Participial Phrases as Adjectives

1. Participial Phrases as Adjectives

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

3. 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?

4. 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?”

5. 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…

6. 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?

7. 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

8. 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