Participles and Participial Phrases

English is an interesting subject.

The line is crooked.Can you find the adjectives?Present Participle of VPast Participle of VParticiples and Participial PhrasesA participle is a descriptive word derived from a verb (just like gerunds and infinitives. A phrase introduced by a participle is called a participial phrase.For example:A snow-capped mountain in the tropics is, of course, an oddity; and Mt. Apos white-covered summit has naturally aroused speculation.

Apo is a rider sitting squarely on the horses back.

Distinguishing Adjectival Participles from Verbal ParticiplesThe magician is amazing.

The magician is amazing us with his trick.-ing adjective-ing verbThe security guard was relieved.

The security guard was relieved by the night watchman.he stopped worryingreplacedTime Meaning in Participial PhrasesPresent participles (-ing participles) show that the time of the action of the participle is the same as the time of the action of the verb.

Example:

The man walking down the streets seems tired. (Walking and seems tired are happening at the same time.)

Engineer Paul sitting at his looks agitated.Time Meaning in Participial PhrasesPerfect participles show that the time of the action of the participle was before the time of the action of the main verb.

Example: Having walked for several hours, the man seems tired. (The time of having walked is before seems tired)

Gelo, having gotten a free-trip to Boracay, came rushing home.

Time Meaning in Participial PhrasesWith past participles (-ed or en participles), the action of the participle is usually completed before the action of the verb.

Example: The money found on the street was soon claimed.Position of Participial PhrasesCompare the two sets of examples:The man walking down the street seems tired. The money found on the street was soon claimed.

The man, having walked for several hours, seems tired. Having walked for several hours, the man seems tired.Avoiding Dangling ModifiersA dangling participle occurs if the subject of the main verb is not the same as the implied subject of the participial phrase. The result is an illogical sentence. Who is crashing against the rocks?Example:Crashing against the rocks,Martin gazed at the gigantic waves.Martin gazed at the gigantic waves crashing against the rocks.Dangling: Using binoculars, the trees could be seen from afar.

Correct: Using binoculars, I could see the trees from afar.Lets Practice!Which of the two sentences has the verb participle? Which has the adjectival participle?

We were all shocked by her behavior.Her behavior shocked all of us.Adjectival participleVerb participleLets Practice!Which of the two sentences has the verb participle? Which has the adjectival participle?

She is entertaining guests.She is an entertaining guest.Adjectival participleVerb participleLets Practice!Whats wrong with these sentences?

Hanging on the wall, we saw her beautiful portrait.

Gliding through the heavy sea-fogs, Jonathan saw the seagulls.

Linking arms with the others, the song Magkaisa was sung.

Walking down the road, my eyes caught the sign Dead End.