PARTICIPLE
A participle is an –ing word
(or an –ing phrase)
tagged onto the beginning
or end of a sentence.
SEE IT!
Simple sentence: The
elephant charged the
lions.
Revised sentence with
participles:
Roaring, stomping,
swaying, the elephant
charged the lions.
Notice how three single
participles create a more frantic
feeling in the image?
APPLY IT!
In the following examples, the
participles are in bold print and the
arrow points to the word each participle
modifies.
 The dripping faucet annoyed Peter.
 The respected politician explained his
policies.
THIS MAY HELP: PRESENT & PAST PARTICIPLES
Present participles end in –ing. Past participles end
in –ed or –d; however, some past participles have
irregular endings, such as –n, -t, or –en.
Verb
Cook
Tear
Send
Freeze
Present
Participle
Cooking
Tearing
Sending
freezing
Past
Participle
Cooked
Torn
Sent
frozen
EXAMPLES
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
Everyone cheered the winning team.
In this sentence, the present participle
modifies the word team and is at the end of
the sentence.
EXAMPLES
PAST PARTICIPLE
The broken vase was an heirloom.
In this sentence, the past participle
modifies the word vase at the
beginning of the sentence.
SPECIAL NOTES!
Since a participle is used as an
adjective, it modifies a noun or a
pronoun. It also answers the
adjective question Which one? or
What kind?
FOR EXAMPLE:
Which one?
The ringing bells filled the air with sound.
The damaged tree will live.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE
What kind?
These blooming plants need special care.
The bent branches made a lovely
centerpiece.
YOUR TURN!
Number your paper 1 to 10. Write each
participle. Then beside each one, write the word
it modifies.
Example: The falling leaves covered the driveway.
Answer: falling - leaves
1. The rising sun shines through my window.
2.All of the invited guests will attend the
ceremony.
3.No one should disturb the sleeping baby.
4.Glowing candles lighted the windows of the
old house at the end of the lane.
5.Make sure that you clean up the splattered
paint.
6. Those drifting logs could be dangerous.
7. Did you ever walk on this winding road
before?
8. Did you throw out those worn out jeans?
9. Eventually Martha found the lost
wallet.
10. The smiling baby cooed at his mother.
ANSWERS
1. rising – sun
2. invited – guests
3. sleeping – baby
4. glowing – candles
5. splattered – paint
6. drifting – logs
7. winding – road
8. worn – jeans
9. lost – watch
10. smiling - baby
EXIT TICKET!
The cheetah gained on
the injured zebra.
The skateboarder
soared over the railing.