Participles
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Verbals and Verbal Phrases
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Verbals are forms of a verb that are used
not as verbs but as other parts of speech.
There chief function is to act as other
parts of speech: adjectives, nouns,
adverbs
Three kinds of verbals
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Participles
Gerunds
Infinitives
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
The Participle
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A participle is a verb form used as an
adjective.
Since the participle is part verb and
part adjective, it can be called a
“verbal adjective”
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
The Participle
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Example
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The simmering soup smelled
scrumptious.
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Simmering is formed from the verb to
simmer but also modifies the noun soup.
Words formed from verbs and used as
adjectives are called participles
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
The Participle
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Examples
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A chipped tooth hurts.
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Chipped is formed from the verb to chip but
also modifies the noun tooth.
Words formed from verbs and used as
adjectives are called participles.
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Types of Participles
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There are two types of participles
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Present Participle
Past Participle
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Present Participles
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Present participles consist of the
plain form of the verb plus –ing.
Example
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The annoying child refused to be quiet.
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Annoying (formed by taking the plain form
of the verb annoy and adding –ing) is a
present participle modifying the noun child.
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Present Participles
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The present participle can also be
part of a verb phrase
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The students were laughing.
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Laughing is the present participle
If a present participle is preceded by a
helping verb (were), then it is considered to
be part of the verb and not a separate
adjective.
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Past Participles
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Past participles consist of the plain
form of the verb plus –d or –ed.
A few are formed irregularly.
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Examples
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Begin—began—begun
Fly—flew—flown
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Past Participles
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Example
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The scared girl cried when she saw the
ghost.
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Scared (formed by taking the plain form of
the verb scare and adding –d) is a past
participle modifying the noun girl.
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Past Participles
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Example
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Pleased by the results, the teacher
complemented the students.
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Pleased (formed by taking the plain form of
the verb please and adding –d) is a past
participle modifying the noun teacher.
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Past Participles
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Like a present participle, a past
participle can also be part of a verb
phrase.
Example
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He was pleased with the results.
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Pleased (preceded by the helping verb was)
is a past participle that is part of a verb
phrase (was pleased).
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Past Participles
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Example
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The girl was scared.
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Scared (preceded by the helping verb was)
is a past participle that is part of the verb
phrase (was scared).
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Assignment
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Please rewrite the following
sentences. After each sentence, list
the participle and identify it as
present or past. Finally, identify the
noun or pronoun the participle
modifies; if it is part of a verb
phrase, please write VP. Be careful
not to confuse participles with the
main verb of the sentence.
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Assignment
1. He has an undeserved reputation.
2. Desiring to change this perception, he
decided to volunteer his time.
3. He debated about which organization
would be receiving his services.
4. Seeking something different and unique,
he chose the Humans for Dragons
Organization.
5. The Humans for Dragons Organization
provides safe homes to rehabilitating
stallions.
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles
Assignment
6. After much experience, he realized that he
was making the correct decision.
7. These dragons needed his help.
8. Founded in 2006, this Organization
continues to grow.
9. As of today, the Organization has helped
over five hundred dragons.
10. Without people like him, these smiling
dragons would not survive.
Geschke--English IV
Grammar Unit--Participles