Exercises C1 : Participial constructions in English (answers)

These exercises are designed to consolidate your understanding of participial constructions in English. Work through each task to sharpen your ability to combine ideas elegantly and write with advanced fluency.

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Exercice 1 — Participial Constructions: Fill in the Blank

Complete each sentence by writing the correct participial form of the verb given in brackets. Write the full sentence as your answer.

1. ___ (exhaust) by the long negotiations, the delegates finally agreed to a compromise.
2. The scientist, ___ (publish) over forty papers on climate change, was invited to address the UN summit.
3. ___ (not receive) any prior warning, the residents were completely unprepared for the evacuation order.
4. The new policy, ___ (introduce) without proper consultation, faced immediate opposition from the workforce.

Correction

1. Exhausted by the long negotiations, the delegates finally agreed to a compromise.
2. The scientist, having published over forty papers on climate change, was invited to address the UN summit.
3. Not having received any prior warning, the residents were completely unprepared for the evacuation order.
4. The new policy, introduced without proper consultation, faced immediate opposition from the workforce.

Exercice 2 — Combining Clauses with Participial Constructions

Rewrite each pair of sentences as a single sentence using an appropriate participial construction. Write the full transformed sentence as your answer.

1. She had studied the report thoroughly. She was able to challenge every point raised in the meeting. → Rewrite as one sentence using a participial construction.
2. The bridge was damaged by the storm. It had to be closed to all traffic for six weeks. → Rewrite as one sentence using a participial construction.
3. He did not anticipate the scale of public opposition. He launched the campaign without a contingency plan. → Rewrite as one sentence using a participial construction.
4. The committee had reviewed all the applications. It then drew up a shortlist of six candidates. → Rewrite as one sentence using a participial construction.

Correction

1. Having studied the report thoroughly, she was able to challenge every point raised in the meeting.
2. Damaged by the storm, the bridge had to be closed to all traffic for six weeks.
3. Not anticipating the scale of public opposition, he launched the campaign without a contingency plan.
4. Having reviewed all the applications, the committee drew up a shortlist of six candidates.

Exercice 3 — Spot and Correct the Error

Each sentence contains one error related to participial constructions. Identify the error and rewrite the full sentence correctly.

1. Having finishing the audit, the accountants submitted their final report to the board.
2. Surprising by the sudden change in policy, the staff struggled to adapt their working procedures.
3. Walking through the exhibition, several thought-provoking installations were noticed by the critics.
4. Not having been inform of the schedule change, the delegates arrived an hour late for the opening session.

Correction

1. Having finished the audit, the accountants submitted their final report to the board.
2. Surprised by the sudden change in policy, the staff struggled to adapt their working procedures.
3. Walking through the exhibition, the critics noticed several thought-provoking installations.
4. Not having been informed of the schedule change, the delegates arrived an hour late for the opening session.