A participle is a word having the signification of a verb but the construction of an adjective.

For example

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.

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

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.

For example

In the following sentence:
He lives, lived, will live, loved by all.
loved is in the present passive participle form.

This participle may be used as an adjective or is used with a form of the verb to be as a passive verb.

For example

A special taste is possessed only by the cultivated.

When preceded by being, a participle may be used as a noun.

For example

By being involved in one wrong act, he was soon lost to all the appeals of his friends.

Active and Passive Perfect Participles

The perfect active participle denotes an action or a state completed at the time represented by the principal verb.

For example

Having finished his speech, he sat down.

The perfect passive participle denotes the reception of a past act that was completed at the time represented by the principal verb.

For example

Having been driven from home, he enlisted in the army.

The Participle Predicated or Assumed

The action or the state expressed by the participle may be either predicated or assumed.

For example

Predicated:
The horse is running through the street.
Assumed:
A horse running through the street

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.

For example

The sentence:
The boat sailing on yonder lake is pro­pelled by steam.
is equivalent to:
The boat which sails on yonder lake is propelled by steam.

At this point proceed to Exercise 21.