What Are Participles?
A participle is a word formed from a verb which can be used as an adjective.
The two main types of participles are the present participle (ending ing) and the past participle (usually ending -ed, -
d, -t, -en, or -n).
Here are some participles being used as adjectives:
The The Past The Present
Verb Participle Participle
To rise the risen sun the rising sun
To boil the boiled water the boiling water
To the broken news the breaking news
break
To cook the cooked ham the cooking ham
Participle Phrases
It is really common to see participles in participle phrases. A participle phrase also acts like an adjective. In the
examples below, the participle phrases are shaded and the participles are in bold:
The man carrying the bricks is my father.
(The participle phrase carrying the bricks describes the the man.)
She showed us a plate of scones crammed with cream.
(The participle phrase crammed with cream describes the scones.)
Whistling the same tune as always, Ted touched the front of his cap with his forefinger as she dismounted.
(The participle phrase Whistling the same tune as always describes Ted.)
Stunned by the blow, Mike quickly gathered his senses and searched frantically for the pepper spray.
(The participle phrase Stunned by the blow describes Mike.)
Participle Phrases
A participle phrase is an adjective phrase that starts with a participle. It usually follows the noun (or pronoun) which
it modifies.
Examples:
You could see the panther releasing its grip.
noun participle phrase (present participle)
Is that Arthur running for the bus?
noun participle phrase (present participle)
We must raise funds to replace the window broken last week in the storm
noun participle phrase (past participle)
Interactive example:
Did they know the journalist taken hostage?
Present Participles
Present participles end in -ing. Examples:
boiling water
caring nature
deserving recipient
Some more examples of present participles (shaded):
A laughing man is stronger than a suffering man. (Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880)
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference
between a dog and a man. (Mark Twain, 1835-1910)
The only thing that comes to a sleeping man is dreams. (Tupac Shakur)
Present participles are not just used as adjectives. They are also used to form verb tenses. Here are the verb tenses
(present participles shaded):
The 4 Past Tenses Example
simple past tense I went
past progressive tense I was going
past perfect tense I had gone
past perfect progressive tense I had been going
The 4 Present Tenses Example
simple present tense I go
present progressive tense I am going
present perfect tense I have gone
present perfect progressive tense I have been going
The 4 Future Tenses Example
simple future tense I will go
future progressive tense I will be going
future perfect tense I will have gone
future perfect progressive tense I will have
beengoing
What Are Present Participles?
A participle is a word formed from a verb which can be used as an adjective.
There are two types of participles:
The Present Participle
(ending -ing)
The Past Participle
(usually ending -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n)
The "Note" section on the right explains how to form present participles.
Examples of Present Participles Being Used As Adjectives
Here are some examples of present participles being used as adjectives:
The Verb The Present Participle
To run running water
To flourish flourishing business
To discouraging glance
discourage
Present Participles in Participle Phrases
It is really common to see present participles in participle phrases. A participle phrase also acts like an adjective. In
the examples below, the participle phrases are shaded and the present participles are in bold:
My mother is next to the lady wearing the red hat.
(The participle phrase wearing the red hat describes the lady.)
I know a pond teaming with fish.
(The participle phrase teaming with fish describes a pond.)
Frantically shuffling through her coppers, Jackie hoped to find another silver coin.
(The participle phrase Frantically shuffling through her coppers describes Jackie.)
Relying on Mark's inability to cast accurately, Lee plonked his bait exactly where Mark had just caught the small
pouting.
(The participle phrase Relying on Mark's inability to cast accurately describes Lee.)
Read more about participle phrases.
