-ing forms after prepositions



Read this sentence:

- "The international market (...) has been cornered by about 300 (...) factories staffed by more than a million workers."

The part of the sentence "staffed by more than a million workers" is a reduced relative clause.
The passive participle staffed follows directly after the noun factories and it is used instead of a relative pronoun and a full verb (= 300 factories that are staffed).

We can form this kind of clause with a passive participle (e.g. staffed) or an active participle.

e.g. Do you know that young man standing next to the shop? (= who is standing)

A truck carrying barrels of beer has overturned and burst into flames. (= which was carrying)
This path leading to the church is full of beautiful flowers. (= that leads)

The active participle means the same as:
- a relative pronoun + a continuous verb form (e.g. who is standing)
- a relative pronoun + a simple verb form (e.g. which leads)


Retirado de Travelling Again – 11.ª Ano, de Teresa Botelho, Conceição Mendes da Silva
Texto Editora.