English Language Arts
Grade 8
15 min
Identify participles and what they modify
Identify participles and what they modify
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Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define 'participle' and 'participial phrase'.
Distinguish between present and past participles.
Accurately identify participles and participial phrases within complex sentences.
Determine the specific noun or pronoun that a participle or participial phrase modifies.
Explain the adjectival function of participles in modifying nouns and pronouns.
Differentiate participles from main verbs and gerunds based on their function in a sentence.
Ever noticed how some words that look like verbs actually describe things? 🤔 Get ready to unlock the secret power of participles!
In this lesson, you'll learn to identify participles and participial phrases, understanding how these verb forms act like adjectives to add detail and precision to your...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
ParticipleA verb form that functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes or limits the meaning of another word.The *running* water filled the basin. (Running describes water)
Present ParticipleA participle that ends in -ing. It describes an ongoing action.The *shining* stars lit up the night sky. (Shining describes stars)
Past ParticipleA participle that typically ends in -ed, -en, -d, -t, or -n. It describes a completed action or state.The *broken* window needed repair. (Broken describes window)
Participial PhraseA participle along with its modifiers (adverbs) and/or complements (objects) that functions as a single adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun.*Running quickly down the street*, the boy tripped. (Running quickly down the street descri...
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Key Rules & Conventions
Participles as Adjectives
A participle always functions as an adjective, describing a noun or pronoun.
Even though participles are formed from verbs, their job in a sentence is to provide descriptive information about a noun or pronoun, answering questions like 'which one?' or 'what kind?'
Identifying What a Participle Modifies
To find what a participle or participial phrase modifies, ask yourself: 'Who or what is doing this action?' or 'Who or what is being described by this action?' The answer will be the noun or pronoun it modifies.
Participles and participial phrases are usually placed close to the noun or pronoun they modify. If they appear at the beginning of a sentence, they typically modify the subject of the main clause.
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Challenging
The sentence 'Having forgotten the key, the door would not open' contains a dangling participle. Which revision corrects the error?
A.The door, having forgotten the key, would not open.
B.Having forgotten the key, I could not open the door.
C.Forgetting the key, the door would not be opened by me.
D.The door would not open, having forgotten the key.
Challenging
In the sentence, 'The wind, howling with furious intensity, rattled the ancient windowpanes,' how does the participial phrase 'howling with furious intensity' contribute to the tone of the sentence?
A.It creates a peaceful and calm tone.
B.It adds a humorous and lighthearted element.
C.It has no effect on the tone.
D.It establishes a threatening and intense tone.
Challenging
Analyze the sentence: 'The team celebrated their victory, the fans cheering wildly in the stands.' What is the function of 'the fans cheering wildly in the stands'?
A.It is an absolute phrase, with 'fans' as the subject and 'cheering' as a participle modifying it.
B.It is an independent clause connected by a comma splice.
C.It is a participial phrase modifying 'victory'.
D.It is a gerund phrase acting as the object of 'celebrated'.
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