P. 71

Verbals: Participles

Can you find a word in each sentence below that looks like a verb but acts like an adjective?

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• The washed car sparkled in the sun.
• The runners quickly ran from the charging bull.
• The graded essays sat on the teacher’s desk.

Verbals

• How can a verb not be a verb?

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• A verbal is a verb that acts as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.

Participles

Verb forms that act as adjectives.

Participles

• A participle is a verb form (verbal) that is used as an adjective.
• Participles can be past or present tense.
• Present participles end in –ing.
• Past participles usually consist of the plain form of the verb plus –d or –ed. Others are irregularly formed.

Tips & Examples

Tip: If you can take it out of the sentence and the sentence still makes sense, it is a participle.

Remember: You can part with participials.

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EXAMPLES

• I found a walking stick in the woods.
• Waxed floors can be dangerously slippery.
• Catching her breath, Elaine leaned against the wall.

Participles

Verb forms that act as adjectives.

Participles

verb form (verbal) that is used as an adjective. Participles can be past or present tense.

Tips

Participles can be removed (sentence still makes sense).

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You can PART with PARTicipials.

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Participial Phrases

• A participial phrase consists of a participle and its related words, such as modifiers and complements, all of which act together as an adjective.
1. Tip: Participial phrases are often set off by commas.
2. Tip: Participial phrases usually end at the next punctuation mark, the next verb, or at the noun the phrase modifies. Do not include modifiers that do not modify the participle itself.

EXAMPLE

• Darting suddenly, the cat escaped through the door.
• The loudly groaning door opened slowly.
• I heard musicians singing sweetly at the concert.

Participles

Verb forms that act as adjectives.

Participles

verb form (verbal) that is used as an adjective. Participles can be past or present tense.

Tips

Participial Phrase

consists of a participle and its related words. Acts as an adjective.

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Tips

Participial phrases are often set off by commas and end at the next punctuation mark, verb, or noun/pronoun being modified.

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Participial phrases ...

Participles can be removed (sentence still makes sense).

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You can PART with PARTicipials.

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Sentence Combining

Directions: Combine the following sets of sentences by forming a participial phrase.

1. The dishwasher was invented in 1889.

The dishwasher was invented by an Indiana housewife.

The first dishwasher was driven by a steam engine.

• I was sitting on the ground with my back against the wall.

I was taking small sips from a can of Coke.

• The house was gray.

The house was weather-worn.

The house was surrounded by tobacco fields.

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Practice & Apply p. 73

Directions: Identify the participle or participial phrase in each sentence. Then, identify the noun modified by the phrase.

1. In many parts of the country, steadily declining interest has damaged high school football.
2. Preferring soccer or basketball, many students do not sign up for football.
3. Parents concerned about football injuries suggest other sports.
4. Reacting to a lack of interest, school officials have cut football funds.