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According to the books I have read, the present participle clauses can be used to talk about:

-Things happening at the same time as, or just before, the main action.

-Result of the action in the main clause.

-Reason of the action in the main clause.

-To give background information.

But could I use it to express a condition, like this "Opening the window, you will breathe some fresh air"?

Dan
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    We'd usually include the agency-marking 'by' here. Perhaps not always. – Edwin Ashworth Mar 29 '20 at 14:04
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    Your use of condition is not clear to me. Do you mean "a state", or do you mean "a condition which has to be met"? – Colin Fine Mar 29 '20 at 14:08
  • @ColinFine OP is asking whether "opening the window" can be interpreted as "if you open the window" (a conditional clause). I think it can, but, as Edwin Ashworth suggested in his comment, it can also indicate manner: it is by opening the window that you will breathe... I think a participial clause can express condition, as in "Studying long hours, you will most probably pass the exam". – Gustavson Mar 29 '20 at 15:10
  • I read Opening the window to mean upon opening, as in Turning left, you will notice the ocean view. Launching the computer application, you will reach the splash screen with login fields. Sounds fine. – Yosef Baskin Mar 29 '20 at 22:10
  • The act of opening a window does not assist breathing. With the window open, you will be able to breathe some fresh air. The breathing is the consequence of the existence of an opening, not the consequence of the exertion of opening. So your participle is not the condition. Unlatching the window enables it to be opened however, displays a participle with a consequence. – Nigel J Mar 29 '20 at 23:48

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