{ Participial Phrases as Adjectives

 Modifies/Describes nouns or pronouns First, what is an adjective?

 A participle is a form of a verb that is used in a sentence to modify a noun or noun phrase, and thus plays a role similar to that of an adjective or adverb   a form of a verb that is used to form complex tenses, as are "loving" and "loved" Now, what is a participle?

  A grammatical unit: a string of words that form a grammatical unit, usually within a clause or sentence.   Example of a phrase- Jane’s kite, blown by the fierce wind, is the only one of ours that remains lost.   A CLAUSE is a group of words with a subject and verb Finally, what is a “phrase?”

 Participial adjective phrase =  A group of words (called a phrase) that begins with a verb ending in –ing, -ed, or –d (called a participle) that modifies a noun (meaning it acts like an adjective)  They tell what kind? Or which one? About the word being modified So a participial phrase acting as an adjective means…

 Appears directly before or after the noun/pronoun it modifies  Example: see example below- the noun is in red  If it begins a sentence, use a comma to separate  Example: Destroyed in the heat of recent battle, the forlorn village stood silently in the frosty night.”  If it is a “non essential phrase” commas are used  If it is an essential phrase, NO commas are used  Example- Carlton, running down the hall, slipped on a banana peel. (this “running down the hall” bit is not essential to the meaning of the sentence, so it we use commas)  Example- The student running down the hall slipped on the banana peel. (this info is essential) Where and how?

 Present Participles= verb forms ending in –ing such as walking, hoping, or being  Past Participles= verb forms ending in –d, -ed, or an irregular form such as seen, given, or brought Present vs. Past

 Please look at the back of your handout and let’s loo at the rules for using PrPPs and practice a few on our own  Please look at the back of your handout and let’s loo at the rules for using PrPPs and practice a few on our own Handout