Today is our topic of discussion – Definition of Participle
Definition of Participle
Definition of Participle
A participle is a verbal that is used as an adjective and most often ends in -ing or -ed. The term verbal indicates that a participle, like the other two kinds of verbals, is based on a verb and therefore expresses action or a state of being. However, since they function as adjectives participles modify nouns or pronouns.
There are two types of participles: present participles and past participles. Present participles end in -ing. Past participles end in -ed, -en, -d. -t. -n, or -ne as in the words asked, eaten, saved, dealt. seen, and gone. As-
He is a learned man.
The learned man is my teacher.
The pizza is burning.
The burning pizza is still on the oven.
I washed my clothes.
The washed clothes are in the luggage.
In the above mentioned pair of sentences have the same words. learned, burning and washed. In the first sentences of the pairs, the words are working as a verb and in the next sentences those “verb forms of the words” are working as an adjective. These are called participles.
Participle phrases
A participial phrase is a group of words consisting of a participle and the modifier(s) and/or (pronoun(s) or noun phrase that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the participle. As-
Removing his coat, Antora rushed to the river.
- The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying Antora.
Removing – is a participle
his coat – is a direct object of action expressed in participle
As-Apon noticed her cousin walking alone in the road.
- The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying cousin.
walking – is a participle
alone in the road – is a prepositional phrase as adverb
As – Children interested in music early develop strong intellectual skills.
- The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying children.
interested (in) is a participle music – is a direct object of action expressed in participle early – is an adverb
As-Having been a gymnast, Jessy knew the importance of exercise.
- The participial phrase functions as an adjective-modifying Jessy.
Having been – is a participle a gymnast – is a subject complement for Jessy, via state of being expressed in participle
Placement: In order to prevent confusion, a participial phrase must be placed as close to noun it modifies as possible, and the noun must be clearly stated.
Carrying a heavy pile of books, his foot caught on a step.
Carrying a heavy pile of books, he caught his foot on a step.
In the first sentence, there is no clear indication of who or what is performing the action expressed in the participle carrying. Certainly foot can’t be logically understood to function in this way. This situation is an example of a dangling modifier error since the modifier (the participial phrase) is not modifying any specific noun in the sentence and is thus left “dangling”.
Since a person must be doing the carrying for the sentence to make sense, a noun or pronoun that refers to a person must be in the place immediately after the participial phrase, as in the second sentence.
Punctuation: When a participial phrase begins a sentence, a comma should be placed after the phrase.
Arriving at the store, I found that it was closed. Washing and polishing the car, Ronok developed sore muscles.
If the participle or participial phrase comes in the middle of a sentence, it should be set off with commas only if the information is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. As –
Jebin, watching an old movie, drifted in and out of sleep.
The church, destroyed by a fire, was never rebuilt.
Note that if the participial phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence, no commas should be used. As –
The student earning the highest grade point average will receive a special award.
The guy wearing the chicken costume is my cousin.
If a participial phrase comes at the end of a sentence, a comma usually precedes the phrase if it modifies an earlier word in the sentence but not if the phrase directly follows the word it modifies. As-
The local residents often saw Pranto wandering through the streets. (The phrase modifies Pranto, not residents.)
Rimi nervously watched the woman, alarmed by her silence. (The phrase modifies Rimi, not woman.)