Participles

What are participles?

End with -ing
Look at the verb table below and find out the answers.

Infinitive past Present Past

Participle Participle
bore bored boring bored

interest interested interesting interested

 Participles

What are participles? End with -ed

Look at the verb table below and find out the answers.

Infinitive past Present Past

Participle Participle
bore bored boring bored

interest interested interesting interested

 Participles used as adjectives

Examples :
Present participles are
usually active
1a. The boring teacher talked for hours.
1b. The bored students fell asleep.
Past participles are
usually passive
2a. I read an interesting magazine yesterday.

2b. The magazine receives a lot of support from interested

readers.
 More examples:
3a. It was an exciting concert.
3b. The excited fans screamed during the concert.

4a. Many young people experience troubling situations.

4b. The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong receives calls
from troubled young people.
Try exercise 1 & 2
 Participle Phrases

What is a participle phrase?

A participle phrase is made up of a

participle + object / meaningful
expression.
Example : A participle
phrase describing
We get calls from young people the noun before, ie.
worried about relationships. young people.
 A phrase begins
with a present
More examples : participle.
1a. Look at the boy. (Active)
1b. Look at the boy climbing the tree.

2a. The man has missed the bus.

2b. The man running down the street has missed the bus
A phrase begins with a
past participle. (Passive)
3a. The fans stood up and danced.
3b. The fans, excited by the concert, stood up and danced.
 Participle phrases as adverbs

We can use participle phrases to join two ideas

together.
HOW? An adverbial phrase
Examples :
giving a reason

Feeling upset and confused, the girl called the

Samaritans Befrienders Hong Kong.

Who feel upset & confused?

The girl in the main course.
 Notice the changes
made.
More examples :
1a. The girl felt upset and confused. She called the
Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong.
1b. Feeling upset and confused, the girl called the
Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong.
 A participle phrase joining 2
actions which happen together.

2a. Ellen listened to the girl. She wished she could help her.
2b. Ellen listened to the girl, wishing she could help her.

A participle phrase joining 2 actions, one

of which happens during the other.

3a. He was injured when he was crossing the road.

3b. He was injured crossing the road.
Try exercise 3

END