Verb Wars

Episode #3:Return of the Participle

• What is a participle?– A participle is a verb that can also be used as an

adjective.• Present participles end in –ing.

– Example: The swimming duck flapped his wings.• Most past participles end in –d or –ed. Some are

irregular.– Example: The abandoned warehouse was on fire.– Irregular example: The chosen one sighed.

What Are Participles?

• What is a participial phrase?– A participial phrase consists of a participle and any

modifiers the participle has. The entire phrase is then used as an adjective.

– This can come either before the noun or after it.

Example:Singing sweetly, the bird flew home.The cat, meowing noisily, finally got the owner’s

attention.

What Are Participial Phrases?

• When a participial phrase is used BEFORE the noun/subject in the sentence, it is followed by a comma.– Singing sweetly, the bird flew home.

• When a participial phrase is used AFTER the noun/subject and before the predicate, it is called a parenthetical statement and is therefore both preceded and followed by a comma.– The cat, meowing noisily, finally got the owner’s

attention.

Punctuating Participial Phrases

Let’s Practice

The running refrigerator sent the electric bill soaring.

Answer:Running, present participle

Let’s Practice

The bird, chirping noisily, woke me up.

Answer:Chirping noisily, participial phrase

Let’s Practice

The haunted house frightened the children.

Answer:haunted, past participle

Let’s Practice

Spoken loudly, the teacher’s words were taken seriously.

Answer:Spoken loudly, participial phrase

Let’s Practice

The girl, crying softly, delivered the news.

Answer:Crying softly, participial phrase

Let’s Practice

The ruined reputation could not be salvaged.

Answer:Ruined, past participle

Let’s Practice

Whistling quietly, the girl walked down the hallway.

Answer:Whistling quietly, participial phrase

Let’s Practice

She took a bite of the melting ice cream

Answer:melting, present participle

Let’s Practice

They couldn’t run fast enough on their throbbing feet.

Answer:throbbing, present participle

Let’s Practice

Zombies attacked the abandoned town.

Answer:Abandoned, past participle

Let’s Practice

Dancing wildly, the child moved with the music.

Answer:Dancing wildly, participial phrase

Let’s Practice

She couldn’t do much to stop the screeching sound.

Answer:screeching, present participle

Let’s Practice

Sleeping quietly, the girl was hidden beneath the washed sheets.

Answer:Sleeping quietly, participial phrase

Washed, past participle

Let’s Practice

My mother, scowling angrily, sent me to my room.

Answer:Scowling angry, past participle

Let’s Practice

The screaming girl did not listen to the pleading of the other students.

Answer:Screaming, present participle

But not pleading…because pleading is a gerund!

Let’s Practice

Her styled hair was blowing in the breeze.

Answer:Styled, past participle