Participles & Participial Phrases

Participles & Participle Phrases

A verb form used as an ADJECTIVE to modify (describe) nouns and pronouns.

*If it ends in –ing, it is in the present form.

*If it ends in –ed, -en, -d, -t, -n, or –ne, it is in the past form.

Rules to Guide the Participle Use

*In searching for the participle, always identify the main thought or idea FIRST; your main idea will always have a subject & a verb.

*Once you have located the main idea, then find the participle.

*The participle (or participle phrase) should be placed close to the noun or pronoun it modifies (describes).

*A participle phrase needs a comma when it starts a sentence, interrupts a sentence as a non-essential element, or comes at the end of the sentence and is separated from the word it modifies (describes).

Examples of Participles & Participle Phrases

*The exhausted child fell asleep quickly. {"The child fell asleep quickly" is the main idea.} {exhausted describes the child (the noun)...and since it ends in -ed, it would be a past participle.}

More Examples of Participles & Participle Phrases

*The camper, hiking up the hill, was startled to see a bear at the top. {"The camper was startled to see a bear at the top" is the main idea.} {hiking up the hill describes the camper (the noun)...and since it ends in -ing, it is a present participle.}

Resource Help

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