Non-finite Verbs: Participles: Present & Past, used as adjectives

Participles: Verbs Moonlighting as Adjectives

What are participles?

Participles are a special form of verbs that can act like adjectives – words that describe nouns. They come in two flavors:

1. Present Participles: End in “-ing” and usually describe something that is happening right now.

   • Examples:
     • The barking dog chased the cat.
     • The smiling child waved at her mother.
     • The flowing river was beautiful.

2. Past Participles: Often end in “-ed,” “-en,” or “-d” and describe something that has already happened.

   • Examples:
     • The broken vase lay on the floor.
     • He was excited about the news.
     • The tired hikers rested under a tree.

How Participles Become Adjectives

When participles describe nouns, they work just like regular adjectives. They add details and make our writing more vivid.

• Present participle: The falling leaves danced in the wind. (Describes leaves)
• Past participle: The painted house looked bright and cheerful. (Describes house)

Important Note: Gerunds (verbs ending in -ing) also look like present participles, but they act as nouns.

• Example: Swimming is her favorite sport. (Gerund acting as a noun – the thing she likes)

Let’s Practice!

1. Identify the Participles:

   • Underline the participle in each sentence.
     • The excited children opened their presents.
     • The boiling water spilled over the edge.
     • The lost puppy cried for its mother.

2. Present or Past? Decide if the participle is present (P) or past (Pa):

   • The dancing girl (P)
   • A finished project (Pa)
   • The rising sun (P)
   • A closed book (Pa)

3. Add a Participle: Complete the sentences with a participle of your choice.

   • The _______ child laughed with joy.
   • The _______ door creaked open.

Challenge:

Write a paragraph about a scene in nature. Use at least three participles to describe what you see.