Les. 104: Using Participial Phrases to Expand or Combine

Analyze the text

"A Dreadful Masterpiece"

Ernie Pyle, Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II correspondent, describes one night during the London Blitz. Find the participles that help you visualize London as a result of the blitz.

"Later on I borrowed a tin hat and went out among the fires. That was exciting too, but the thing I shall always remember above all the other things in my life is the monstrous loveliness of that one single view of London on a holiday night - London stabbed with great fires, shaken by explosions, its dark regions along the Thames sparkling with the pinpoints of white-hot bombs, all of it roofed over with a ceiling of pink that held bursting shells, balloons, flares and the grind of vicious engines. And in yourself the excitement and anticipation and wonder in your soul that this could be happening at all."

- Ernie Pyle, "A Dreadful Masterpiece"

Multiple Select

Identify the four participial phrases from the mentor text on the previous slide.

• stabbed with great fires

• shaken by explosions

• sparkling with the pinpoints of white hot bombs

• roofed over with a ceiling of pink that held bursting shells, balloons, flares and the grind of vicious engines

• borrowed a tin hat and went out among the fires

Open Ended

Using the verb in parantheses, expand each sentence by inserting a participle or participial phrase. Insert commas as necessary.

Steve retrieved his bicycle from the ditch. (embarrass)

Open Ended

Using the verb in parantheses, expand each sentence by inserting a participle or participial phrase. Insert commas as necessary.

Steve pushed his bicycle to the house. (damage)

Open Ended

Using the verb in parantheses, expand each sentence by inserting a participle or participial phrase. Insert commas as necessary.

Steve told his friends about the accident. (surprise)