1. Participles And Participial Phrases

2. What is a participle? Definition: Participles are verbs that function as other parts of speech. Participles come in two varieties: past and present. Function: Participles can function as nouns or adjectives. We’re only going to talk about adjectives today. PresentPast jumpjumpingjumped whinewhiningwhined singsingingsung

3. Example The mangled pair of sunglasses, bruised face, broken arm, and bleeding knees meant Genette had taken another spill on her mountain bike. mangled pair bruised face broken arm bleeding knees

4. Participial Phrases Definition: A participial phrase always functions as an adjective to describe a noun. It will begin with the present or past participle, and have modifiers as well. Glazed with barbecue sauce, the rack of ribs lay nestled next to a pile of sweet coleslaw. (notice the comma!) What does “glazed with barbecue sauce” modify? The horse trotting up to the fence hopes that you have an apple or carrot. What does “trotting up to the fence” modify?

5. Dangling Participles The participial phrase MUST be close to the noun it modifies! If too much distance separates a modifier and its target, the modifier is misplaced. Draped neatly on a hanger, William borrowed Grandpa's old suit to wear to the interview.