Participles

1. Present participle
2. Past participle
 The Present participle

The present participle is often used

when we want to express an active
action. We add -ing to the infinitive of
the verb.
1. Use of the present participle

1.1 It is used to form Progressive

Tenses

a) Carole is speaking to Axel on the phone.

b) Amanda was reading a love story.
1.2. As object complement

The present participle can be used as an

object complement placed after the object
Examples
The dishonest girl kept me waiting.
I found the child sitting outside.
We met the two officers fighting over a girl.
1.3. As subject complement

The present participle can be used as a subject

complement placed after verbs like be, seem, look,
turn, become, appear etc.
Examples
The story was very interesting.
The child seemed smiling.
The journey was long and tiring.
1.4 As an adjective (adjectival phrase)

The present participle can be used as part of an

adjectival phrase generally put after the noun it
qualifies.
Examples
The Cadet commanding the 38th Batch is Mougnol.
Who is that young girl talking with your boyfriend?
Call the man waiting outside.
I’m talking about the soldier holding a gun, not the
other one.
 1.5 To express an earlier action

The present participle can be used to talk about an

earlier action, or one of the actions of the same
subject.

Examples
Seeing the enemy’s might, the soldier ran away.
Finding no one in class, the teacher got angry.
Entering the room, we found the child sleeping.
 1.6 As appositives

The present participle can be used in the appositive

position.

Examples
The woman, quivering and trembling, ran away.
 1.7 As adverbs

The present participle can be used as an adverb

modifying an adjective

Examples
It is burning hot.
It is freezing cold.
The punished Cadet was dripping wet.
 1.8 In absolute phrases

The participles are used in absolute phrases with a

noun or pronoun coming before them:

Examples
God willing, we shall meet again.
The sea being rough, they abandoned the journey.
 Combine the following pairs of
sentences using the present participle.

1. We met a boy. He was carrying a heavy bag.

2. The robbers saw the policeman. They ran away.
3. I found the door open. I went inside.
4. The police saw the body. It was floating down the river.
5. He cried at the top of his voice. He rushed at the thief.
6. We had worked for several hours. We came out of the
office.
7. The troops gave a blow to the enemy. It was stunning.
1. We met a boy carrying a heavy bag.
2. Seeing the policeman, the robbers ran away.
3. Finding the door open, I went inside.
4. The police saw the body floating down the river.
5. Crying at the top of his voice, he rushed at the thief.
6. Having worked for several hours, we came out of
the office.
7. The troops gave a stunning blow to the enemy.
 2. The Past participle

2.1. The past participle is used to form

the perfect tenses

They have arrived. (Present perfect)

They have been invited. (Present perfect – passive)
They had left. (Past perfect)
They will have returned. (Future perfect)
2. 2. Used as adjectives

The past participle can be used as an adjective.

It goes in all the positions and functions of
typical adjectives.
Examples
• We will mourn the fallen heroes on Friday 21st May.
• The people count on their elected representatives
• A burnt child dreads fire.
• It looks fashionable today to wear torn trousers.
2.3. As attributes or predicates

The past participle can be used as part of the

predicate after copular verbs such as be,
seem, look, appear etc.
Examples
The young cadet officer looked distressed.
She seemed surprised.
The little child was left stranded.
 Exercise
Complete these noun phrases with adjectival
participles and make sentences with them

1. __________________computers (steal)
2. __________________ fans (fascinate)
3. __________________ children (abandon)
4. __________________ boys (confuse)
5. __________________ issues (forget)
6. __________________ ladies (disappoint)
7. __________________ soldiers (wound)
8. __________________ doctors (train)
9. __________________ fruit (forbid)