What are Participles in English Grammar?

Participles in English grammar are versatile parts of speech. They are derived from verbs and possess characteristics of both verbs and adjectives. They play a crucial role in forming verb tenses and modifying nouns, adding depth and nuance to sentences. Participles are commonly used in English, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to understand. So, make sure you continue reading this blog post as you will learn all about participles, the types, examples and how they are incorporated into writing. 

What are Participles in English Grammar?

To give you a proper explanation, a participle is a verb which can either be used as an adjective (a hidden treasure) or as a part of certain tenses (we are hiding the treasure). As you continue reading this blog, you will learn that participles are of three types: present, past, and perfect. 

Since participles are a particular form of verb, they have two main purposes, which are:

• Convert the verb into an adjective to modify nouns. 

Example: Let’s assume that you are at a shop and come across two girls, one is running while the other one is crying. So, you’ll distinguish them by saying “Look at the crying girl” or “Look at the running girl.” Keep in mind that in both sentences, cry and run are not acting as verbs; they’re acting as adjectives because they modify the noun otter. 

• With the help of participles, connect them with auxiliary verbs to create different tenses, such as the present perfect tense.

Example: The second purpose is to create different verb tenses, specifically the perfect tenses and continuous tenses. Say, if you are planning to do something now or in the coming future, you use the present continuous tense, which is formed with the verb be and a present participle, or -ing form, of the verb. 

Now that are aware of some of the basics about participles, it is time to dive into the types of participles and how they can be used in the formation of sentences. 

Also Read: Participle Preposition: Meaning, Examples & Exercises

Types of Participles in English Grammar

Learning the types of participles and how they can be implemented in writing sentences will help you to speak and write error-free sentences. Let us look at each type of participle individually. 

Present Participles

The present participle functions as an adjective to describe an action that is happening right now or in the continuous tenses. This type of participle ends with -ing when used in a sentence. Take a look at these examples to get an idea of the same.

Past Participles

The past participle can be used as an adjective to describe an action that has already been finished or in perfect tenses. Sentence with past participle ends in “-ed” (but can have irregular forms). Here are some examples of the same.

Perfect Participles

When the present participle of “have” (“having”) is combined with the past participle of another verb, the result is a perfect participle. It indicates a task that was finished ahead of another task. Here are some examples.

Also Read: Participial Phrase Meaning and Definition 

Did you know that there is another type of participle known as dangling participle?  Well, a dangling participle is a grammatical error that occurs when a participle (a verb form ending in -ing or -ed) doesn’t have a clear subject to modify. This creates a confusing and often humorous sentence.   Example:  ❌: Walking down the street, the leaves were falling. To fix this, we need to provide a clear subject for the participle: ✅: Walking down the street, I saw the leaves falling.

Examples of Sentences with Participles

Let us look at some example sentences with participles to get a fair idea about the same and how they can be used. 

Present Participles

• She is singing a song.
• They are playing football in the park.
• We are studying for the exam.

Past Participles

• I have written many letters.
• She had finished her work before dinner.
• The book has been read by many people.

Perfect Participles

• Having finished her work, she went for a walk.
• Having studied all night, he was exhausted.
• Having eaten dinner, they watched a movie.

Also Read: Participle Preposition Examples

Quiz on Participles in English Grammar

It’s time to test your knowledge! To help you practice, we have compiled these questions which will be helpful for you. You can also check your answers mentioned at the end.

Part 1: Identify the Participles

Instructions: Identify the participles in the following sentences and state whether they are present or past participles:

1. The singing bird perched on the branch.
2. The broken vase lay on the floor.
3. The frightened child clung to its mother.
4. The dancing couple twirled gracefully.
5. The forgotten book was found under the couch.

Part 2: Use of Participles

Instructions: Complete the following sentences with the appropriate participle:

1. ________ (Tired) from the long journey, they rested.
2. The ________ (fall) leaves covered the ground.
3. The ________ (smile) woman greeted us warmly.
4. ________ (Finish) her work, she went home.
5. The ________ (break) window needed repair.

Part 3: Dangling Participles

Instructions: Identify the dangling participle in the following sentences and correct them:

1. Having finished the meal, the dishes were cleared.
2. Walking down the street, the leaves were falling.

Check Your Answers:

Part 1:

1. Singing (present participle)
2. Broken (past participle)
3. Frightened (past participle)
4. Dancing (present participle)
5. Forgotten (past participle)

Part 2:

1. Tired
2. Fallen
3. Smiling
4. Having finished
5. Broken

Part 3:

1. Having finished the meal, they cleared the dishes.
2. Walking down the street, I saw the leaves falling.

Find more blogs related to this topic here!

Present Participle Phrases with their Functions	What is a Participle Phrase?
Participial Phrase Examples with Rules	What are Participial Adjectives?
Disguised Preposition	Past Tense: Meaning, Types, Structure and Examples
Past Perfect Tense	Imperative Sentence Passive Voice

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