A participle is a verb form that always acts as an adjective. There are two types of participles: (a) The past participle – it is usually formed by adding –d, or -ed to the present tense.
Examples:
Fooled, the shopkeeper bought fake products. (Fooled is a past participle modifying the noun shopkeeper)
Shaken, he dashed to the police station. (Shaken is a past participle modifying the pronoun he)
The participles of irregular verbs, however, do not follow the above rule: run-run, throw-thrown.
(b) The present participle – it is usually formed by adding -ing to the present tense of any verb.
Examples:
Smiling, the conman stepped out of the shop. (Smiling is a present participle modifying the noun conman).
Using participles is a simple way of adding information to sentences and to vary sentences beginnings.
A participial phrase consists of a present or past participle and its modifiers, objects, or complements.
It always functions as an adjective.
Examples:
Rounding the corner, the conman met two policemen. (Rounding the corner is a present participial phrase modifying the noun conman).
Surprised by the appearance of the conman, the policemen started blowing their whistles. (Surprised by the appearance of the conman is a past participial phrase modifying the noun policemen).
A participle or participial phrase is not always at the beginning of a sentence.
Sometimes it may appear in the middle but it should be near the noun or pronoun it modifies.
Examples:
The skilled policemen arrested the conman.
The conman, losing control, fought the policemen fiercely.
Points to Note
Both the gerund and the present participle are created by a adding -ing to the present tense of a verb.
BUT how can you tell whether a word is a gerund or a participle? It all depends on how the word is used in a sentence.
(i) A participle is used as a modifier in a sentence.
Example:
Gaining courage, the conman attempted to escape. (Gaining courage is a participial phrase modifying conman).
(ii) A gerund is used as a noun in a sentence.
Example:
Gaining courage made the conman look aggressive. (Gaining courage is a gerund phrase, the subject of the verb made).
Exercise
Underline the participial phrases in the following sentences, indicating whether it is a past or present participial phrase and the noun or pronoun it modifies.
- Defying all odds, Kisoi Munyao attempted to climb to the highest peak of Mt. Kenya for seven times.
- Failing each time, he refused to give up.
- Seeing his passion to scale the peak, the government offered him financial assistance.
- The climber ascended slowly, making steady progress.
- Pleased with his progress, he camped at eleven thousand feet.
- The climber, determined to hoist the Kenyan flag, progressed on the following morning.
- Slipping on the snow, Munyao fell on a dry tree trunk.
- A rope worn from too many climbs then broke.
- One of his hot water bottles, slipping to the bottom of the cliff, broke into pieces.
- Munyao, overcome with joy, finally hoisted the flag at Point Batian.
Answer
Exercise
- Defying all odds – present participial phrase – Kisoi Munyao
- Failing each time – present participial phrase – he
- Seeing his passion to scale the peak – present participial phrase – government
- Making steady progress – present participial phrase – climber
- Pleased with his progress – past participial phrase – he
- Determined to hast the Kenya flag – past participial phrase – climber
- Slipping on the snow – present participial phrase – Munyao
- Worn from too many climbs – past participial phrase – rope
- Slipping to the bottom of the cliff- present participial – bottles
- Overcome with joy – past participial phrase – Munyao
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