Perfect Active Voice Participial Phrases
Perfect active participial phrases deal with experience. You can think of them as transformations of subordinate clauses or independent clauses.
Example 1
Subordinate clause with present perfect verb:
- Because I've been to Paris, I can tell you about all the places that are worth visiting.
Perfect (active) participial phrase
- Having been to Paris, I can tell you about all the places that are worth visiting.
Example 2
Subordinate clause with present perfect verb:
- Because I haven't been to Paris, I can't tell you what's worth visiting there.
Perfect (active) participial phrase
- Not having been to Paris, I can't tell you what's worth visiting there.
Example 3: Comparison between present simple vs. present perfect transformations
Independent clause with present simple verb:
- I have kids. I don't get as much sleep as I would like to get.
Active participial phrase:
- Having kids, I don't get as much sleep as I would like to get.
VS.
Independent clause with present perfect verb:
- I have had kids too. I know what it's like to not get much sleep.
Perfect (active) participial phrase
- Having had kids too, I know what it's like to not get much sleep.
Formula: If the original verb is in present perfect (I have studied) or past perfect (I had studied), the participial phrase is having + the 3rd form (give, gave, given).
Present perfect
In the example transformations below, all the verbs in the first simple sentence are in present perfect. All the participial phrases are in perfect active voice.
Example 1
Simple sentences:
- Usain Bolt has broken the record. He is now famous around the world.
Complex sentences with participial phrases:
- Having broken the record, Bolt is now famous around the world.
- Bolt, having broken the record, is now famous around the world.
Example 2
Simple sentences:
- I have studied the company’s policies and procedure. I am confident I’m ready for the job.
Complex sentence with participial phrase:
- Having studied the company’s policies and procedures, I am confident I’m ready for the job.
Example 3
Simple sentences:
- I have tried different ways of cooking pumpkin. I think the recipe which my neighbour gave me last week is the best.
Complex sentence with participial phrase:
- Having tried different ways of cooking pumpkin, I think the recipe which my neighbour gave me last week is the best.
Past perfect
In the example transformations below, all the verbs in the first simple sentence are in past perfect. All the participial phrases are in perfect active voice.
Example 1
Simple sentences:
- I had had no experience in the field. I took the job anyway because I knew I could do it.
Complex sentence with participial phrase:
- Having had no experience in the field, I took the job anyway because I knew I could do it.
Example 2
Simple sentences:
- She had worked at several companies in this field. She shared a lot of good business practices.
Complex sentence with participial phrase:
- Having worked at several companies in this field, she shared a lot of good business practices.
Example 3
Simple sentences:
- He had never seen such a case before. He consulted his colleagues.
Complex sentences with participial phrases:
- Having never seen such a case before, he consulted his colleagues.
- Never having seen such a case before, he consulted his colleagues.