A participle is a verb form that is used as an adjective, which modifies a noun. Writers often use participles to help create vivid descriptions and make sentences more concise.
Types of Participles
A present participle ends in -ing.
A past participle can have different endings, such as -d, -ed, or -en.
Present Participle Example
"Mister Toussaint had a surprisingdelivery."
(The participle surprising modifies the noun delivery.)
Past Participle Example
"He called Miz Rousseau about the mistakenorder of unwantedgroceries."
(The participles mistaken and unwanted modify the nouns order and groceries.)
Important Note: Function Matters!
The same word can be used as a verb or an adjective, depending on its function in the sentence:
Verb: The refrigerator was humming. (Shows action)
Participle: The humming refrigerator seemed rather smug. (Adjective describing the refrigerator)
Practice and Apply
Read these sentences from "The Brave Little Toaster." Identify each participle and the noun that it modifies.
Question 1
"His refrigerator had sent in the list, and she had the signed order to prove it."
Identify the participle and the noun it modifies:
"Signed" is a past participle ending in -ed acting as an adjective to describe the noun "order".
Question 2
"Or rather, it was almost empty: there was a single pouch of energy drink sitting on a shelf in the back."
Identify the participle and the noun it modifies:
"Sitting" is a present participle ending in -ing describing the "energy drink".
Question 3
"LOONY GOONY's singing voice really got on Mister Toussaint's nerves."
Identify the participle and the noun it modifies:
"Singing" describes what kind of "voice" it is.
Question 4
"It had been designed and built by cavemen who hadn't ever considered the advantages of networked environments."
Identify the participle and the noun it modifies:
"Networked" is a past participle acting as an adjective to describe the "environments".
Question 5
"The fire department took away the melted toaster and used their axes to knock huge, vindictive holes in Mister Toussaint's walls."
Identify the participle and the noun it modifies:
"Melted" is a past participle ending in -ed acting as an adjective to describe the "toaster". (Vindictive is an adjective, but not a participle verb-form).
Bonus Question 1
"The unexpected guest finally arrived through the open door."
Identify the participle and the noun it modifies:
"Unexpected" is a past participle acting as an adjective describing the "guest".
Bonus Question 2
"We need to clean up the broken glass on the floor."
Identify the participle and the noun it modifies:
"Broken" is an irregular past participle (ending in -en) modifying the noun "glass".
