Past Participles in English

The past participle is that small grammatical hero that allows us to form perfect tenses, create the passive voice, and sound like real experts when speaking the language. Although it might seem complicated at first glance, you'll discover that the past participle isn't as scary as it sounds.

In this article, we will explain what the past participle is in English, how it's formed, and most importantly, how to use it correctly with clear and practical examples. Get ready to master one of the key pieces of grammar and take your English to the next level.

What is the past participle in English?

The past participle, or "past participle," is a verb form typically used with perfect tenses, although it can also function as an adjective or a noun in some cases. Generally, you can easily recognize it because it ends in -ed or -en. Examples:

• The car has been repaired.
• The letter was written by Paula. 
• We have visited that museum before.
• The door was closed by the teacher.
• Bruce has eaten all the cake.

It is simply essential to understand how the past participle works to communicate correctly in English.

When is the past participle used in English?

We mainly use the past participle in four cases:

1. In perfect tenses 
The past participle is essential to form perfect tenses, which describe actions completed at a specific point in time.

• Present perfect: Used to talk about actions that happened in the past but still have a connection to the present. Example: "I have spoken to my teacher".
• Past perfect: Used to talk about actions that occurred before another event in the past. Example: "She had finished her homework before dinner".
• Future perfect: Used to describe actions that will have been completed in the future before a specific moment. Example: "By next year, they will have built the house".

2. In the passive voice 
The past participle is also used to form the passive voice, where the focus of the sentence is on the action rather than who performs it.

• Example: "The book was written by a famous author". 

3. As an adjective 
It can also function as an adjective to describe the state or condition of a noun.

• Example: "The broken window needs to be fixed". Here, broken acts as an adjective to describe the window.

4. As a noun (less common) 
In less common cases, it can act as a noun in certain specific phrases.

• Example: "The accused will speak tomorrow". Here, accused is used as a noun to refer to a specific person.

The formula for the past participle in English

The form of the past participle depends on whether the verb is regular or irregular. For regular verbs, the past participle is formed by adding -ed to the end of the verb in its base form.

Formula:

Base verb + -ed

Examples:

Irregular verbs, on the other hand, do not follow a specific rule for forming the past participle. In these cases, it is necessary to memorize the corresponding form, since it may be entirely different from the base form or its simple past.

Example of structure with irregular verbs:

Past participle structure in sentences

The past participle cannot stand alone; it needs a helping verb (either have or be) to form perfect tenses or the passive voice.

Perfect tenses

The basic structure in the perfect tenses is: Subject + have/has/had + verb in past participle

Examples:

• She has eaten breakfast. 
• They had gone to the park.
• I have finished my homework.

Passive voice

The basic structure in the passive voice is: Subject + conjugated verb "to be" + past participle

Examples:

• The book was written by a famous author.
• The window has been broken.
• The house is cleaned every day.

Examples of common verbs in the past participle

There are many common past participle verbs that are often used in English. Some of them are:

1. Done
2. Broken
3. Found
4. Seen
5. Written
6. Spoken
7. Chosen
8. Told
9. Driven
10. Given
11. Taken
12. Seen
13. Heard
14. Gone
15. Built

Don’t worry; you’ll learn many more verbs over time!

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Past Participle vs Present Participle

The names may sound similar, but it’s crucial to understand the difference between the past participle and the present participle.

As we’ve seen, the past participle is used to describe an action in the past that has already been completed. Example:

• "I have finished the lesson". Here, the past participle finished indicates an action that is complete.

On the other hand, the present participle is used to talk about an action that is happening right now. Example:

• "I am talking to my friend". In this case, the present participle talking describes an action taking place at this very moment in the present.

10 Examples of Sentences Using the Past Participle

Before we go, we share with you 10 more examples of sentences that use a verb in the past participle:

1. She has broken the vase.
2. I have found the answer.
3. We have seen the movie.
4. He has written the book.
5. She has spoken to her teacher.
6. I have chosen the right path.
7. They have told me the truth.
8. He has driven the car.
9. We have given our best.
10. She has taken the wrong turn.

These are just a few examples of sentences with past participles. Here are some more complex sentences:

• The students have been given the assignment.
• The team has already taken the lead.
• The axolotl has been chosen as the mascot.

As you can see, the past participle can help us greatly to improve the clarity of our speech.

Summary

You’ve learned that the past participle is a verb form mainly used with perfect tenses. However, you also know it can function as an adjective or, in some cases, as a noun.

Now, why not practice what you’ve learned today by writing some sentences with verbs in the past participle?

Explore the resources below to get more help to improve your skills!