Participles and Participial Phrases! 8 th Grade English

So, what are Verbals? The term verbal sounds a lot like the word verb, right? Well, a verbal is a verb…it is just used a little differently. The word verbal is a collective term for a verb form used as another part of speech.

Verbals are a Little Nutty! Basically, a verbal is a verb with an identity crisis. It thinks it is something else!

How Many Types? Mainly, there are three types of verbal words that you need to know.  Participles  Gerunds  Infinitives And the phrases that they go with!

Today… We are going to focus just on the first one…the Participle and its phrase!

So, what is a participle? A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective. It is formed by adding something to the verb.  You add –ing to a present participle  You add –ed to a past participle A participle can act as the main verb in a verb phrase or as an adjective to describe, or modify, nouns or pronouns. It is only a verbal if it is acting as an adjective!

Examples… The player has kicked the ball (Main verb in a verb phrase, NOT A VERBAL) The kicked ball soared (adjective modifying ball, VERBAL)

Exercise A. Find the participle in each sentence.

Exercise A. 1. Soccer can be a challenging game. 2. Many young people are participating in the sport. 3. The size of the playing field for soccer may vary. 4. Have rules for the sport changed over the years? 5. A player on our team has scored the winning goal.

Answers 1. Soccer can be a challenging game. 2. Many young people are participating in the sport. 3. The size of the playing field for soccer may vary. 4. Have rules for the sport changed over the years? 5. A player on our team has scored the winning goal.

Sometimes… A participle that is used as an adjective is part of a phrase. This kind of phrase is called a participial phrase! A participial phrase is a group of words that includes a participle and other words that complete its meaning!

Examples… Cheering for the home team, the fans were on their feet. The ball kicked by Donnie soared into the goal.

Commas and Participial Phrases A participial phrase that is placed at the beginning of a sentence is always set off by commas. Running from the law, a burglar slipped in the mud. Other participial phrases may or may not need commas.

Do they or don’t they? If the phrase is necessary to identify the modified word, do not set it off by commas. The player kicking the ball is Donnie. If the phrase simply gives additional information about the modified word, set it off with commas! Donnie, kicking the ball, scored the final point. Essential v. Nonessential, just like with appositives!

One Last Note A participial phrase can appear before or after the word it describes. Place the phrase as close as possible to the modified word; otherwise, the meaning of the sentence may be unclear!

Exercise B. Find the participial phrase. Identify the word the participial phrase describes (they are all used as adjectives!)

Exercise B. 1. Attracting huge crowds, soccer is a popular sport. 2. The game consists of two teams competing for goals. 3. Playing within certain areas, the goalkeepers can touch the ball with their hands. 4. For other players, the only contact permitted by the rules is with their feet, heads, or bodies. 5. The two teams playing the game kick off. 6. The teams, moving almost constantly during play, kick the ball back and forth. 7. Varying their formations, players move about the field.

Answers 1. Attracting huge crowds, soccer is a popular sport. 2. The game consists of two teams competing for goals. 3. Playing within certain areas, the goalkeepers can touch the ball with their hands. 4. For other players, the only contact permitted by the rules is with their feet, heads, or bodies. 5. The two teams playing the game kick off. 6. The teams, moving almost constantly during play, kick the ball back and forth. 7. Varying their formations, players move about the field.

Remember… The word verbal is a collective term for a verb form used as another part of speech. A participle is formed by adding something to the verb.  You add –ing to a present participle  You add –ed to a past participle A participle can act as the main verb in a verb phrase or as an adjective to describe, or modify, nouns or pronouns. It is only a verbal if it is acting as an adjective. A participial phrase is a group of words that includes a participle and other words that complete its meaning!

Questions?