Participial Phrase


Participial Phrase Definition Types and Examples

Participial phrase, also known as participle, are commonly used in English. As a learner of English, you need to master this topic in order to make use of participles in writing and speech correctly. This article contains all you should know about participle phrases in English. 

We've covered:

1. What is a participial phrase?

2. All types of participles 

3. Present participial phrase 

4. Past participial phrase 

5. Adverbial participle phrase 

6. Adjective participial phrase 

What is a Participial Phrase?

According to Cambridge Dictionary, a participial phrase or participle is " a form of a verb often ending in "-ed" or "-ing" and used with auxiliary verbs to make verb tenses or to form adjectives."

According to Merriam-Webster, a participial phrase or participle is " a word having the characteristics of both verb and adjective, especially: an English verbal form that has the function of an adjective and at the same time shows such verbal features as tense and voice and capacity to take an object."

From the above-mentioned definitions, we knew that:

1. A participial phrase or participle is a form of verb.

2. A participle ends in "-ed" or "-ing".

3. A participle or participial phrase is used to make verb tenses or to form adjectives.

Types of Participial Phrase

The following are the types of participle or participial phrase based on their forms and functions. Present participial and past participial phrases are the two types based on forms, and adverbial and adjectival participial phrases are the other two types based on functions.

Present Participial Phrase

Present participial phrase is a form of a verb that ends in "-ing" and that is used in making verb tenses including present, past and future progressive or to form adjective. They are given below with examples. The italicized words are present participles.

1. Present Participle in Continuous Tenses 

Examples:

(a) He is going.

(b) He was going.

(c) He will be going. 

2. Present Participle as Adjective 

Examples:

(a) The bird sitting on the tree flew away.

(b) The boat floats in the running water without any force.

(c) She has got a satisfying job.

3. Present Participle as Adverb 

Examples:

(a) I spend three hours writing blog articles everyday.

(b) She used to spend hours thinking about her husband under that tree.

(c) He takes all decisions considering all aspects of something.

Past Participial Phrase

Past participial phrase often ends in "-ed" and is used in perfect verb tenses, passive voice and as adjectives. In the following, the italicized words are past participles.

1. Past Participle in Perfect Verb Tenses 

Examples:

(a) He has eaten a mango. 

(b) He had eaten a mango.

(c) He will have eaten a mango.

2. Past Participle in Passive Voice

Examples:

(a) A mango is eaten. 

(b) A mango was eaten.

(c) A mango will be eaten. 

3. Past Participle as Adjective

Examples:

(a) The Indian Constitution is the world's longest written constitution. 

(b) The mountain covered with snow looks enthralling.

(c) The teacher amazed at the student's intelligence looked speechless.

Adjectival Participle Phrase

Adjective participial phrase contains a participle-a verb often ending in "-ing" or "-ed" form and other modifiers. Adjective participial phrase modifies or describes a noun. In the following sentences, the italicized words are adjective participle phrase.

Examples:

(a) The enthralling looks of the mountain catch people's attention. 

(b) A hill filled with snow amazes people.

Adverbial participle phrase

Adverb participial phrase consists of a participle and other modifiers. The italicized words are adverbial participle phrases.

Examples:

(a) He spends 3 hours reading books a day. 

(b) She makes decisions considering pros and cons of something.

FAQs -  Participial Phrase Definition and Examples

What is a participial phrase?

A participial phrase is a group of words that often ends in "-ing" or "-ed" and is used as adjectives, adverbs or in progressives and perfectives. 

Participial phrase examples

(a) He's going to the market. 

(b) The mountain capped with snow is amazing.

(c) This is an interesting story.

Which sentence uses a participial phrase correctly?

The following sentences use participial phrases correctly. The participles are italicized.

a. The amazing mountain filled with snow is shining. 

b. The enthralling look of the river located at Lake Zurich is flowing. 

Which phrase is a participial phrase

The phrase which contains a verb in "-ed" or "-ing" form in the following sentences is a participial phrase.

a. The amazing mountain filled with snow is shining. 

b. The enthralling look of the river located at Lake Zurich is flowing.   

Which sentence uses both a participial and an infinitive phrase?

The following sentences use both a participial and an infinitive phrase which is italicized. 

a. Annoying everyone around him, he continued to sing at 12 in the night. 

b. Refusing to obey his father, he went to the night club with his friends.

What are different participle phrases examples?

Present participle examples:

a. He's going. 

b. The amazing river amazes me a lot. 

Past participle examples:

a. The dilapidated house  was rebuilt.

b. The field filled with grass is amazing.