Changing time clauses to modifying phrases

Adverb clauses begining with after, before, while, and since can be changed to modifiying phrases

Example :

- Since Mary came to this country, she has made many friends.
- Since coming to this country, Mary has made many friends.

A modifying phrase may follow the main clause.

e.q. He went to bed after finishing his homework.

Remember

There is no difference in meaning between After he finished and After he had finishied.

There is no difference in meaning between After finishing and After having finished.

Exercise :

1. Before I went to Yellowstone Park last summer, I had never seen a black bear in the wild.
2. After she (had) completed her shopping, she went home.
3. While I was trying to get to sleep last night, a mosquito kept buzzing my ear.

Expressing the idea of “during the same time” in modifying phrases.

While can be omitted but –ing phrases is used (have the same meaning)

E.g.

- While I was walking down the street, I ran into an old friend.

- while walking down the street, I ran into an old friend.

- Walking down the street, I ran into an old friend.

Expressing cause and effect relationships in modifying phrases.

Because is not used in a modifying phrases. It is omitted, but the resulting phrase expresses a cause
and effect relationship.

An –ing phrase at the beginning of sentence has the meaning “because”

E.g.

- Because she needed some money to buy a book, Sue cashed a check.

- Needing some money to buy a book, Sue cashed a check.

Having + past participle gives the meaning not only of “because” but also of “before”

- Having seen that movie, I don’t want to go again.

- Having seen that movie, I didn’t want to go again.

Be form is often changed to being – cause and effect relationship.

Because she was unable to afford a car, she bought a bicyle.

Being unable to afford a car, she bought a bicycle.

Unable to afford a car, she bought a bicycle.

Exercise :

Lying on her bed in peace and quiet, she soon forgot her troubles.

Having already spent all of his last paycheck, he does not have any more money to live on for the
rest of the month.

Being a self-supporting widow with three children, she has no choice but to work.

The little boy was trying his best not to cry. He swallowed hard and began to speak.

After I read the chapter four times, I finally understood the author’s theory.

Using Upon + -ing in modifying phrases.

Upon/on + Verb –ing = when + subject + verb

Note : Upon can be shorten to on.

e.g.

Upon reaching/on reaching/when I reached the age of 21, I received my inheritance.

Ex.

1. I bowed my nhead when I met the king.

2. When Tina crossed the marathon finish line, she fell in exhaustion.