====== Participle constructions to express [ausdrücken] reason and time ======

Participle constructions can replace relative clauses (mostly in written English). But they can also be used in place [anstelle von] of other sub-clauses [Nebensätze], for example instead of adverbial clauses of reason [Grund] or of time. In German these clauses are called „Kausalsätze“ (resaon) and „Temporalsätze“ (time). 

===== Participle construction to express a reason =====

<note>Compare the two constructions on the left and right</note>

|<100% 5% 46% >|
^#^Adverbial clause construction^Participle construction^
^1|He didn’t hear the phone **because he was listening** to loud music. |**Listening** to loud music he didn’t hear the phone|
^2|Peter heard everything Anne said **because he was standing** next to her.|**Standing** next to Anne Peter heard everything she said.|
^3|**As [= because]  she was given** only a small portion of food, Sarah was hungry for the rest of the evening.|**Given** only a small portion of food, Sarah was hungry for the rest of the evening.|
^4|Jack doesn’t have time to answer all e-mails **because he is contacted** by many people every day.|**Contacted** by many  people every day, **Jack** doesn’t have time to answer all e-mails.|


<WRAP tip 80%>

  * The participle construction on the right replaces [ersetzen] the adverbial clause construction on the left (this is similar [ähnlich] to the [[englisch:participles-relative-clauses|participle construction instead or a relative clause]]). The meaning of both constructions is the same. Participle constructions are especially common in written English. They sound more formal [förmlich] than relative clauses.  
  * As you can see, the participle construction usually comes at the beginning of the sentence. 

  * The **present participle** has an **active** meaning (walking) and the **past participle** has a **passive** meaning (mentioned).

  * In German, you usually translate a participle construction with an adverbial clause because the German language doesn’t have such a construction (e.g. „Weil …“, „Da …“)
</WRAP>

===== Participle construction to express time =====

<note>Compare the two constructions on the left and right</note>

|<100% 5% 46% >|
^#^Adverbial clause construction^Participle construction^
^1|**When Susan came** home she realised that she didn’t have her keys.|**Coming** home **Susan** realised that she didn’t have her keys.|
^2|**While she was watching** TV she fell asleep.|**Watching** TV she fell asleep|
^3|**When he was offered** a job at the IT department he called his brother right away [sofort].|**Offered** a job at the IT department he called his brother right away.|
^4|**When Sam was told** to be quiet he left the room.|**Told** to be quiet he left the room. |

<WRAP tip 80%>

  * Again, the participle construction on the right replaces [ersetzen] the adverbial clause construction on the left.
 
  * The **present participle** has an **active** meaning (walking) and the **past participle** has a **passive** meaning (mentioned).

  * In German, you usually translate a participle construction with an adverbial clause because the German language doesn’t have such a construction (e.g. „Als… “)
</WRAP>