A participle is a word having the signification of a verb but the construction of an adjective.
For example
We found him lying on the ground.
Having written his letter, he sent it to his friend.
The participle has the properties of both the verb and the adjective. It is the attributive part of the verb, alone. The attributive part of a verb is the being, action, or state. The participle, however, does not have the power of assertion. Therefore, when joined without a linking verb to the noun whose attribute it expresses, the verb attribute of the participle is assumed and not predicated. This is just as the quality associated with an adjective is assumed under similar circumstances.
A participle has the meaning of the verb, is modified like the verb, but is used like the adjective.
The participle is not a distinct part of speech. Participles are derived directly from the verbs and are used as adjectives.
The present participle is formed by adding ing to the basic present form of the verb.
The perfect participle is formed by prefixing the auxiliary having to the past participle of the verb.
The present participle of the verb to be is being. The perfect participle of the verb to be is having been.
Classes of Participles
There are, properly, two participles:
the present participle
the perfect participle
These participles appear in (1) the present form, (2) the past form, and (3) the perfect or completed form. In addition, they can be used in the active voice and in the passive voice.
Participle Forms
Infinitive Form
Present Active
Present Passive
Past Active
Past Passive
Perfect Active
Perfect Passive
to read
reading
being read
read
been read
having read
having been read
to sing
singing
being sung
sung
been sung
having sung
having been sung
to love
loving
being loved
loved
been loved
having loved
having been loved
Present Active Participle
The present active participle denotes an action or a state present and in progress at the time represented by the principal verb.
For example
We find,found, or shall find him sitting in a chair.
The present participle always ends in ing. It has an active signification, and may be used:
to abridge a dependent proposition.
For example
I saw a man walking in the meadow. – meaning a man who was walking…
as an adjective when the participle is placed before the noun. When thus used, it is called a participial adjective.
For example
The roaring billows
in the progressive form of the verb.
For example
I am reading.
as a gerund naming an act.
For example
The Son of man came eating and drinking.
as a noun.
For example
the reading of the law
The eye is never satisfied with beholding the stupendous works of the Creator.
Present Passive Participle
The present passive participle denotes the reception of an act at the time represented by the principal verb.
The predicated participle constitutes, with a linking verb or the auxiliary have, a form of the verb. The present participle is used in the progressive form or imperfect tenses. The past participle is used in the complete form, the perfect; or the passive form.
For example
The farmer was ploughing his field.
The farmer had ploughed his field.
The field was ploughed by the farmer.
An assumed participle is equivalent to a subordinate clause.
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