Participle in English

Have you ever heard of a participle? If you are learning English, then you will come across this term quite often, especially in grammar!

In this reference, we will discuss what is a participle, its different types, forms, and how to use participles in English. We will also look at some examples in sentences, participles and adjectives, and even discover creative uses of participles.

What is a Participle?

A participle is a verb form that you can use as a verb, adjective, or noun. It is a combination of the verb and the past, present, or perfect tense. The participle can be used to modify a noun or verb, or it can be the subject or object of a sentence. Participles are sometimes referred to as "verbal adjectives" or "verbal nouns."

The word "participle" comes from the Latin word "particeps," which means "sharing in." This reflects the idea that a participle is a verb form that shares in the characteristics of both a verb and an adjective.

A participle can be active or passive. Active participles are used to describe the subject of a sentence and passive participles are used to describe the object of a sentence.

Types of Participles

There are three types of participles: present participles, past participles, and perfect participles. Each type of participle has a different form and function.

Present participles are formed by adding an "-ing" ending to the root form of the verb. There are some exceptions based on the root verb spelling. 

1. If the word ends with a consonant and “-e,” we drop “-e” and add the ing form. For example: create - creating; excite - exciting; bite - biting. 
2. If the word ends with “-ie,” you should change it to “-y” and add “-ing." For example: tie - tying; die - dying; lie - lying.
3. If the word has one syllable and follows the CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) pattern, the last consonant should be doubled. For example: run - running; beg - begging; stop - stopping.

Present participles can be used in different ways:

1. Adjectives. The present participle may modify the noun in a sentence. (He needs a new swimming suit.)
2. Participle phrases. Such phrases add more context to the sentence. (Whistling a cheerful tune, the mail carrier delivered the letters along the sunny street.)
3. To form continuous tenses. You should use present participles to form the sentences in continuous tenses correctly. For example: She is reading a book in the garden (present continuous); They were playing soccer when it started to rain (past continuous).

Past participles are formed by adding an "-ed" ending to the root form of the regular verb. For example, the past participle of “ask” is “asked,” “walked” - “walked,” and so on. If the verb is irregular, you should use the third conjugation form. For example, “eat-eaten,” “go-gone,” “drink-drunk.” There are also some exceptions to the general rule of forming past participles for regular verbs:

1. If the word ends with consonant+y, you drop -y and add -ied (carry-carried, study-studied).
2. If a one-syllable verb has a CVC pattern, you double the last consonant (plan-planned, drop-dropped). This rule doesn't work for verbs ending in -w or -x (sew-sewed, fix-fixed).

Past participles, as well as present ones, have 3 uses:

1. Adjectives. The broken window was a clear sign of the burglary.
2. Participle phrases. Exhausted from the long journey, the travelers settled into their hotel rooms for a much-needed rest.
3. To form perfect tenses. They have finished their project successfully (present perfect). Before the party started, she had already prepared all the food (past perfect). By next week, we will have completed the entire course (future perfect).

Perfect participles are rather phrases than unique and independent types of participles. However, they may be easily recognized by the following pattern: having + past participle. They are used to demonstrate that one event is followed by another. ("Having finished her homework, Sarah decided to watch a movie." "Having been warned about the storm, they took all necessary precautions.")

Participle Forms

Participles can be used in different forms. They can be used in the active form, which means that the participle is used to describe the subject itself or the action the subject of the sentence is performing. For example: 

• The running man was out of breath. ("running" is an active participle and “man” is a subject)
• The barking dog alerted its owners of a stranger's presence. ("barking" is an active participle and “dog” is a subject)
• Humming a tune, she completed her work efficiently. ("humming a tune" is an active participle" and “she” is a subject).

Participles can also be used in the passive form, which means that the subject is being acted upon. For example: 

• The book written by the famous author was a bestseller. ("book" is a subject, and "written" is a passive participle).
• The cake eaten by the children was made from scratch. ("cake" is a subject, and “eaten” is a passive participle).

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How to Use Participles in English

Using participles in English is easy once you understand the different types and forms. Here are some tips for using participles correctly:

• Use the correct form of the participle, and always make a double-check of the tense.
• Avoid dangling participles. Make sure the participle agrees with the subject or object of the sentence.
• Use active participles to describe the subject of the sentence and passive participles to describe the object of the sentence.
• Use participles to create phrases or clauses.
• Use participles to add emphasis or detail to a sentence.
• Remember, participles are versatile and can be used in various ways to enhance your writing or speaking in English. The key is to practice and pay attention to their relationship with the subjects and tenses in your sentences.

Examples of Participles in English sentences

Participles can be used in many different ways in English sentences. Here are some examples of sentences using participles:

"The boiling water overflowed from the pot." (Active Participle) 
"Battered by the storm, the old fence finally collapsed." (Passive Participle) 
"Humming her favorite song, she completed her daily jog." (Active Participle) 
"The cake eaten at the party was delicious." (Passive Participle) 
"Carrying a heavy backpack, the hiker climbed the mountain trail." (Active Participle) 
"The instructions given by the teacher were clear and concise." (Passive Participle) 
"Trembling with excitement, the winner accepted the award." (Active Participle) 
"The letter written in haste contained several mistakes." (Passive Participle) 
"Whistling casually, he walked down the street." (Active Participle) 
"The road blocked by the fallen tree was cleared by noon." (Passive Participle)

Participles and Adjectives

Participles can also be used as adjectives. They can be used to describe nouns and modify other adjectives.

Here are some examples:

"The broken toy was no longer useful."

The word "broken" is a participle that works as an adjective to describe the noun "toy".

"The exhausted runner collapsed on the ground."

The word "exhausted" is a participle that works an adjective to describe the noun "runner".

"The quickly moving car was hard to follow."

The word "quickly" is a participle used as an adjective to modify the adjective "moving".

Participles in Action

Participles can be used to create vivid descriptions and to add detail to a sentence. For example:

• "The thundering clouds brought a heavy downpour."
• "The howling wind rattled the windows."
• "The shining sun warmed the earth."
• "The buzzing bees filled the garden with life."
• "The rustling leaves danced in the breeze."

Participles for Creative Writing

Participles can be used to create interesting and creative descriptions in writing. They can be used to create vivid images and to add detail to a sentence. Here are some examples of sentences using participles for creative writing:

• "The falling snowflakes twinkled like stars."
• "The flowing river glistened in the moonlight."
• "The blooming flowers filled the air with fragrance."
• "The soaring birds filled the sky with beauty."
• "The sparkling stars lit up the night sky."

Summary

There are three types of participles: present participles, past participles, and perfect participles. Each type has its own form and function. Participles can be used in the active, passive, or perfect form. They can also be used to create phrases or clauses, to add emphasis or detail to a sentence, or to create creative descriptions in writing.

Learning how to use participles in English can help you to better understand the language and to express yourself more effectively. Use this reference as a guide to understanding and using participles in your own life!