PARTICIPLES &

PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

• A verb form that is used as an

ADJECTIVE.
– PAST or PRESENT

– End in –ing, -d, -ed, –en, -t

 PARTICIPLES &
PARTICIPIAL PHRASES
• Participles can be found at the beginning,
middle, or end of a sentences, but they
MUST BE relatively close to the noun or
pronoun they modify.
• Participles are ONE WORD.
• Participial phrases consist of that ONE
WORD plus modifiers (all the words that
refer to that participle).
 PARTICIPLES &
PARTICIPIAL PHRASES
STEPS to finding the
participle or participial phrase

1. Find the subject.

2. Find the real verb.
3. Look for other words that look like verbs
(word endings are the clue).
 EXAMPLE #1
The pouring rain drove us inside for the party.

– “Pouring” is the participle

– It describes rain.

• Avoid getting the participle confused with the

REAL verb – in this case “drove.”
 EXAMPLE #2
Known for her patience, Mrs. Williams was
his favorite teacher.

– “known” is the participle

– “for her patience” is the modifier
– This phrase describes Mrs. Williams.

• Subject and REAL verb: Mrs. Williams was

 EXAMPLE #3
The marine biologist, diving near a reef, saw
a shark.

“diving” is the participle

“near a reef ” is the modifier
This phrase describes the biologist.

Subject and real verb: biologist saw

 PARTICIPLES &
PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

Twirling their canes,

the dancers tapped
across the stage.
 PARTICIPLES &
PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

She heard me sighing

loudly.
Participial phrases may have
modifiers such as adverbs.
 PARTICIPLES &
PARTICIPIAL PHRASES

A peeled and sliced

cucumber can be
added to a garden
salad.
The use of the present or past participle does not depend on the verb tense
of the sentence, but rather on the performer/receiver situation. Study the
following examples!

The dog barked It was a barking dog

The dog frightens the cat. It is a frightening dog.

The dog frightened the cat. It was a frightening dog.

The problem confuses the students. It is a confusing problem.

The students are confused by the problem. They are confused students.

The story amused the children. It was an amusing story.

The children were amused by the story. They were amused children.
In the sentences below, fill in the correct participles
of the verbs in parentheses.
1. People who constantly complain are very __________
(annoy) to me.
2. Whenever Adrian gets __________ (bore), he goes fishing.
3. The students were __________ (confuse) by the
Professor’s lecture.
4. Most of the news on television is __________ (depress).
5. The Ruttles were very ________ (excite) to learn that their
concert was sold out.
6. Babysitting young children can be __________ (exhaust)
for many people.
7. Steve was so __________ (fascinate) by
the book that he finished it in one evening.
8. Would you be __________ (frighten) if
you saw a vampire?
9. After eating a __________ (satisfy) meal,
the cat washed her face.
10. When Dagmar looked in the mirror, she
was __________ (surprise) to see that she
had a leaf in her hair.
 Answer Key
1. People who constantly complain are very annoying to me.
2. Whenever Adrian gets bored, he goes fishing.
3. The students were confused by the Professor’s lecture.
4. Most of the news on television is depressing.
5. The Ruttles were very excited to learn that their concert was sold out.
6. Babysitting young children can be exhausting for many people.
7. Steve was so fascinated by the book that he finished it in one evening.
8. Would you be frightened if you saw a vampire?
9. After eating a satisfying meal, the cat washed her face.
10. When Dagmar looked in the mirror, she was surprised to see that she had
a leaf in her hair.