上回跟大家談了現在分詞短語 (或子句) 後, 有網友問為何有些短語用 "Having" 開頭, 有些則不用.

其實準確一點來說, 以 "Having" 作頭, 加上 past participle 的短語我們應稱為 "完成分詞短語". 意思是, 一件東西完成後, 再發生另一樣東西. 例如:

Having done her housework, mom went to a nearby boutique.
= After mom had done her housework, she went to a nearby boutique.

Having tidied up the kitchen, she cleaned her hands.
= After she had tidied up the kitchen, she cleaned her hands.

當然, 分詞短語不一定放在前面, 亦可以寫成:

Mom went to a nearby boutique having done her housework.

She cleaned her hands having tidied up the kitchen.

下次看到這樣的句式, 就不用抓破頭都看不明意思了.

最後, 還有一種, 就是過去分詞短語 (或子句). 它跟現在分詞短語的構成方式是一樣的, 只是句子成了被動句:

一. 表示原因:

Chased by the police, the thief ran into the bush.
= Because the thief was chased by the police, he ran into the bush.

Taught by such a lousy teacher, the kids learned nothing.
= Because the kids were taught by such a lousy teacher, they learned nothing.

當然, 亦有完成版本的過去分詞短語:

Having been told the truth, the girl commited suicide.
= After/ because the girl had been told the truth, she commited suicide.

二. 作為關係子句 (relative clause) 的省略 (形容用途):

Founded 200 years ago, the White House is still a symbol of presidency now. 
= The White House, which was founded 200 years ago, is still a symbol of presidency now.

Played by trillions of people, For Alice was composed by Beethoven.
= For Alice, which has been played by trillions of people, was composed by Beethoven.

時間有限, 下回再講解 Dangling phrases/ clauses