Verbs

Participles

The -ing form of the verb is often called the present participle. The -ed form of the verb is often called the past participle. Both present and past participles can be used to introduce more information about a noun or a clause.

Participles used as part of a verb phrase

Both participles combine with auxiliary verbs to form continuous, perfect and passive verb forms.

• It was raining when I left.
• I've never travelled abroad.
• We'll be seen if we're not careful.

Participles used before nouns as adjectives

Both participles can be used before nouns as adjectives.

• I was hit by a moving object.
• She got in through an unlocked window.

Many of these participles have become adjectives. They can be qualified by very and they have comparative forms.

• That was a very interesting talk.
• They were more confused than I thought.

Participles used after a noun to introduce more information about it

A participle can be the first word in a clause which comes after a noun and gives more information about it.

• This was her first novel, written while she was a student.
• The musicians performing the Quartet come from Australia.

These clauses can be seen as a reduced form of a relative clause without a relative pronoun and with a participle in place of a complete verb phrase. Active verb phrases become present participles, and passive verb phrases become past participles.

• Pottery which was made in the 1960s is becoming a collector's item.
• Pottery made in the 1960s is becoming a collector's item.
  
  
• The Minister, who was looking tired after the meeting, gave a brief press conference.
• The Minister, looking tired after the meeting, gave a brief press conference.

If there is no comma before the participle, the participle introduces a defining clause. This means that the clause clarifies the identity of the noun before it. In the first example above, we are talking only about pottery made in the 1960s, not about all pottery.

It there is a comma before the participle, the participle clause is non-defining. This means that the information in the clause is not needed to clarify the identity of the noun before it. We can take away the clause without changing the meaning of the rest of the sentence.

Participles used after a clause to introduce more information about it

A participle can be the first word in a clause that gives more information about another clause. They often tell you what the consequences of the first clause were. This type of clause can be seen as a reduced non-defining relative clause (see above), so there must be a comma before the participle.

• They use a sitar on most tracks, which gives their music an Eastern feel.
• They use a sitar on most tracks, giving their music an Eastern feel.

Adverbial participle clauses

Adverbial participle clauses can give more information about another clause, and they can come before or after the other clause. They usually tell you why, how or when the situation in the other clause happens.

• Being a decent pianist, he soon found work. (= Because he was a decent pianist, …)
• Treated with care, a good violin will increase in value. (= If it is treated with care, ...)
• Having passed her final exams, she decided to go travelling. (= After she had passed her final exams, …)

Nominal participle clauses

A present participle can be the first word (or the only word) in a nominal clause – a clause that functions like a noun. Nominal participle clauses are used after some verbs, after prepositions and as the subject of a sentence.

• I like going out at the weekend, but I prefer staying at home with a good book.
• He has no chance of getting the job.
• Listening to loud music can damage your hearing.