Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 68 · B2

-ing clauses (He hurt his knee playing football.)

An -ing clause can show two things happening together, one action happening during another, one action finished before another (having done), or the reason for something (Feeling tired, I went to bed).

Start the lesson

13Steps · about 19 minutes

In this lesson

Two things at the same time, or one during anotherA4 screens of questions
having done: one action before anotherB2 screens of questions
-ing to give a reasonC2 screens of questions

Point A of 3

Two things at the same time, or one during another

Dev is in the garden. He's mowing the lawn.

You can say: Dev is in the garden mowing the lawn. The part beginning with mowing is an -ing clause.

Use an -ing clause when two things happen at the same time.

Also use it when one action happens during another, usually a longer one. You can add while or when before the -ing.

  • Dev is in the garden mowing the lawn.
  • A boy came running down the road waving a letter.
  • Don't just sit there staring at your phone!
  • Take care going down those steps.
  • Lucy sprained her wrist playing netball.
  • Did you burn yourself ironing?
  • Lucy sprained her wrist while playing netball.
  • Take care when going down those steps.

Point A · Exercise 68.1 · part 1 of 2

Join each sentence to one of the sentences in the box. Use -ing.

Use these

She was baking a cake.She was doing a crossword.She was trying not to wake the baby.She said she was going to the post office.She was working as a nurse.She visited the museums and bought souvenirs.

  1. Example

    Jess was in the kitchen.

    Jess was in the kitchen baking a cake.

    AnswerJess was in the kitchen baking a cake.

  2. Beth was sitting on the sofa.

  3. Molly closed the bedroom door quietly.

  4. Gail went out.

  5. Rosa lived in Cardiff for three years.

Point A · Exercise 68.1 · part 2 of 2

Join each sentence to one of the sentences in the box. Use -ing.

Use these

She was baking a cake.She was doing a crossword.She was trying not to wake the baby.She said she was going to the post office.She was working as a nurse.She visited the museums and bought souvenirs.

  1. Nina spent the day in Edinburgh.

Point A · Exercise 68.2 · part 1 of 2

Put the words in brackets in the right order to complete the sentence.

  1. Example

    Lucy (wrist / netball / her / sprained / playing)

    Lucy sprained her wrist playing netball.

    AnswerLucy sprained her wrist playing netball.

  2. I (on the beach / sunburnt / got / badly / lying)

  3. Mark (home / lost / cycling / his wallet)

  4. My uncle (down / tripped / the stairs / going / and broke his arm)

  5. Sophie (trying / her shoulder / a stuck window / to open / hurt)

Point A · Exercise 68.2 · part 2 of 2

Put the words in brackets in the right order to complete the sentence.

  1. Three people were (to rescue / by the waves / the dog / swept away / trying)

Point B of 3

having done: one action before another

When one action is finished before the next one starts, use having (done) for the first action. You can also say after -ing.

These structures belong mainly to written English. When a sentence begins with Having (done) ... or After (doing) ..., put a comma after that part.

  • Having parked the car, we walked down to the harbour.
  • Having signed the contract, she shook hands with everybody.
  • After signing the contract, she shook hands with everybody.

Point B · Exercise 68.3 · part 1 of 2

Complete each sentence with Having + a suitable verb.

  1. Example

    Having done the washing-up, Gary sat down with a cup of tea.

    AnswerHaving done the washing-up, Gary sat down with a cup of tea.

  2. our coats in the cloakroom, we went in and found our table.

  3. the report carefully, I'm sure we can sort these problems out.

  4. he loved spicy food, Craig has now refused to touch the curry.

  5. her driving licence for speeding, Hayley now gets the bus everywhere.

Point B · Exercise 68.3 · part 2 of 2

Complete each sentence with Having + a suitable verb.

  1. forty years in the city, my parents have now moved to a cottage in the Dales.

Point C of 3

-ing to give a reason

An -ing clause can also give a reason. In this use it normally opens the sentence.

Feeling cold, I put the heating on = because I felt cold.

If the reason was complete before the main action, use having (done).

Again, this belongs mainly to written English. A comma follows the -ing clause: Feeling cold, ..., Not knowing ..., Having read ...,.

  • Feeling cold, I put the heating on.
  • Being a nurse, Hannah is used to working nights.
  • Not having a garden, they grow tomatoes on the balcony.
  • Having read the book, I didn't think much of the film.
  • Not knowing the way, we followed the car in front and hoped for the best.

Point C · Exercise 68.4 · part 1 of 2

Make one sentence from two. Begin with -ing or Not -ing, or with Having ... where the first action was complete before the second. Remember the comma.

  1. Example

    I felt cold. So I put the heating on.

    Feeling cold, I put the heating on.

    AnswerFeeling cold, I put the heating on.

  2. I thought the children might be thirsty. So I made them some squash.

  3. Ahmed is a Leeds fan. So he never misses a home game.

  4. I didn't have an umbrella. So I got soaked on the way home.

  5. Carol has worked in a hospital for years. So she isn't squeamish about blood.

Point C · Exercise 68.4 · part 2 of 2

Make one sentence from two. Begin with -ing or Not -ing, or with Having ... where the first action was complete before the second. Remember the comma.

  1. I wasn't able to read the menu. So I just pointed at something.

  2. We had missed the last bus. So we had to walk home.

Lesson 68 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: Countable and uncountable 1Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Two things at the same time, or one during another–Not checkedB. having done: one action before another–Not checkedC. -ing to give a reason–Not checked