English Grammar Exercises: -ing and -ed clauses

Exercise 1   

Make one sentence from two. Complete the sentences with an –ing clause.

1   A bell was ringing. I was woken up by it.

     I was woken up by …………………….

2   A man was sitting next to me on the plane. I didn’t talk much to him.

     I didn’t talk much to the …………………….

3   A taxi was taking us to the airport. It broke down.

     The ……………………. broke down.

4   There’s a path at the end of this street. The path leads to the river.

     At the end of the street there’s a …………………….

5   A factory has just opened in the town. It employs 500 people.

     A ……………………. has just opened in the town.

6   The company sent me a brochure. It contained the information I needed.

     The company sent me …………………….

Exercise 2   

Make one sentence from two, beginning as shown. Each time make an –ed clause.

1   A boy was injured in the accident. He was taken to hospital.

    The boy ……………………. was taken to hospital.

2   A gate was damaged in the storm. It has now been repaired.

    The gate ……………………. has now been repaired.

3   A number of suggestions were made at the meeting. Most of them were not very practical.

    Most of the ……………………. were not very practical.

4   Some paintings were stolen from the museum. They haven’t been found yet.

    The ……………………. haven’t been found yet.

5   A man was arrested by the police. What’s his name?

    What’s the name of ……………………. ?

Exercise 3   

Complete the sentences using the following verbs in the correct form:

blow   call   invite   live   offer   read   ring   sit   study   work

1   I was woken up by a bell …………………….

2   Some of the people ……………………. to the party can’t come.

3   Life must be very unpleasant for people ……………………. near busy airports.

4   A few days after the interview, I received an email ……………………. me the job.

5   Somebody ……………………. jack phoned while you were out.

6   There was a tree ……………………. down in the storm last night.

7   The waiting room was empty except for a young man ……………………. by the window……………………. a magazine.

8   Ian has a brother ……………………. in a bank in London and a sister ……………………. economics at university in Manchester.

Exercise 4   

Use the words in brackets to make sentences using There is / There was etc.

1   That house is empty. (nobody / live / in it)

     …………………….

2   The accident wasn’t serious. (nobody / injure)

     …………………….

3   I can hear footsteps. (somebody / come)

     There …………………….

4   The train was full. (a lot of people / travel)

     …………………….

5   We were the only guests at the hotel. (nobody else / stay there)

     …………………….

6   The piece of paper was blank. (nothing / write / on it)

     …………………….

7   The college offers English courses in the evening. (a course / begin / next Monday)

     …………………….