A Participle is a form of the verb that acts as an adjective. As an adjective, a participle can modify a noun.
There are two main forms of the participle – present and past.
The Present Participle is formed by adding –ing to the main verb.
•Example: run + -ing = running
When you use the present participle by itself, without other verbs, it acts as an adjective.
•Examples: He is running in the marathon. (is running is the main verb – notice that the participle has a verb form beside it – is).
He hurt his leg running in the marathon. (running has no other verb beside it; therefore, it is NOT the main verb. Hurt is the main verb. Running describes he by telling “which” he. In essence it is the “running in the marathon he.”
Remember: when an –ing form of the verb stands alone (with no other verb connecting), it is either a present participle or a gerund (see gerunds).
The Past Participle is formed by adding –d, -ed, or -t to a main regular verb (irregular verbs, such as sing-sang-sung, bring-brought-brought, must be memorized).
•Example: walk + -ed = walked; sleep + -t = slept; dance + -d = danced
When the past participle is the only verb form in a sentence, it is the main verb. If not, it usually is used as an adjective.
•Examples: We exhausted every opportunity. (exhausted is the only verb and, therefore, the main verb).
We arrived at the camp exhausted. (arrived is the main verb. Exhausted describes we and is, therefore, an adjective form). Another test is to move the past participle around in the sentence. An adjective can change positions easily – a main verb is not as flexible.
Look at the first sentence: We exhausted every opportunity. Try to move the verb around. Exhausted we every opportunity. We every opportunity exhausted. Doesn’t really work.
Now try the second sentence. We arrived at the camp exhausted. Since it modifies we, let’s put it next to it, like a good adjective: Exhausted, we arrived at camp. We arrived exhausted at camp. That works. Exhausted in this case is used as an adjective and is, therefore, a past participle.
Notice: Don’t be confused by participles. Remember, they are simply adjectives. They do exactly what adjectives do – modify nouns and pronouns.
1. The unlocked door was an invitation to the burglar. (just like a regular adjective before the noun – you could substitute any simple adjective here, like green)
2. The owner, awakened by the noise, called the police. (notice that awakened describes the owner. Also by the noise joins with awakened to form a phrase called – you guessed it – a participial phrase. The whole phrase describes the owner).
3. The burglar, frightened by the alarm, fled the house.
Notice you can move the whole phrase around in the sentence: Frightened by the alarm, the burglar fled the house.
NOTICE: When you begin a sentence with a participial phrase, there are two things to remember:
1. set off the phrase with a comma
2. the word that the phrase is modifying should come directly after the comma
•Examples:
Running down the hill, he tripped over a log.
Frustrated with the weather, the man booked a flight to the Bahamas.
Calculating the wages, the shopkeeper paid his employees.
If you don’t follow these rules, some strange things can happen like…
Running down the hill, the log reached out and tripped the man. (was the log running?)
Frustrated with the weather, the flight to the Bahamas looked like a good idea.
Calculating the wages, the employees were paid. (this is a good way to go out of business)
Be careful. Sometimes these errors are comical.
Practice Exercises for Participles and Participial Phrases