A participle is a word formed from a verb which can be used as an adjective. |
The two types of participles are the present participle (ending ing) and the past participle (usually ending -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n). |
Participle Phrases It is really common to see participles in participle phrases. A participle phrase also acts like an adjective. |
Example: |
- The man carrying the sheep is my uncle. (The participle phrase carrying the sheep describes the the man.) |
Present participles end in -ing. |
Examples: |
- A laughing man is stronger than a suffering man. (Gustave Flaubert, 1821-1880) |
- The only thing that comes to a sleeping man is dreams. (Tupac Shakur) |
Present participles are not just used as adjectives. They are also used to form verb tenses. |
Active past participles: advance points |
-- past participle can be used as active meaning (only with adverb) |
Example: |
- A much-travelled man, a well-read person (NOT a read person). |
-- active past participle can be used after be : |
Example: |
- Those curtains are badly faded. |
- We are all grown up now. |
The words: recovered, stopped, finished are used after be, not usually before noun |
- Why are all those cars stopped at the crossroads ? (Not stopped car) |
- I'll be finished in a few minutes. |
- Those days are gone now. |
- I hope you are fully recovered from your operation. |