A Simple Guide to the Meaning and Use of Participial Phrases with Exercises

Welcome to the article on participial phrases, also known as participle phrases. We hope this information will help you improve your understanding of the English language.

INTRODUCTION

What is a Participle?

A participle is a verb form that functions as an adjective. It comes in two forms:

  • Present participle: ends in -ing
    • running, dancing
  • Past participle: often ends in -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n
    • baked, burnt, broken

What is a Phrase?

A phrase is a group of words that work together but do not form a complete sentence.

What is an Participle Phrase?

A participial phrase is a group of words that begins with a participle and includes any modifiers or complements. Participial phrases function as adjectives, describing nouns or pronouns.

  • Running down the hill, the child laughed happily.
    (The phrase running down the hill describes the child.)
  • Exhausted from work, she went straight to bed.
    (Exhausted from work describes she.)

Participle Phrases with Modifiers

A participial phrase may include modifiers such as adverbs or prepositional phrases. These modifiers provide additional information about the action.

  • Hoping for a better outcome, they tried again.
    (Hoping is the participle; for a better outcome is the modifier.)

Participle Phrases with Complements

Complements complete the meaning of the participle in the phrase.

  • Watching the sunset, they felt at peace.
    (Watching is the participle, and the sunset is its complement.)

EXAMPLE PARTICIPLE PHRASES

  1. Simple Participial Phrases:
    • Baking in the oven, the cookies smelled delicious.
    • Tired after the long day, he sat quietly.
  2. Participial Phrases with Modifiers:
    • Running quickly, she caught the bus.
    • Covered in snow, the car looked abandoned.
  3. Participial Phrases with Complements:
    • Listening to the teacher, the students took notes.
    • Known for his generosity, he was respected by everyone.
  4. Participial Phrases in Everyday English:
    • Feeling confident, she took the test.
    • Built in the 1800s, the house has historical significance.

Placement of Participle Phrases in Sentences

Participial phrases can be placed at different parts of a sentence:

  1. At the Beginning:
    • Laughing loudly, they enjoyed the comedy show.
  2. In the Middle:
    • The teacher, smiling warmly, welcomed the new students.
  3. At the End:
    • They finished the project, feeling proud of their work.

Common Uses of Particple Adjective Phrases

  • To add more detail about a noun or pronoun
  • To create variety in sentence structure
  • To make writing more descriptive and engaging

Common Mistakes with Participial Phrases

  1. Dangling Participles: When the participial phrase does not clearly refer to a noun or pronoun in the sentence.
    Incorrect: Running down the street, the dog barked loudly.
    (It sounds like the dog is running, but the subject should be a person.)
    Correct: Running down the street, I heard the dog bark loudly.
  2. Misplaced Participial Phrases: When the phrase is too far from the noun it describes, causing confusion.
    Incorrect: She found her keys after cleaning the room under the couch.
    Correct: After cleaning the room, she found her keys under the couch.

Exercises on Participle Phrases

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences using participle phrases from the following list.

  • baked by my grandmother
  • carrying a large bag
  • excited about the trip
  • parked in front of the house
  • playing the guitar
  • pleased
  • shocked
  1. The girl __________ is my neighbour.
  2. The cake __________ was delicious.
  3. __________ by the news, she started crying.
  4. The man __________ waved at us.
  5. The car __________ belongs to my uncle. 
  6. The children __________ ran to their parents. 
  7. __________ with the results, the teacher smiled.

Exercise 2. Match the participial phrase to the correct sentence.

  • The boy __________.
  • The painting __________. 
  • The letter __________. 
  • The dog __________. 
  • (a) barking loudly at strangers
  • (b) covered in dust
  • (c) sitting by the window
  • (d) written in French

Exercise 3. Complete each sentence with the best particle phrase from the list given.

  1. The man __________ is my uncle.
  2. The vase __________ needs to be replaced.
  3. The children __________ look happy.
  4. The portrait __________ is worth a fortune.
  • broken during the storm
  • sitting on the chair
  • painted by a famous artist
  • running through the park

Exercise 4. Choose the correct participial phrase to complete the sentence.

The students __________ were praised by their teacher.
a. finished their homework early
b. finish their homework early
c. finishing their homework early

__________, the players celebrated their victory.
a. Cheered by the crowd
b. Cheering by the crowd
c. Cheer by the crowd

The tree __________ is over 100 years old.
a. grows in the park
b. grown in the park
c. growing in the park

FAQ

Q: What is a participial phrase?
A: A participial phrase is a group of words that begins with a participle and describes a noun or pronoun.

Q: How do I identify a participial phrase?
A: Look for a phrase that starts with a participle (-ing or -ed form of a verb) and describes a noun or pronoun.

Q: Can a participial phrase come at the end of a sentence?
A: Yes, participial phrases can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

Q: What is the difference between a participial phrase and a gerund phrase?
A: A participial phrase acts as an adjective, while a gerund phrase acts as a noun.

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