Participles

 Finite and Non-Finite Verbs

Participle
A participle is a non-finite verb. It is also called a 'verbal adjective', which means that it has characteristics of both verbs and adjectives. A participle most often ends in '-ing' or '-ed'. There are three types of participles
1. Present participle 2. Past participle 3. Perfect participle
Present Participle
The present participle is the 'ing' form of a verb, used as a modifier. e.g. This is an interesting novel
Uses of Present Participle • As adjective e.g.
1. It was a tiring journey. 2. I read an interesting novel.
انها رحلة متعبة -- قرأت رواية ممتعة
The verbs of perception; 'see, hear, feel, smell', and the verbs—'listen' (to), 'notice' and 'watch' can be followed by 'object + present participle'. e.g.
I see her passing through the street daily.
أراها في كل يوم ( بشكل يومي) تعبر الشارع = أرى جزء من لحظة عبورها
ربما أراقبها في لحظة معينة لكن لو كان مصدر = أرى كل الفعالية
( the infinitive can also be used but slight difference in meaning)
I can hear the clock striking.
If one action is immediately followed by another, done by the same subject, the first action can also be denoted by a present participle.
e.g. He opened the cupboard. He took out a file.
Opening the book, he took out a file.
Past Participle
Most of the Past participles end in -ed, -en, -d, -t, or -n, as in the words: walked, eaten, saved, dealt and seen
Uses of Past Participle : As adjective e.g.
1. This is a fried fish. (not frying) the fish can't make sense of frying or brings to someone the action of frying.
هنا صفة ( اسم مفعول ) ليس فيها تأثير ( سمك مقلي ) هذا سمك مقلي
2. I need a boiled egg. أريد بيضا مسلوقا
To form perfect tense e.g.
Ram has arrived. They have completed the work.
In passive structures e.g.
This is the book written by me.
Learn the lessons taught by her.
Perfect Participle
Perfect Participle is made by combining 'having' and past participle. e.g.
Having eaten, Having broken etc.
Uses of Perfect Participle
The perfect participle is used when there is an interval of time between the two actions.
Having failed thrice, she didn't want to apply again.
We use this form when an action was happened earlier than the second and we want to emphasize that action happened first.
بما أنها فشلت ثلاث مرات, لا تود التقديم مرة ثانية ( ربما قدمت أوراق – طلب ) وفشلت في الاختبار
( نلاحظ استخدام هذا النمط من اسم المفعول التام : حدثين أحدهما انتهى بالتمام والكمال قبل الآخر = نفس طريقة الماضي التام )
Having passed his M.A, he enrolled for Ph.D.
Perfect participle is also used when the first action covered a period of time. e.g.
Having been a boxer for six years, he knew where to punch
Formation of adjectives
Adjectives with -ed and -ing endings
1. Adjectives that end with '-ed' describe emotions; they tell us how people feel about something.
I was very bored with the film. I almost fell asleep.
2. Adjectives that end '-ing' describe the thing that causes the emotion.
I found the film so boring that I almost fell asleep.
Read the sentences below.
Here are difference between the two types of adjectives: adjectives ending in -ed and -ing.
a. I was shocked. How shocking the accident was last night!
b. They were frightened. The roller-coaster ride was frightening!
c. Father was really annoyed. How annoying your behaviour was! d. The confusing street signs in the city confused us.
e. I am bored reading these grammar rules all the time.
f. It is so boring. • I am tired now.
g. The long journey by train was tiring.
h. Public toilets are usually disgusting.
i. I am disgusted by the smell in some of them.
j. Your speech was very inspiring.
k. Youngsters are inspired by it. ( past participle / passive)
Exercise + solution
Choose the correct adjective ed, or ing.
1. I didn't enjoy the party. It was very……( bored/ boring)
2. The ghost story was very ……(frightened / frightening)
3. I was….. (shocked/ shocking) by what she told me.
4. The children were over- (excited/ exiting) and noisy.
5. Your holiday in
South America sounds very …(excited/ exiting)
6. I was ….(embarrassing / embarrassed) when they asked me to sing.
7. It was very….. (depressed/ depressing) to hear about your problems.
8. I thought the story was very……. (confused/ confusing)
9. I was very tired so I went to bed.
10. I went home early because the party was boring