Past Participle Note

Past Participles

Participles are words formed from verbs which can be used as adjectives. There are two types of participles: The Past Participle (usually ending -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n) The Present Participle (ending -ing) The "Note" section on the right explains how to form past participles. Examples of Past Participles Being Used As Adjectives Here are some examples of past participles being used as adjectives: The Verb The Past Participle To swell swollen eyes To break broken plate To ruin ruined cake Past Participles in Participle Phrases Past participles can often be found in participle phrases. A participle phrase acts like an adjective. In the examples below, the participle phrases are shaded and the past participles are in bold: The boy taken to hospital has recovered. (The participle phrase taken to hospital describes the boy.) I have a heart wracked with sorrow. (The participle phrase wracked with sorrow describes a heart.) Battered by the wind, John fell to his knees. (The participle phrase "Battered by the wind describes john.) Finally broken , Lee lowered his gloves. (The participle phrase Finally broken describes Lee.) Read more about participle phrases. More Examples of Past Participles Used as Adjectives Here are some examples of past participles (shaded) being used as adjectives: Here is a laminated copy to replace your torn one. Stuffed deer heads on walls are bad enough, but it's worse when they have streamers in their antlers because then you know they were enjoying themselves when they were shot. (Ellen DeGeneres) A torn jacket is soon mended, but hard words bruise the heart of a child. (Henry Longfellow) Scandal is gossip made tedious by morality. (Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900) The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on. (Joseph Heller, 1923- 1999) Past Participles Used in Verb Tenses As well as being used as adjectives, past participles are also used to form verb tenses. Here are the verb tenses (past participles shaded): The 4 Past Tenses Example simple past tense I broke past progressive tense I was breaking past perfect tense I had broken past perfect progressive tense I had been breaking The 4 Present Tenses Example simple present tense I break present progressive tense I am breaking present perfect tense I have broken present perfect progressive tense I have been breaking The 4 Future Tenses Example simple future tense I will break future progressive tense I will be breaking future perfect tense I will have broken future perfect progressive tense I will have been breaking