Having …

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions fréquentes

Unit 68 — Quiz

Unité 68 — Quiz

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres

-ing Clauses — Quiz

Quiz — Propositions en -ing

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