Transcript Participles and Participle Phrases!

Participles &
Participial Phrases
Learning Target
I will identify the participle or participial
phrase in a sentence and determine what
object it modifies.
What are Verbals?

Verbal sounds a lot like ________?

A verbal is a verb…it’s just used a little
differently.

Verbal - a collective term for a verb form used
as another part of speech.
Verbals are a Little Nutty!

Basically, a verbal is a verb with an
identity crisis.

It thinks it’s an adjective!
Types of Verbals

There are three types of verbals:
 Participles
 Gerunds
 Infinitives

Today - participles.
Participles
participle - a verb that can be used as an
adjective.
How Do You Make a Participle?

A participle acts as an adjective to
describe (or modify) nouns or pronouns.

A participle is formed by adding an –ed or
–ing to the verb.
–ing for present tense
 Add –d or –ed for past tense
 Add
*sometimes -en
Steps for Finding Participles
1.
Find the subject (the object that’s being described).
2. Find the real verb.
3. Look for other words that look like verbs (-ed or
-ing endings are a clue).
Example

The kicked ball soared
(kicked is used as an adjective describing the ball)
Example
The pouring rain drove us inside for the party.
 Pouring
 It
is the participle
describes rain.

Avoid getting the participle confused with the
REAL verb – in this case “drove.”
Practice
Find the participle in each sentence:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Soccer can be a challenging game.
The size of the playing field for soccer may vary.
A player on our team has scored the winning goal.
A peeled and sliced cucumber can be added to a garden
salad.
The bike had a broken spoke.
Her smiling face made everyone happy.
The frightened child was crying loudly.
The people were frightened by the growling dog.
The squeaking wheel needs some grease.
Participle Phrases

When a participle is used as an adjective in a
phrase.

Includes the participle & the words it describes.

Participle phrase – a group of words that
includes the participle used as an adjective & the
rest of the phrase.
Examples

Cheering for the home team, the fans
were on their feet.

The ball kicked by Donnie soared into the
goal.
Example
Known for her patience, Mrs. Williams was his
favorite teacher.
 “known”
is the participle
 “for her patience” is the modifier
 This phrase describes Mrs. Williams.

REAL verb: was
Example
The marine biologist, diving near a reef, saw a
shark.
Participle: diving
Modifier: near the reef
Object:
the marine biologist
real verb: saw
Example
Twirling their canes, the dancers tapped
across the stage.
Participle:
Modifier:
Object:
twirling
their canes
the dancers
Commas in Participial Phrases

A participial phrase that is placed at the
beginning of a sentence is always set off by
commas.
 Ex.
Running from the law, a burglar slipped in the
mud.

Other participial phrases may or may not need
commas.
Comma or Not?

If the phrase identifies the modified word, do not
set it off by commas.
 The

player kicking the ball is Donnie.
If the phrase gives additional information about
the modified word, set it off with commas!
 Donnie,
kicking the ball, scored the
final point.
One Last Note

A participle phrase can appear before or after
the word it describes.

Place the phrase as close as possible to the
modified word; otherwise, the meaning of the
sentence may be unclear!
Dangling Participles
Having your participial phrase too far from the modifier can
confuse the meaning:

The Marine biologist saw a shark swimming by a reef.

Locked in a vault for 50 years, the owner of the jewels
has decided to sell them.

Plunging 1,000 feet into the gorge, we saw Yosemite
Falls.
Practice: Find the participle phrase & identify the object
it describes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Attracting huge crowds, soccer is a popular sport.
The game consists of two teams competing for goals.
Playing within certain areas, the goalkeepers can touch the
ball with their hands.
The two teams playing the game kick off.
The man running slowly still finished the race.
The boy having been scolded finally did his work.
The teacher, having retired, could now travel widely.
The soldier, having saluted his superior, continued on his
way.
The truck swerving and sliding hit the brick wall.
Independent Work

Do the Participles worksheet.

Turn it into the Writing basket when
finished.