What is a participle?

A participle is a verb that can be used as an adjective. It modifies a subject in the sentence. To modify is to add or limit the meaning of a word in English. It can be at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. It can be before or after the noun it modifies.

Present participles end in -ing.

Past participles may end in -d, -ed, -t, en, or -n.

Present participle ex.
Concentrating carefully, Steve hit the speeding ball.

Past participle ex.
An experienced player, Josh was the chosen pitcher.

What is a participial phrase?

A participial phrase is a participle with its modifiers. The entire phrase is used as an adjective. This will include a participle and may also include modifiers (words that refer to the participle) like an article (a, an, the) and a prepositional phrase.

ex.
Standing in a long line, the group of teenagers waited to see the new movie.

ex.

The bored student is bored becuase he/she is in a boring class.

​Past participle

​Present participle

​An infinitive can be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

How to find the participle

​The pouring rain drove us inside for the party.

1. Find the subject. rain

2. Locate the real verb. Ask yourself, "What is the subject doing?" or "What is being done to the subject?". Just because you see a word that looks like a verb does not mean it is acting like a verb. It may be a participle. drove

3. Look for other words that look like verbs but aren't performing an action. (words that end in -ing, -ed, -d, -t, -nt, -n, -en) pouring (it has an -ing ending and it describes raining)

How to find the participle phrase

​The marine biologist, diving near a reef, saw a shark.

1. Find the subject. biologist

2. Locate the real verb. Ask yourself, "What is the subject doing?" or "What is being done to the subject?". Just because you see a word that looks like a verb does not mean it is acting like a verb. It may be a participle. saw

3. Look for other words that look like verbs but aren't performing an action. (words that end in -ing, -ed, -d, -t, -nt, -n, -en) diving (it has an -ing ending and it tells which biologist) near the reef (modifies where the diving took place)

4. Put together participle and modifiers. Diving near a reef is the participial phrase.