What is a Participle?
A participle is a form of a verb that functions as an adjective and typically ends in -ing, -ed, -en, or -t, and can stand alone or as part of a participial phrase.
Examples of Participles and Participial Phrases
Some examples of participles and participial phrases would be the following:
The frustrated student shut his textbook and gave up on studying.
The pastry chef topped the strudel with a large dollop of whipped.
The crying baby was inconsolable until she saw her mother.
Beaming with pride, the new graduates flipped their tassels and cheered.
Alan, sunburned from his day at the beach, struggled to find a comfortable sleeping position.
Why You Should Use Participial Phrases in Your Writing
Participial phrases add detail, description, and action to your sentences without interrupting the flow of your writing. Because participial phrases are a type of verbal – a word derived from a verb – they can incorporate the action directly into the description.
Beware of dangling participles which can confuse your reader (and possibly create some unintended humor), and when you’re ready to learn other verbals, be sure to check out gerunds and then infinitives.
Download a Free Worksheet on Participles and Participial Phrases!
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