Identify participles and what they modify
Key notes:
What are Participles?
Definition: Participles are verb forms that can function as adjectives. They provide additional information about nouns or pronouns.
Types of Participles:
- Present Participles: End in -ing (e.g., running, jumping, swimming).
- Past Participles: Often end in -ed, -en, -d, -t, or -n (e.g., baked, broken, danced, sung).
Functions of Participles
As Adjectives: Participles describe or modify nouns and pronouns.
- Example: The barking dog kept us awake. (Here, “barking” modifies “dog.”)
In Participial Phrases: A group of words that includes a participle and provides additional detail.
- Example: Shocked by the news, she sat down. (Here, “shocked” modifies “she.”)
Identifying Participles
- Look for Verb Forms: Check for words that are formed from verbs and act as adjectives.
- Determine the Ending: Identify if the word ends in -ing (present participle) or -ed/-en (past participle).
- Check the Context: Analyze the sentence to see if the word modifies a noun or pronoun.
What Participles Modify
Participles modify nouns or pronouns.
- Example: In the sentence The broken vase lay on the floor, “broken” modifies “vase.”
Participles can also be part of a larger participial phrase.
- Example: The glowing embers warmed the room. Here, “glowing” modifies “embers.”
Examples of Participles in Sentences
- The excited students cheered for their team. (Past participle “excited” modifies “students.”)
- Running late, she hurried to the bus stop. (Present participle “running” modifies “she.”)
Practice Activities
- Identify the Participles: Have students read sentences and underline the participles.
- Modification Task: Ask students to rewrite sentences, changing the participles to see how they affect meaning.
- Participial Phrase Creation: Students can create their own sentences using participial phrases.
Let’s practice!🖊️
