English grammar. Participles

Participles

What are participles?

End with -ing

Look at the verb table below and find out the answers.

Infinitive

bore

past

Present

Participle

interest

bored

Past

Participle

boring

interested

bored

interesting

interested

Participles

End with -ed

What are participles?

Look at the verb table below and find out the answers.

Infinitive

past

bore

Present

Participle

interest

bored

Past

Participle

boring

interested

bored

interesting

interested

Participles used as adjectives

Present participles are usually active

Examples :

1a. The boring teacher talked for hours.

1b. The bored students fell asleep.

Past participles are usually passive

2a. I read an interesting magazine yesterday.

2b. The magazine receives a lot of support from interested

readers.

More examples:

3a. It was an exciting concert.

3b. The excited fans screamed during the concert.

4a. Many young people experience troubling situations.

4b. The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong receives calls

from troubled young people.

Try exercise 1 & 2

Participle Phrases

What is a participle phrase?

A participle phrase is made up of a participle + object / meaningful expression.

A participle phrase describing the noun before, ie. young people.

Example :

We get calls from young people

worried about relationships.

A phrase begins with a present participle. (Active )

More examples :

1a. Look at the boy.

1b. Look at the boy climbing the tree.

2a. The man has missed the bus.

2b. The man running down the street has missed the bus

A phrase begins with a past participle. (Passive )

3a. The fans stood up and danced.

3b. The fans , excited by the concert, stood up and danced.

Participle phrases as adverbs

We can use participle phrases to join two ideas together .

An adverbial phrase giving a reason

HOW?

Examples :

Feeling upset and confused, the girl called the

Samaritans Befrienders Hong Kong.

Who feel upset & confused?

The girl in the main course.

Notice the changes made.

More examples :

1a. The girl felt upset and confused . She called the

Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong.

1b. Feeling upset and confused , the girl called the

Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong.

A participle phrase joining 2 actions which happen together .

2a. Ellen listened to the girl. She wished she could help her.

2b. Ellen listened to the girl, wishing she could help her.

A participle phrase joining 2 actions, one of which happens during the other.

3a. He was injured when he was crossing the road.

3b. He was injured crossing the road.

Try exercise 3

END