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GRAMMAR & STRUCTURE
Participles

 
 

Definition

A participle is the continuous ("-ing") or past (usually "-ed") form of a verb.

Example

Verb:

To be (infinitive)
Be (simple form)
Being (participle)
Been (past participle)

Verb:

To go (infinitive)
Go (simple form)
Going (participle)
Gone (past participle)

Verb:

To do (infinitive)
Do (simple form)
Doing (participle)
Done (past participle)

Explanation

Participles have many functions, for example:

  • They are part of the continuous verb forms.
  • They are often used as adjectives.
  • They are sometimes used as adverbs.
  • They can be used as nouns. When they are used as nouns, they are called gerunds.
  • Certain participles can be used to describe how people feel or the causes of those feelings. For example: "interested  / interesting", "excited / exciting", "bored / boring", and "confused / confusing". ("I feel confused. It is confusing. I am bored. It is boring.")

Related Sections

Reported Speech
Gerunds
Verbs

 
   
     
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