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Do Now #44
A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective.
The participle is part verb and part adjective. It might be called a “verbal adjective.”
Examples: Waxed floors can be dangerously slippery.
Darting suddenly, the cat escaped through the door.
A participial phrase is a group of related words that contains a participle and that acts as an adjective,
modifying a noun or a pronoun. In the following sentences, all the words in boldfaced type are part of a
participial phrase.
Examples:
Beginning a stamp collection, I found ten valuable stamps in less than a week.
Begun by concerned citizens, the ecology patrol was a neighborhood success.
Two closely related sentences can be combined by making one sentence a participial phrase.
Two sentences: The batter was hit by the pitch.
He stood two close to the plate.
One sentence: Standing too close to the plate, the batter was hit by the pitch.
To avoid confusing the reader, a participial phrase must be placed close to the noun or pronoun it
modifies.
Misplaced: The batter went to first hit by the pitch.
Improved: Hit by the pitch, the batter went to first.
*Use a comma after a participial phrase that begins a sentence.
Combine each of the following groups of sentences into one sentence by using a participial phrase.
There may be more than one correct way to combine the sentences. Add commas where they are
necessary. Underline the participial phrases.
1. Ursula Le Guin spoke about science fiction.
We listened to her.
Combined sentence:
2. Rita was pleased by the invitation.
She accepted it immediately.
Combined sentence: