What Are Participles?

A participle is a word formed from a verb which can be used as an adjective.

The two types of participles are the present participle (ending ing) and the past participle (usually ending -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n).

Here are some participles being used as adjectives:

The Verb	The Past Participle	The Present Participle
To rise	the risen sun	the rising sun
To boil	the boiled water	the boiling water
To break	the broken news	the breaking news
To cook	the cooked ham	the cooking ham

Participle Phrases

It is really common to see participles in participle phrases. A participle phrase also acts like an adjective. In the examples below, the participle phrases are shaded and the participles are in bold:

The man carrying the bricks is my father.

carrying the bricks

the man

She showed us a plate of scones crammed with cream.

crammed with cream

scones

Whistling the same tune as always, Ted touched the front of his cap with his forefinger as she dismounted.

Whistling the same tune as always

Ted

Stunned by the blow, Mike quickly gathered his senses and searched frantically for the pepper spray.

Stunned by the blow

Mike

Present Participles

Present participles end in -ing. Examples:

boiling water
caring nature
deserving recipient

Some more examples of present participles (shaded):

A laughing man is stronger than a suffering man. (Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880)
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. (Mark Twain, 1835-1910)
The only thing that comes to a sleeping man is dreams. (Tupac Shakur)

Present participles are not just used as adjectives. They are also used to form verb tenses. Here are the verb tenses (present participles shaded):

The 4 Past Tenses	Example
simple past tense	I went
past progressive tense	I was going
past perfect tense	I had gone
past perfect progressive tense	I had been going
The 4 Present Tenses	Example
simple present tense	I go
present progressive tense	I am going
present perfect tense	I have gone
present perfect progressive tense	I have been going
The 4 Future Tenses	Example
simple future tense	I will go
future progressive tense	I will be going
future perfect tense	I will have gone
future perfect progressive tense	I will have been going

Past Participles

Past participles have various endings, usually -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n. Examples:

broken window
painted frame
destroyed bridge

Some more examples of past participles (shaded):

A swollen eye is God's way of telling you to improve your interpersonal skills.
Do not waste time staring at a closed door.
I like children...if they're properly cooked. (W.C. Fields)

predicate adjectives

Past participles are also used to form verb tenses. Look at these verb tenses (past participles shaded):

The 4 Past Tenses	Example
simple past tense	I went
past progressive tense	I was going
past perfect tense	I had gone
past perfect progressive tense	I had been going
The 4 Present Tenses	Example
simple present tense	I go
present progressive tense	I am going
present perfect tense	I have gone
present perfect progressive tense	I have been going
The 4 Future Tenses	Example
simple future tense	I will go
future progressive tense	I will be going
future perfect tense	I will have gone
future perfect progressive tense	I will have been going

Perfect Participles

Perfect participles are formed like this:

"Having" + [past participle]

Examples:

Having taken
Having eaten
Having played

Some more examples of present participles (shaded):

Having heard the news, he quickly sold his brother's record collection.
Having been promised a steak dinner, she looked less than impressed with her Happy Meal.

Click on the participles:

Read about participle phrases.

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