Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Non-tensed verb forms

215c

-ing participle

-ing participle non-tensed verb phrases may be simple phrases:

Please listen carefully to all the options before 

making your choice.

Buying from Save the Children’s gift catalogue is easy.

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Verb phrase 1: structure of verb phrases | 399

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Complex -ing participle verb phrases may occur with perfect aspect or with

passive voice or a combination of both. They are more frequent in writing and in

formal styles than in informal speech:

Having finished her breakfast, she pushed her plate noisily across the table and

the waitress appeared.

(perfect aspect)

He was released from prison in 1958, after 

being pardoned by West Germany’s

president, Theodor Heuss.

(passive voice)

Having been asked a few times before to do it and said no, I can’t say no this time.

(perfect aspect and passive voice)

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Progressive aspect does not occur in non-tensed -ing participle verb phrases:

Living on my own, I don’t cook very often.

(Being living on my own, I don’t cook very often.)