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Participles in English: what they are and how to use them correctly
10.02.2025
4 minutes to read
Participles are special forms of verbs that can describe actions or states, but also act as adjectives or nouns. There are two types of participles in English: present participles and past participles. What are they for? Participles help to make speech more vivid and precise, they can be part of complex tenses or simply describe what someone does or something happened. In this article, let's find out what they are and how to use them correctly!
Table of contents
A participle in English is a verb form that can be used as an adjective or a noun. That is, it helps to describe not only an action, but also how that action happens or how it affects something. For example, when we say “a broken window”, the word “broken” is a participle because it describes a window, but it also comes from the verb “to break”.
There are two types of participles: one is formed from a verb in present tense form, and the other is formed from a verb in past tense form. The one that ends in -ing is called the present participle (e.g., “running”), and the one that often ends in -ed or has an irregular form is called the past participle (e.g., “tired”).
You can find participles in English in many different places: they can be part of tenses such as Present Continuous or Past Perfect, or they can be used alone to make a description more precise. For example, instead of saying “the man who is reading the book”, you can say “the reading man”. This makes the sentence shorter and more expressive.
Using participles makes your speech more varied and helps you speak more accurately without repeating too many words.
There are two types of participles: one is formed from a verb in present tense form, and the other is formed from a verb in past tense form. The one that ends in -ing is called the present participle (e.g., “running”), and the one that often ends in -ed or has an irregular form is called the past participle (e.g., “tired”).
You can find participles in English in many different places: they can be part of tenses such as Present Continuous or Past Perfect, or they can be used alone to make a description more precise. For example, instead of saying “the man who is reading the book”, you can say “the reading man”. This makes the sentence shorter and more expressive.
Using participles makes your speech more varied and helps you speak more accurately without repeating too many words.
What are participles in English?
Present Participle (Participle 1) in English
Functions
Present Participle (Participle 1) is a verb form that ends in -ing. For example: run - running, writing - writing, dancing - dancing. This thing is quite common in English, and it has some interesting functions.
1. An action that is happening right now
When you want to say that something is happening at the moment of speech, the Present Participle is your best friend. It is used in Continuous tenses when talking about a process.
For example:
- I am watching a movie.
That is, the action is not finished - it is going on right now.
2. Two actions at the same time
It can be used to show that one action is happening while a person is doing something else. This is handy when you don't want to stretch out a sentence.
For example:
- She was cooking, listening to music.
That is, both actions were happening at the same time.
3 Describing people, objects or situations
The Present Participle helps describe how something or someone looks or what is happening.
For example:
- I saw a boy running in the park.
Without running it would be boring and incomplete. But this way it is immediately clear that the boy is not just standing, but running.
4. Shortening long sentences
If you don't want to say too much, the Present Participle helps to make your speech simpler. Instead of two separate sentences, you can say everything in one.
For example:
- Instead of: I walked home, and I talked on the phone.
You can say: I walked home talking on the phone.
Bottom line: Present Participle is a useful form that makes English easier and more lively. If you see a verb with -ing, think: Maybe that's the one!
1. An action that is happening right now
When you want to say that something is happening at the moment of speech, the Present Participle is your best friend. It is used in Continuous tenses when talking about a process.
For example:
- I am watching a movie.
That is, the action is not finished - it is going on right now.
2. Two actions at the same time
It can be used to show that one action is happening while a person is doing something else. This is handy when you don't want to stretch out a sentence.
For example:
- She was cooking, listening to music.
That is, both actions were happening at the same time.
3 Describing people, objects or situations
The Present Participle helps describe how something or someone looks or what is happening.
For example:
- I saw a boy running in the park.
Without running it would be boring and incomplete. But this way it is immediately clear that the boy is not just standing, but running.
4. Shortening long sentences
If you don't want to say too much, the Present Participle helps to make your speech simpler. Instead of two separate sentences, you can say everything in one.
For example:
- Instead of: I walked home, and I talked on the phone.
You can say: I walked home talking on the phone.
Bottom line: Present Participle is a useful form that makes English easier and more lively. If you see a verb with -ing, think: Maybe that's the one!
Examples of use
1. Action that is happening right now
- He was standing by the window watching the rain.
- I saw a cat sleeping on the chair.
2. Two actions at the same time
- She sat on the sofa reading a book.
- They walked home singing loudly.
3. Reason or explanation
- Being hungry, we ordered pizza.
- Not knowing the answer, he stayed quiet.
4. After some verbs (see, hear, find, etc.)
- I heard them talking about the test.
- I saw a cat sleeping on the chair.
5. At the beginning of a sentence to describe a situation
- Running to school, I realized I forgot my bag.
- Looking at the clock, she sighed.
- He was standing by the window watching the rain.
- I saw a cat sleeping on the chair.
2. Two actions at the same time
- She sat on the sofa reading a book.
- They walked home singing loudly.
3. Reason or explanation
- Being hungry, we ordered pizza.
- Not knowing the answer, he stayed quiet.
4. After some verbs (see, hear, find, etc.)
- I heard them talking about the test.
- I saw a cat sleeping on the chair.
5. At the beginning of a sentence to describe a situation
- Running to school, I realized I forgot my bag.
- Looking at the clock, she sighed.
