Sign inParticiples
A participle is a word that is formed from a verb and is used to make compound verb forms. We have 2 kinds of participles: past and present participle.
What Are Participles?
Participles are verb forms that can function as adjectives or adverbs, or accompany auxiliary verbs to form the verb tense. In some cases, participles can be used to create reduced relative clauses.
Participles: Types
There are three types of participles in English:
Present Participle
A present participle is a verb form that ends in '-ing', and it can be combined with the verb 'to be' to form continuous tenses. For example:
- Watch + -ing → watch
ing - Say + -ing → say
ing - Sit + -ing → sitt
ing
Present Participle: Spelling Rules
To form the present participle, we usually add '-ing' to the base form of the verb. However, there are some spelling rules to keep in mind. Here are some guidelines to help you spell the present participle correctly:
- If the verb ends in a consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the final letter:
Stop → sto
"O" is the stressed vowel here.
Run → ru
- If the verb ends in a consonant + unstressed vowel + consonant, (the base verb is not stressed) do not double the final letter.
Open → open
'E' is an unstressed vowel here.
- If the verb ends in an '-ie', replace the '-ie' with '-y'.
L
D
- If the verb ends in a vowel + consonant + 'e', omit the 'e.'
Com
Mistak
Present Participle: Uses
Present participles can serve different functions, including the following:
- to form continuous tenses.
- as an adjective.
- as a verbal noun.
Present Participle: Continuous Tenses
To form continuous tenses in English, we use the present participle form, which is also known as the gerund.
There are 6 continuous tenses in English:
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present Continuous |
Chelsea is |
| Past Continuous |
Chelsea was |
| Future Continuous |
Chelsea |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
Chelsea |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
Chelsea |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
Chelsea |
Present Participle: Adjectives
Present participles (also called verbal adjectives) can be used as adjectives in sentences. All verbal adjectives replace a verbal clause.
The rain was pouring. → the
The kid is smiling and looking at me. → The
Remember, adjectives are usually placed before nouns unless they are the complement of the sentence.
Present Participle: Nouns
The present participle can also function as a noun in English, taking on roles such as subject of the verb, object of the verb, object of a preposition, verb complement, or part of a compound noun.
Here, the present participle is the subject of a verb.
He tried to quit
Here, the present participle is the object of a verb.
One of his hobbies is
Here, the present participle is the complement of a verb.
What I like most about
Here, the present participle is the object of a preposition.
I put the dirty clothes in the
Here, the present participle is part of a compound noun.
using the present participle as a part of a compound noun
Past Participle
The past participle is a verb form that usually ends in a '-d' or '-ed' and can serve different functions. However, some verbs do not form their past participles by adding '-ed' or '-d'. They are called irregular verbs.
Watch + ed → watch
The 'ed' is pronounced as /t/ here.
Walk + ed → walk
Bake + d → bak
Now, look at some examples of irregular verbs.
Sing →
Eat →
Run →
Past Participle: Spelling Rules
Here are the spelling rules for the formation of the past participles of regular verbs:
- If the verb ends in a vowel + '-y', add '-ed'
Play → play
'-Ed' is pronounced /d/.
Employ → employ
- If the verb ends in a consonant + '-y', '-y' is replaced by '-i' before '-ed' is added
Study → studi
Here, '-ied' is pronounced /ɪd/
Hurry → hurri
- If the verb ends in '-e', add '-d' after it.
Live → lived
Dance → danced
- If a monosyllabic verb ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, double the final consonant before adding '-ed'
Stop → stopped
Plan → planned
- If the verb has more than one syllables, double the final consonant before '-ed' only if the final syllable is stressed.
Permit → permitted
Her, '-ed' is pronounced /ɪd/. And the final syllable is stressed.
Prefer → preferred
Here, '-ed' is pronounced /d/ and the final syllable is stressed.
- If the final syllable of the verb is not stressed, do not double the final consonant before '-ed.'
Listen → listen
Here, '-ed' is pronounced /d/.And the final syllable is not stressed.
Develop → develop
Here, /-ed/ is pronounced /t/ and the final syllable is not stressed.
Past Participle: Uses
Past participles serve different functions, including:
- Used with the verb 'have' to form perfect tenses
- Used with the verb 'be' to form passive sentences
- Used as an adjective
Past Participle: Perfect Tenses
To form perfect tenses in English, we use the past participle. There are six perfect tenses in English, but only three of them require the use of the past participle (the perfect continuous tenses use the gerund instead).
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present Perfect |
Melisa |
| Past Perfect |
Chen |
| Future Perfect |
Alison |
Past Participle: Passive Voice
The passive voice is formed by using the 'be verb followed by the past participle. Pay attention to the examples:
I am washing the dishes. → The dishes are being
Someone stole my car. → My car was
Past Participle: Adjectives
Past participles (also called verbal adjectives) can be used as adjectives in sentences. All verbal adjectives replace a verbal clause.
Her heart was broken. → Her
My car was stolen. → My
Perfect Participle
The perfect participle phrase begins with 'having' and is followed by the past participle form of the verb. Naturally, the spelling rules for past participles also apply here. For example:
paly →
cry →
Uses
A perfect participle construction can be used:
- to show that one action was completed before another action began
- as an alternative to a subordinate clause
- as an adjective
Perfect Participles: Showing Sequence of Events
The perfect participle phrase is used to show that one action was completed before another action began. It is often used in complex sentences to express a sequence of events. Pay attention to the examples:
Perfect Participles: As an Alternative to a Subordinate Clause
Perfect participle phrases can be used as an alternative to a subordinate clause to express a cause-and-effect relationship between two actions. For example:
He didn't get the job,
The alternative sentence using a subordinate clause would be 'Because he arrived late for the interview, he didn't get the job.'
The alternative sentence using a subordinate clause would be 'Because he had not studied enough, he failed the exam.'
Perfect Participles: As an Adjective
Perfect participle phrases can be used to modify a noun or pronoun, adding more information about an action that was completed before another action began. Take a look at the example:
The book,
The car,
Review
Participles
Participles are words formed with verbs that are used with auxiliary verbs to create different tenses.
Different Kinds of Participles
| Present participle | A present participle is the form of the verb that ends in -ing and is used with the verb 'to be' to form continuous tenses. |
It is used to form continuous tenses. |
|---|---|---|
| Past participle | Past participle is a form of a verb that usually ends in -d or -ed and can have many functions. However, some verbs don't form their past participle by adding -ed or -d suffix. They are called irregular verbs. |
It is used with the verb 'have' to form perfect tenses. |
Present Participle Spelling Rules
| If the verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter. |
stop → sto |
| If the verb ends in consonant + unstressed vowel + consonant, (the base verb is not stressed) do not double the last letter. | open → opening |
| If the verb ends in 'ie', change the 'ie' to 'y'. |
l |
| If the verb ends in vowel + consonant + 'e', omit the 'e'. |
com |
Past Participle Spelling Rules
| If the verb ends in a vowel + 'y' add 'ed'. | play → played |
| If the verb ends in a consonant + 'y', 'y' it changes to '-i' before 'ed'. | study → studied |
| If the verb ends in a vowel 'e' add 'd' after it. | live → lived |
| If a monosyllabic verb ends in consonant + vowel + consonant, double the final consonant before 'ed | stop → stopped |
| If the verb has more than one syllable, double the final consonant before 'ed' only if the final syllable is stressed | permit → permitted |
| If the final syllable of the verb is not stressed, do not double the final consonant before 'ed'. | listen → listened |
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Present participles are one of the key features of English language. It is a form of verb that ends in '-ing.' In this lesson, we will learn more about them.
