Helping English

The Participle

A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective.

Present participles end in -ing

EXAMPLES      I saw a singing bird near the window. [singing, a form of the verb sing,   modifies the noun bird]

                               Waving, the tourists boarded the train. [Waving, a form of the verb wave, modifies the noun tourists]

Most past participles end in -d or -ed.

EXAMPLES    The baked salmon with sour cream tasted delicious. [Baked , a form of the verb bake, modifies the noun salmon]

                           In your own sentences, use each word given below. [Given, a form of the verb give, modifies the noun word]

The perfect tense of a participle is formed with having or with having been.

EXAMPLES    Having worked in the sun, I got a headache.

                          Having been polished, the furniture gleamed.

 The Participial Phrase

A participial phrase consists of a participle and any modifiers or complements the participle has. The entire phrase is used as an adjective.

EXAMPLES         Nodding his head, the boss gave approval of the plan.