Participles

Definition Verb that acts like an adjective (an adjective describes a noun) It usually comes right before the noun that it’s describing Not every verb can do this It must end in –ING or –ED to be a participle This is not a verb tense; it’s a verb doing a different job We use these all the time in English

What does a participle look like? It will end in –ING… Crying, laughing, wandering, loving Or –ED (or –en for irregular verbs, like eaten) Broken, hurt, written, made, framed We can use these verbs like adjectives

Examples Any re-taken test will help your grade. The experienced doctor knew exactly what to do. The unknown singer became famous when he was 30. The drunk man was singing in the streets. The singing man was actually drunk. The person for this job is our class’s elected photographer. We couldn’t ask for him from the stressed man.

Try combining these sentences using a participle. The girls ran through the hallway. The girls were laughing. We need to find a way to fix all the windows. They’re all broken. The baby just wanted some attention. That’s why it was crying. Her arm made her parents think that something was wrong. It was bruised (black and blue from a hit.) I don’t want to hear the speech. I know it will be boring. The laughing girls ran through the hallway. We need to find a way to fix the broken windows. The crying baby just wanted some attention. Her bruised arm made her parents think that something was wrong. I don’t want to hear the boring speech.

Find the participles, but watch out for the verbs * The baking bread smelled delicious. Under a pile of magazines lay the forgotten letter. Frozen blueberries are his favorite dessert. Devoted soccer fans are looking forward to the season. From behind the tree came the screaming sound. The sweating athlete grabbed a towel and a bottle of chilled water. The stapled test booklet contained ten pages. * * * * * * *

How can I use participles on my own? Use the ING participles when you are describing what something is doing RIGHT NOW (remember, ING=process) The crying baby. Which baby? The crying one. Use the ED participles when you are describing what has already been done TO something The broken glasses. Which glasses? The ones that somebody broke.

Think about this. Click for answer. What’s the difference between broken heart and breaking heart? What’s the difference between closing door and closed door? A broken heart is one that was already broken in the past. A breaking heart is one that is in the process of breaking right now. A closed door is one that was already closed in the past, so it’s still closed. A closing door is one that is in the process of closing right now.

Bored vs. Boring What’s the difference between bored and boring? Annoyed and annoying? Excited and exciting? Bored/excited/annoyed describes feelings you get from boring/exciting/annoying things. If you say, “I’m boring,” you are saying that you bore other people.

Practice: which is correct? * This concert is so boring/bored. I’m going to leave. The frightened/frightening kitten ran behind the couch. Return any unused/unusing papers to my desk. We like to use recycling/recycled paper to take quizzes. The textbook is confused/confusing. I prefer the teacher explain the concept to me. I am interesting/interested in motorcycles. The most liked/liking teacher in this school is Mrs. Frame. * * * * * *

Trying adding some participles think of these verbs: hide, win, tire, rip, break, speed speeding The ______ car got a ticket to pay in the mail. He couldn’t walk because of his _____ ankle. The student tried to turn in a _____ piece of paper for his homework. The _____ team will receive trophies. The park has some ______ trails to hike. The ______ dog is sleeping out in the sun on the road. broken ripped winning hidden tired