Past Participle (Participle 2) in English
Past Participle (Participle 2) is a verb form that is usually used for past actions. In regular verbs it is formed with -ed (play - played), and in irregular verbs - as luck would have it (write - written, go - gone). You can often find this form, even if you are not particularly fond of grammar. Let's find out why you need it at all.
1. Perfect tenses
If you want to tell that something has already happened at some point, you can't do without the Past Participle. In Perfect tenses it appears after the word have/has/had.
For example:
- I have finished my homework.
Here finished is the Past Participle. Without it, the sentence would not work.
2. Passive Voice (Passive Voice)
When it's not who did it, but what was done, the passive is used. The Past Participle is also the main character here, and it comes after the verb be.
For example:
- The cake was eaten.
Who ate the cake? It doesn't matter. The important thing is that the cake was gone.
3. Describing objects and people
Past Participle helps to describe something that has already happened to someone or something.
For example:
- The broken window needs to be fixed.
Here broken is the Past Participle of break. It describes the condition of the window.
4. Sentence Abbreviation
Like the Present Participle, the Past Participle helps to make a speech shorter. Instead of two sentences, you can say one sentence and everything will be clear.
For example:
- Instead of: The letter was written by me, and it was sent yesterday.
You can say: The letter written by me was sent yesterday.
Bottom line: The Past Participle is a form that you can't do without in English. If you see a verb with -ed (or something weird like gone or seen), you know it's there, and it probably makes the sentence more interesting and precise.
1. Perfect tenses
If you want to tell that something has already happened at some point, you can't do without the Past Participle. In Perfect tenses it appears after the word have/has/had.
For example:
- I have finished my homework.
Here finished is the Past Participle. Without it, the sentence would not work.
2. Passive Voice (Passive Voice)
When it's not who did it, but what was done, the passive is used. The Past Participle is also the main character here, and it comes after the verb be.
For example:
- The cake was eaten.
Who ate the cake? It doesn't matter. The important thing is that the cake was gone.
3. Describing objects and people
Past Participle helps to describe something that has already happened to someone or something.
For example:
- The broken window needs to be fixed.
Here broken is the Past Participle of break. It describes the condition of the window.
4. Sentence Abbreviation
Like the Present Participle, the Past Participle helps to make a speech shorter. Instead of two sentences, you can say one sentence and everything will be clear.
For example:
- Instead of: The letter was written by me, and it was sent yesterday.
You can say: The letter written by me was sent yesterday.
Bottom line: The Past Participle is a form that you can't do without in English. If you see a verb with -ed (or something weird like gone or seen), you know it's there, and it probably makes the sentence more interesting and precise.
Functions
Examples of usage
1. Perfect tenses
- I have finished my homework.
- She had lost her phone.
2. Passive Voice (Passive Voice)
- The cake was eaten.
- The homework was done yesterday.
3. Describing objects and people
- The broken window needs to be fixed.
- The letter written by me was sent yesterday.
4. Abbreviation of sentences
- Instead of: The phone that was stolen has not been found.
You can say: The phone stolen has not been found.
- Instead of: The books that were bought yesterday are on the table.
You can say: The books bought yesterday are on the table.
- I have finished my homework.
- She had lost her phone.
2. Passive Voice (Passive Voice)
- The cake was eaten.
- The homework was done yesterday.
3. Describing objects and people
- The broken window needs to be fixed.
- The letter written by me was sent yesterday.
4. Abbreviation of sentences
- Instead of: The phone that was stolen has not been found.
You can say: The phone stolen has not been found.
- Instead of: The books that were bought yesterday are on the table.
You can say: The books bought yesterday are on the table.
What else you should pay attention to
When using participles, it is important to keep in mind a few things that will help you avoid mistakes and make your speech more accurate.
First, you need to pay close attention to how past participles are formed. Regular verbs are simple - they usually end in -ed - but irregular verbs may not have the forms you expect. For example, the verb “go” is “gone”, not “goed”. You need to memorize the irregular forms because without it, it will be difficult to construct sentences correctly.
Also, when using participles, it is important not to confuse them with gerunds (verbs with -ing, which fulfill the role of a noun). For example, “I like swimming” is not a participle, but a gerund. It is important to remember that a gerund is a noun, while a participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective or part of a compound tense.
Remember that a participle can be part of a sentence, but it is important that it does not stand without context. For example, in the sentence “Walking to the store, I saw a cat,” you must be careful not to create confusion that makes it unclear who is walking where. Sometimes such constructions can be difficult to understand.
So when working with participles, the most important thing is practice and attention to detail. The more you use them in speech, the easier it will be to understand all the subtleties!
First, you need to pay close attention to how past participles are formed. Regular verbs are simple - they usually end in -ed - but irregular verbs may not have the forms you expect. For example, the verb “go” is “gone”, not “goed”. You need to memorize the irregular forms because without it, it will be difficult to construct sentences correctly.
Also, when using participles, it is important not to confuse them with gerunds (verbs with -ing, which fulfill the role of a noun). For example, “I like swimming” is not a participle, but a gerund. It is important to remember that a gerund is a noun, while a participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective or part of a compound tense.
Remember that a participle can be part of a sentence, but it is important that it does not stand without context. For example, in the sentence “Walking to the store, I saw a cat,” you must be careful not to create confusion that makes it unclear who is walking where. Sometimes such constructions can be difficult to understand.
So when working with participles, the most important thing is practice and attention to detail. The more you use them in speech, the easier it will be to understand all the subtleties!
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