More Examples of Present Participles Used as Adjectives
Here are some real-life examples of present participles (shaded) being used as adjectives:
Always be wary of any helpful item that weighs less than its operating manual. (Terry Pratchett)
Somewhere on this globe, every ten seconds, there is a woman giving birth to a child. She must be found and
stopped. (Sam Levenson, 1911-1980)
Love is the big booming beat which covers up the noise of hate. (Margaret Cho)
All existing business models are wrong. Find a new one. (Hugh Macleod)
Present Participles Used in Verb Tenses
As well as being used as adjectives, present participles are also used to form verb tenses. Here are the verb tenses
(present participles shaded):
The 4 Past Tenses Example
simple past tense I talked
past progressive tense I was talking
past perfect tense I had talked
past perfect progressive tense I had been talking
The 4 Present Tenses Example
simple present tense I talk
present progressive tense I am talking
present perfect tense I have talked
present perfect progressive tense I have been talking
The 4 Future Tenses Example
simple future tense I will talk
future progressive tense I will be talking
future perfect tense I will have talked
future perfect progressive tense I will have beentalking
Do a test on verb tenses
Do Not Confuse Present Participles with Gerunds
Present participles should not be confused with gerunds,which are nouns formed from verbs. Gerunds also end -ing.
For example:
I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for
my autograph. (Shirley Temple)
(This is a gerund not a present participle.)
Past Participles
Past participles have various endings, usually -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n. Examples:
broken window
painted frame
destroyed bridge
Some more examples of past participles (shaded):
A swollen eye is God's way of telling you to improve your interpersonal skills.
Do not waste time staring at a closed door.
I like children...if they're properly cooked. (W.C. Fields)
(Remember, an adjective can also appear after the noun it is modifying. See predicate adjectives.)
Past participles are also used to form verb tenses. Look at these verb tenses (past participles shaded):
The 4 Past Tenses Example
simple past tense I went
past progressive tense I was going
past perfect tense I had gone
past perfect progressive tense I had been going
The 4 Present Tenses Example
simple present tense I go
present progressive tense I am going
present perfect tense I have gone
present perfect progressive tense I have been going
The 4 Future Tenses Example
simple future tense I will go
future progressive tense I will be going
future perfect tense I will have gone
future perfect progressive tense I will
have beengoing
What Are Past Participles?
Participles are words formed from verbs which can be used as adjectives.
There are two types of participles:
The Past Participle
(usually ending -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n)
The Present Participle
(ending -ing)
The "Note" section on the right explains how to form past participles.
Examples of Past Participles Being Used As Adjectives
Here are some examples of past participles being used as adjectives:
The The Past Participle
Verb
To swell swollen eyes
To break broken plate
To ruin ruined cake
Past Participles in Participle Phrases
Past participles can often be found in participle phrases. A participle phrase acts like an adjective. In the examples
below, the participle phrases are shaded and the past participles are in bold:
The boy taken to hospital has recovered.
(The participle phrase taken to hospital describes the boy.)
I have a heart wracked with sorrow.
(The participle phrase wracked with sorrow describes a heart.)
Battered by the wind, John fell to his knees.
(The participle phrase "Battered by the wind describes john.)
Finally broken , Lee lowered his gloves.
(The participle phrase Finally broken describes Lee.)
Read more about participle phrases.
More Examples of Past Participles Used as Adjectives
Here are some examples of past participles (shaded) being used as adjectives:
Here is a laminated copy to replace your torn one.
Stuffed deer heads on walls are bad enough, but it's worse when they have streamers in their antlers because
then you know they were enjoying themselves when they were shot. (Ellen DeGeneres)
A torn jacket is soon mended, but hard words bruise the heart of a child. (Henry Longfellow)
Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality. (Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900)
The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on. (Joseph Heller, 1923- 1999)
Past Participles Used in Verb Tenses
As well as being used as adjectives, past participles are also used to form verb tenses. Here are the verb tenses
(past participles shaded):
The 4 Past Tenses Example
simple past tense I broke
past progressive tense I was breaking
past perfect tense I had broken
past perfect progressive tense I had been breaking
The 4 Present Tenses Example
simple present tense I break
present progressive tense I am breaking
present perfect tense I have broken
present perfect progressive tense I have been breaking
The 4 Future Tenses Example
simple future tense I will break
future progressive tense I will be breaking
future perfect tense I will have broken
future perfect progressive tense I will have beenbreaking
Perfect Participles
Perfect participles are formed like this:
"Having" + [past participle]
Examples:
Having taken
Having eaten
Having played
Some more examples of present participles (shaded):
Having heard the news, he quickly sold his brother's record collection.
Having been promised a steak dinner, she looked less than impressed with her Happy Meal.
