Here's why:
* Participial Phrases: These are phrases that begin with a participle (a verb form ending in -ing or -ed that acts as an adjective). They modify nouns or pronouns, providing more information about them.
* Adjectives: Adjectives describe or modify nouns or pronouns.
Example:
* "Running down the street," the boy tripped and fell.
Here, "running down the street" is the participial phrase. It modifies the noun "boy" by telling us what he was doing. Since it describes the boy, it's acting as an adjective.
Important Note: While participial phrases act like adjectives, they are not always placed directly before the noun they modify. They can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.