What Are Past Participles?

Participles are words formed from verbs which can be used as adjectives.
There are two types of participles:
The Past Participle
(usually ending -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n)
The Present Participle
(ending -ing)
The "ote" section on the right e!plains how to form past participles.
Examples of Past Participles Being Used As Adjectives
"ere are some e!amples of past participles being used as adjectives:
The Verb The Past Participle
To swell swollen eyes
To brea# bro#en plate
To ruin ruined ca#e
Past Participles in Participle Phrases
Past participles can often be found in participle phrases. $ participle phrase acts li#e an
adjective. %n the e!amples below, the participle phrases are shaded and the past
participles are in bold:
The boy taken to hospital has recovered.
(The participle phrase taken to hospital describes the boy.)
% have a heart racked with sorrow.
(The participle phrase wracked with sorrow describes a heart.)
Battered by the wind, &ohn fell to his #nees.
(The participle phrase "Battered by the wind describes john.)
'inally broken , (ee lowered his gloves.
(The participle phrase Finally broken describes Lee.)
)ead more about participle phrases.
!ore Examples of Past Participles Used as Adjectives
"ere are some e!amples of past participles (shaded) being used as adjectives:
"ere is a laminated copy to replace your torn one.
*tuffed deer heads on walls are bad enough, but it+s worse when they have
streamers in their antlers because then you #now they were enjoying themselves
when they were shot. (,llen -e.eneres)
$ torn jac#et is soon mended, but hard words bruise the heart of a child. ("enry
(ongfellow)
*candal is gossip made tedious by morality. (/scar 0ilde, 123451677)
The enemy is anybody who+s going to get you #illed, no matter which side he+s
on. (&oseph "eller, 16895 1666)
Past Participles Used in Verb Tenses
$s well as being used as adjectives, past participles are also used to form verb tenses.
"ere are the verb tenses (past participles shaded):
The " Past Tenses Example
simple past tense % bro#e
past progressive tense % was brea#ing
past perfect tense % had bro#en
past perfect progressive tense % had been brea#ing
The " Present Tenses Example
simple present tense % brea#
present progressive tense % am brea#ing
present perfect tense % have bro#en
present perfect progressive tense % have been brea#ing
The " #$t$re Tenses Example
simple future tense % will brea#
future progressive tense % will be brea#ing
future perfect tense % will have bro#en
future perfect progressive tense % will have been brea#ing