Participles

Test 8. Participles as adjectives. Complete the sentences with the present participle (‑ing) or past participle (‑ed).

1. The book was so (exciting/excited) that I couldn’t put it down.

2. I thought the interview went well, so I was very (disappointing/disappointed) not to get the job.

3. I didn’t want to tell my sister that I’d borrowed her car, as I knew she would be (annoying/annoyed).

4. I wasn’t looking forward to studying history, but in the end I thought it was a (fascinating/fascinated).

5. I just sat in front of the TV all evening. My day had been really (tiring/tired).

6. Failing my driving test was one of my most (disappointing/disappointed) experiences.

7. I wish he’d be quiet. He’s so (annoying/annoyed).

8. After watching the documentary on global warming, we all felt a bit (depressing/depressed).

9. Many people think hill walking was very energetic, but I find it very (relaxing/relaxed).

10. The children were really (exciting/excited) about opening their presents.

11. I was so hurt when he said I was (boring/bored).

12. He works very hard. It’s not (surprising/surprised) that he is always tired.

13. We were (shocking/shocked) when we heard the news.

14. I didn’t find the situation funny. I was not (amusing/ amused).

15. The journey was really (exciting/excited). I enjoyed it.

16. I am not keen on golf. When I played it, I was really (boring/bored).

17. She really learns very fast. She has made (astonishing/ astonished) progress.

18. Tom is good at telling funny stories. He can be very (amusing/amused).

19. When we heard the news, we didn’t know what to do. The news was (shocking/shocked).

20. The weather forecast was (terrifying/terrified). The (worrying/worried) authorities cancelled the match.

Test 9. Choose the correct answer a, b, or c to fill the spaces. 1. Do you know the woman _________ to Tom?

a) talked b) talking c) having talked

2. _________ her work, she went home.

a) finished b) finishing c) having finished

3. The road _________ the two villages is very narrow.

a) joined b) joining c) having joined

4. Most of the goods _________ in this factory are exported.

a) made b) making c) having made

5. _________ nearly all our money, we couldn’t stay in a hotel.

a) spent b) spending c) having spent

6. I was woken up by a bell _________.

a) rung b) ringing c) having rung

7. There were some children _________ in the river.

a) swum b) swimming c) having swum

8. A lot of people _________ to the party cannot come.

a) invited b) inviting c) having invited

9. _________ our tickets, we went into the theatre.

a) bought b) buying c) having bought

10. Everybody looked at the _________ girl.

a) danced b) dancing c) having danced

11. The window _________ in the storm last night has now been repaired.

a) broken b) breaking c) having broken

12. I saw a woman _________ in the corner on her own.

a) stood b) standing c) having stood

13. She was lying in the middle of the road, _________ for help.

a) cried b) crying c) having cried

14. _________ our meal, we went out.

a) Finished b) Finishing c) Having finished

15. He just sits around all day, _________ nothing.

a) done b)doing c) having done

16. Books _________ from the library must be returned in two weeks.

a) borrowed b) borrowing c) having borrowed

17. Not _________ what to do, she burst out crying.

a) known b) knowing c) having known

18. _________ hungry, I decided to make myself a sandwich.

a) felt b) feeling c) having felt

19. _________ dinner, they continued their journey.

a) had b) having c) having had

20. Emma was sitting in an armchair _________ a book.

a) read b) reading c) having read

Test 10. Open the brackets using Participle I or Participle II. 1. (Walk) along the street I saw several (destroy) houses.

2. It was an (excite) incident. No wonder she spoke about it in an (excite) voice.

3. (Sit) near the fire, he felt very warm.

4. (Find) a hotel, we looked for somewhere to have dinner.

5. The (frighten) child could not sleep all night – so (frighten) was the tale.

6. (Be) unemployed, he hasn’t got much money.

7. I don’t know what was in the (burn) letter. I didn’t read it.

8. (Look) out of the window, he saw his mother watering the flowers.

9. The house (surround) by tall trees was very beautiful.

10. The wall (surround) the house was very high.

11. (Translate) by a good specialist, the story preserved all the humour of the original.

12. (Sell) fruit, he looked back from time to time, hoping to see his friends.

13. (Sell) all the fruit, he went to see his friends.

14. (Enter) the room, she turned on the light.

15. (Arrive) late, we missed the train.

16. Jim hurt his arm while (play) tennis.

17. The (lose) book was found at last.

18. (Not wish) to discuss that problem, he changed the conversation.

19. A word (speak) in time may have very important results.

20. The students (speak) good English must help their classmates.

Test 11. Open the brackets using Participle I or Participle II. 1. A crowd of (excite) people stood (watch) the burning house.

2. ‘Why do you look so (worry)?’ ‘I’ve had a number of (worry) telephone calls lately.’

3. (Look) through some magazines, I came across an interesting article.

4. (Have) dinner, they continued their journey.

5. After hearing the (frighten) tale, the (frighten) children wouldn’t go to sleep.

6. (Feel) tired, I went to bed early.

7. A lot of people (invite) to the party cannot come.

8. (Hear) the sounds of music, we stopped talking.

9. The girl (wash) the floor is my sister.

10. The floor (wash) by Helen looked very clean.

11. (Approve) by the critics, the story was accepted by a popular magazine.

12. (Do) his homework, he was thinking hard.

13. (Do) his homework, he went for a walk.

14. (Come) to the theatre, she saw that the performance had already begun.

15. (See) this film twice, I didn’t want to go to the cinema.

16. Be careful when (cross) the road.

17. Translate the words (write) on the blackboard.

18. (Not know) her address, we couldn’t go to see her.

19. A fish (take) out of the water cannot live.

20. A person (take) a sun‑bath must be very careful.

Test 12. Fill in each space in the following text, using an appropriate present or past participle of the verbs given in the box. You will need to use one of the verbs twice.

The Haunted House Just after midnight, Julian and Anne, with Tommy the dog, arrived at the _________ (1) house, having first _________ (2) sure that no one would notice their absence. The house, _________ (3) in the seventeenth century, had been abandoned for several years and the _________ (4) windows stood _________ (5) like the eyes of a frightened ghost. Julian, _________ (6) by Anne and Tommy, took out his torch and pointed it towards the fence, _________ (7) for the gap which they had _________ (8) a few days earlier. But how had their latest adventure _________ (9)? Julian had been sitting in a cafe _________ (10) a drink when he overheard some men _________ (11) about hiding ‘the stuff’ in the haunted house till things had quietened down. _________ (12) that the police were looking for drug traffickers in the area, Julian had followed the men to their car, _________ (13) sure to take down the number. Julian, Anne and Tommy the dog spent the next few evenings at the house, _________ (14) in one of the old stables next to the house, _________ (15) patiently for the arrival of the criminals. At last, their efforts were rewarded. They saw the lights of a car _________ (16) closer. When the car stopped, a man got out, _________ (17) what seemed to be a large parcel. A few seconds later they saw another figure _________ (18) out of the car, _________ (19) a long black overcoat and _________ (20) something in his hand that, in the darkness, looked like a gun.