Combine the following pairs of sentences using participles or gerunds. You may use the clues given in brackets.
Smitha walked carelessly. She slipped on the doormat. (participle)
Walking carelessly, Smitha slipped on the doormat.
Sleep for eight hours. It is good for health. (gerund)
Sleeping for eight hours is good for health.
Ranjith felt happy about the result. He called his parents. (participle)
Feeling happy about the result, Ranjith called his parents.
Father encouraged Meena. Meena joined the course. (gerund)
Father encouraged Meena to join the course. OR Father encouraged Meena's joining the course.
Explanation
(2) Using a present participle, the two sentences are combined by converting 'walked carelessly' to 'Walking carelessly' at the beginning of the sentence. The participle phrase modifies the subject 'Smitha.' (3) Using a gerund, 'Sleep' becomes 'Sleeping' and functions as the subject of the combined sentence. The gerund 'Sleeping for eight hours' acts as a noun. (4) Using a present participle, 'felt happy' becomes 'Feeling happy' and introduces a participial phrase that modifies the subject 'Ranjith.' (5) Using a gerund construction, the sentences can be combined by making 'joined' into a gerund or infinitive structure. 'Father encouraged Meena's joining the course' uses the gerund 'joining' as the object of 'encouraged.'