Participle
A participle is a verb form that acts as an adjective by
modifying a noun or pronoun.
The present participle ends in –ing
Example: The swinging sign creaked in the wind. [modifies sign]
The past participle usually ends in –d or –ed
Example: An honored guest made a speech. [modifies guest]
*Few past participles are irregularly formed (torn, sold, read, etc.)
Verb
jump
bring
Simple
Present
jumps
brings
Participial
Phrase
Simple
Past
jumped
brought
Present
Participle
jumping
bringing
Past
Participle
jumped
brought
Infinitive
to jump
to bring
A participial phrase is a group of words that begins with a
participle and includes all of its modifiers; the whole phrase
acts as an adjective.
Just like simple participles (above), participial phrases can
be made up of present or past participles and
accompanying modifiers.
Examples:
Cheering loudly, we greeted the singer. [modifies we]
One teenager held a photograph signed by the singer herself. [modifies photograph]
A participial phrase is set off with commas when it:
Punctuating
Participial Phrases
a) comes at the beginning of a sentence.
b) comes at the end of a sentence and is separated
from the word it modifies.
c) is not essential information in a sentence.