1. Present Participles (ending in "-ing")
* "Walking briskly," she reached the park. (The phrase "walking briskly" describes the subject "she" and modifies the verb "reached".)
* The bird, singing sweetly, perched on the branch. (The phrase "singing sweetly" describes the subject "bird" and modifies the verb "perched".)
* The man, carrying a heavy suitcase, struggled up the stairs. (The phrase "carrying a heavy suitcase" describes the subject "man" and modifies the verb "struggled".)
2. Past Participles (often ending in "-ed" or "-en")
* The book, written by a famous author, was a bestseller. (The phrase "written by a famous author" describes the subject "book" and modifies the verb "was".)
* The house, painted blue, stood out from the rest. (The phrase "painted blue" describes the subject "house" and modifies the verb "stood".)
* The movie, directed by a renowned filmmaker, was critically acclaimed. (The phrase "directed by a renowned filmmaker" describes the subject "movie" and modifies the verb "was".)
3. Participial Phrases as Adjectives
* The roaring engine shook the ground. (The phrase "roaring" modifies the noun "engine".)
* The broken window let in the cold air. (The phrase "broken" modifies the noun "window".)
* The smiling child reached for his mother. (The phrase "smiling" modifies the noun "child".)
Important Notes
* Placement: Participial phrases are usually placed close to the noun or pronoun they modify.
* Dangling Participles: A dangling participle occurs when the participial phrase doesn't have a clear noun or pronoun to modify, making the sentence grammatically incorrect. (Example: "Walking down the street, the dog barked at me." Who is walking down the street?)
Let me know if you would like to see more examples or have any other questions!