Participle Review
• A participle is a verb ending in –ing or-ed that acts as an adjective.
• WARNING!!!! One cannot assume that just because a verb ends in –
ing or –ed, that it is a participle.
• The verb ending in –ing or -ed must act as an adjective in order for it
to be considered a participle.
• Participles and participle phrases improve our writing. They make our
writing flow and add descriptive language.
Participle Example
In some sentences, there will be a participle (one word). The participle
is used to describe something. If the participle is removed, the
sentence will still make sense.
The shouting girl demanded a new outfit.
The word, shout is a verb. The –ing ending has been added to make the
word, shouting. Shouting is a participle because it is describing the girl.
Participle Example
In some sentences, there will be a participle (one word). The participle
is used to describe something. If the participle is removed, the
sentence will still make sense.
Dr. Holocker released her flying monkeys when the girls wore yoga
pants to school.
The word, fly is a verb. The –ing ending has been added to make the
word, flying. Flying is a participle because it is describing the monkeys.
Your Turn!
Add a participle to the following sentence to
describe the football fan.
The football fan was banned from the
stadium for using inappropriate language.
Participle Phrase Example
In some sentences, there will be a participle phrase. The participle
phrase will include a participle. If the participle phrase is removed from
the sentence, the sentence will still make sense.
Climbing wildly up the stairs, the boy tried to escape from his little
sister and her friends.
Climbing wildly up the stairs is the participle phrase. The word climbing
is the participle. Since the participle phrase is at the beginning of the
sentence, it is followed by a comma.
Participle Phrase Example
In some sentences, there will be a participle phrase. The participle
phrase will include a participle. If the participle phrase is removed from
the sentence, the sentence will still make sense.
The boy, disgusted by his date’s poor hygiene, ended the date quickly.
Disgusted by his date’s poor hygiene is the participle phrase. The word
disgusted is the participle. Since the participle phrase is in the middle
of the sentence, there are commas before and after the phrase.
Your Turn!
Add a participle phrase to the beginning of the following sentence.
The large German Shepherd chased the tiny Chihuahua
around the tree.
Add a participle phrase to the middle of the following sentence.
The tiny Chihuahua laughed at the German Shepherd as he
ran around the tree.
Practice
GROUP 1: Write a paragraph (6-8 sentences) about your weekend.
Include three participle phrases. Underline them in blue.
GROUP 2: Complete THE PARTICIPLE PHRASE activity independently. If
you finish early, write three sentences that each include a participle
phrase.
GROUP 3: Complete THE PARTICIPLE PHRASE activity with Mrs.
Wishart.