Identifying Participles

Participles and Participial Phrases

by Nedra Holmes-Goodloe

Multiple Choice

Identify the participle or participles in the following sentence.

People throughout the world have considered the flying Wright brothers the first pilots.

• considered

• flying

• both considered and flying

Poll

Does the following sentence need a comma or commas to set off the participial phrase?

Witnessed by only a few the first successful flight gained little recognition for the Wright brothers.

• comma

• no comma

Multiple Choice

What word does the participial phrase modify in this sentence?

Witnessed by only a few, the first successful flight gained little recognition for the Wright brothers.

• first

• flight

• recognition

• brothers

Poll

Does the following sentence need a comma or commas to set off the participial phrase?

A statement issued to the press about the Wright brothers' achievements received almost no attention.

• comma

• no comma

Multiple Choice

What word does the participial phrase modify in this sentence?

A statement issued to the press about the Wright brothers' achievements received almost no attention.

• statement

• brothers'

• achievements

• attention