Teaching Participles - Participial Adjectives

A Participle or Participial Adjective is a present or past participle that functions as an adjective. It can modify a noun or pronoun. It may be the present participle (verb + ing), a regular past participle (verb + ed), or an irregular past participle. 

• Pres. Participle: Is there a swimming pool in this school?
• Reg. Past Participle: They were very tired.
• Irreg. Past Participle: He fixed the broken clock.

While most participial adjectives are formed from verbs, a few are formed from other parts of speech.

• talent - talented
• gift - gifted
• thrill - thrilling

Reasons to Use a Participle

1. Participles can describe things or people.

• Space is an interesting topic. She is an interesting person.
• The drawing paper is missing. He is a drawing teacher.
• The stunned animal was in shock. She looks stunning!

2. Participles may indicate a purpose or use of an object.

• Swimming pool
• Coloring book
• Knitting needles

3. Participles often describe how a person feels.

• She is interested in science.
• They are excited.
• I am confused.

4. Participles describe a condition.

• The broken wheel was horribly bent.
• The stolen jewelry was found.
• The buried treasure was never found.

Position in a Sentence

1. Before a Noun

• The sleeping children were unaware of the party below.
• The gifted student graduated at age 14.
• The are very committed athletes. 

2. After a Linking Verb as a Subject Complement

• The class was boring.
• The movie was exciting.
• Her dress is stunning.

Comparisons

Participles can also be used for comparisons in the positive, comparative and superlative degrees.

• Positive: He is as worried as I am.
• Comparative: He is more worried than I am.
• Superlative: He is the most worried of us all.

• Positive: The sequel is as exciting as the original movie.
• Comparative: The sequel is more exciting than the original movie.
• Superlative: It is the most exciting movie in the series.

Participle Phrases

• The person injured in the accident went to the hospital.
• The men sitting by the road were eating lunch.
• There are many cars parked outside.
• He did his homework sitting in the library.