Verbal Forms:
Participles
Gerund
Infinitives
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Participles
A participle is a verbal (verb form) which functions as an adjective.
Because it is a verb form, it can take modifiers, but does not have to.
The most commonly used participles end in ing. They are present
participles. Take a look at the examples below:
1.
He plays an amazing piano. (Amazing is modifying piano).
2.
The tea is soothing. (Soothing modifies tea. It is a predicate
adjective).
3.
We are reading an interesting poem. (Interesting is a participle
functioning as an adjective).
Place a different participle in front of the
following words. Remember, we are talking
about ing modifiers.
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water
winds (hint, alliteration)
games (hint, in the future)
modifiers
child
poem
computer
bird
A participle phrase is a participle and all its modifiers and compliments.
In other words, a participle and all the words associated with it. Take a
look at the examples below of participle phrases.
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Looking up in horror, Joe saw Mr. Kullman’s poem of the week. (Looking is the
participle and “up in horror” are all the words associated with it. Collectively,
they form a participle phrase.) The participle phrase modifies Joe.
Trembling with excitement, Bradley waited patiently for the poem of the week.
We saw Sander lying on the road and left him there.
Take a look at the examples below of compliments of participles.
Notice that they do not have prepositions. Each verbal actually has
a direct object. In the examples above, the verbals all have
prepositional phrases.
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Carrying the heavy bookbag, Isabella looked like a power lifter. (Carrying is the
participle and “the heavy bookbag” are all the words associated with it. Bookbag
is the direct object of carrying. Collectively, they form a participle phrase.) The
participle phrase modifies Isabella.
Feeling immense terror, Bella turned and saw the ghost of Halloween.
Realizing the danger, Michael built a house of brick.
Participle phrases with predicate nouns and predicate adjectives.
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Feeling weary, Meena took a long nap. (Weary is an adjective.)
Being a humble, soccer player, Kera scored the winning goal, but she gave the
team credit. (Player is a noun.)
We saw Sander lying on the road and left him there.
Complete the following exercise.
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Go to my website, grammar section, grammar bytes, and download exercise
two of the misplaced and dangling modifiers. Identify each participle phrase
by highlighting the participle phrase in each sentence. Some participle
phrases have ed on the end. Take a look at the example. Blistered by the
sun, Timothy realized several hours too late that he should have worn
sunblock. Use the next slide to help you diagram the participle phrases.
Diagramming the Participle with the Prepositional Phrase
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participle
Adjective phrase,
modifying Bradley
preposition
Trembling with excitement, Bradley
waited patiently for the poem of the
week.
with
excitement
object of preposition
Diagramming the Participle with a Direct Object
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Adjective phrase,
modifying Michael
participle
direct object
danger
the
article / adjective
Realizing the danger,
Michael built a house of
brick.
danger
Diagramming the Participle with a Prepositional Phrase
Bradley
A participle phrase
functioning as an adjective,
modifying Bradley
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waited
for
poem
the
with
excitement
of
week
the
Trembling with excitement, Bradley waited patiently for the poem of the
week.
danger
Diagramming the Participle with a Direct Object
built
Michael
A participle phrase
functioning as an adjective,
modifying Michael
house
a
of
brick
danger
the
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Realizing the danger, Michael built a house of brick.