Participial phrases

What is a participle? Looks like a verb Acts as an adjective

Two kinds of participles Present Past Plain form of verb + “-ing” Verb: The baby was crying. Adjective: The crying baby… Plain form of the verb + “-d” or “-ed” Verb: I had peeled the potato Adjective: The peeled potato…

The Participle Phrase May be modified by an adverb I saw her fishing contentedly The phrase “fishing contentedly” describes “her” like an adjective …or prepositional phrase Tackled on the one yard line, he fumbled the ball. The phrase “Tackled on the one yard line” describes “he” like an adjective …or both Wildly cheering for the team, we celebrated the victory.

The Participle Phrase (CONT.) May have a compliment (like a direct object in a regular sentence) Outwitting the hounds, the raccoon easily escaped. The phrase “outwitting the hounds” describes “raccoon” like an adjective “hounds” tells us what it was “outwitting” much like a Direct Object