There are two main types of participles:
* Present participles end in "-ing" and describe an ongoing action. For example: "The running dog" or "The singing bird".
* Past participles usually end in "-ed" or "-en" and describe a completed action. For example: "The broken window" or "The stolen car".
Here are some key things to remember about participles:
* They can act as adjectives: They modify nouns or pronouns.
* They can form part of verb phrases: For example, "He is walking" or "She has been running".
* They can be used to create participial phrases: These are phrases that include a participle and any related words (e.g., "The dog running down the street", "The window broken by the storm").
Examples of participles in sentences:
* Smiling cheerfully, she greeted her friends. (present participle as adjective)
* The painted walls were bright and cheerful. (past participle as adjective)
* The falling leaves were a beautiful sight. (present participle as adjective)
* The stolen painting was recovered by the police. (past participle as adjective)
* He was walking quickly towards the station. (present participle in verb phrase)
* The cake had been baked for three hours. (past participle in verb phrase)
Understanding participles is important for clear and effective writing, allowing you to add descriptive details and create more complex sentences.