Participles

Participle A participle is an –ing word (or an –ing phrase) tagged onto the beginning or end of a sentence.

See it! Simple sentence: The elephant charged the lions. Revised sentence with participles: Roaring, stomping, swaying, the elephant charged the lions. Notice how three single participles create a more frantic feeling in the image?

The dripping faucet annoyed Peter. Apply it! In the following examples, the participles are in bold print and the arrow points to the word each participle modifies. The dripping faucet annoyed Peter. The respected politician explained his policies.

This may help: Present & Past Participles Present participles end in –ing. Past participles end in –ed or –d; however, some past participles have irregular endings, such as –n, -t, or –en. Verb Present Participle Past Participle Cook Tear Send Freeze Cooking Tearing Sending freezing Cooked Torn Sent frozen

Everyone cheered the winning team. examples PRESENT PARTICIPLE Everyone cheered the winning team. In this sentence, the present participle modifies the word team and is at the end of the sentence.

The broken vase was an heirloom. Examples PAST PARTICIPLE The broken vase was an heirloom. In this sentence, the past participle modifies the word vase at the beginning of the sentence.

Special Notes! Since a participle is used as an adjective, it modifies a noun or a pronoun. It also answers the adjective question Which one? or What kind?

Which one? The ringing bells filled the air with sound. For Example: Which one? The ringing bells filled the air with sound. The damaged tree will live.

What kind? These blooming plants need special care. Another example What kind? These blooming plants need special care. The bent branches made a lovely centerpiece.

Your Turn! Number your paper 1 to 10. Write each participle. Then beside each one, write the word it modifies. Example: The falling leaves covered the driveway. Answer: falling - leaves

The rising sun shines through my window. All of the invited guests will attend the ceremony. No one should disturb the sleeping baby. Glowing candles lighted the windows of the old house at the end of the lane. Make sure that you clean up the splattered paint.

6. Those drifting logs could be dangerous. 7. Did you ever walk on this winding road before? 8. Did you throw out those worn out jeans? Eventually Martha found the lost wallet. The smiling baby cooed at his mother.

Answers rising – sun invited – guests sleeping – baby glowing – candles splattered – paint drifting – logs winding – road worn – jeans lost – watch smiling - baby

Exit ticket! The skateboarder soared over the railing. The cheetah gained on the injured zebra.