Participles As Adjectives
| Exercises
Participles As Adjectives Exercises |
| Participles as Adjectives
Participles are verb forms that can function as adjectives in a sentence. They modify nouns or pronouns, providing additional information about their characteristics, qualities, or states. Understanding how to use participles as adjectives correctly is important for descriptive and vivid language. In this section, we will explore the concept of participles as adjectives and provide examples to illustrate their usage.
1- Definition of Participles as Adjectives: Participles, both present (-ing form) and past (-ed or irregular form), can act as adjectives to describe or modify nouns or pronouns. They convey information about the noun or pronoun by expressing an attribute or state associated with it.
Example 1: The running water flowed smoothly. (The present participle “running” describes the noun “water.”)
2- Present Participles (-ing form): Present participles as adjectives describe ongoing or continuous qualities or characteristics of a noun or pronoun. They often convey an active or dynamic sense.
Example 2: The excited children played in the park. (The present participle “excited” describes the noun “children.”)
3- Past Participles (-ed or irregular form): Past participles as adjectives describe completed or passive qualities or characteristics of a noun or pronoun. They often convey a passive or static sense.
Example 3: The broken vase lay on the floor. (The past participle “broken” describes the noun “vase.”)
4- Verb-Adjective Agreement: Participles used as adjectives must agree with the noun or pronoun they modify in terms of number and gender.
Example 4: The tired runners crossed the finish line. (The past participle “tired” agrees with the plural noun “runners.”)
5- Placement and Placement Errors: Participles as adjectives typically come before the noun or pronoun they modify, although they can also follow the noun in certain cases for emphasis or stylistic purposes. Care should be taken to avoid misplaced or dangling participles that create confusion or ambiguity.
Example 5 (Correct): The girl wearing a blue dress smiled. (The present participle “wearing” correctly modifies the noun “girl.”)
Example 6 (Misplaced): Wearing a blue dress, the girl smiled. (The misplaced participle suggests that the girl was wearing the dress while smiling.) |
Participles As Adjectives
Conclusion: Participles used as adjectives add descriptive and vivid details to nouns or pronouns, enhancing the overall clarity and richness of language. By correctly using present and past participles, ensuring agreement with the nouns or pronouns, and avoiding placement errors, you can effectively convey specific attributes or states associated with the subject. Practice using participles as adjectives to refine your writing and speaking skills, making your descriptions more engaging and expressive. |
Exercise-1
Identify the participles in the sentences below.
| 1. Annie soldered the colored pieces of glass together. |
| 2. Many unaccompanied children regularly fly across the country. |
| 3. Briggs named his car Whistler because of the hissing sounds it makes. |
| 4. New Yorkers assume that a flashing “Don’t Walk” sign actually means “Run”. |
| 5. Helen collects sunglasses made in the 50s and 60s. |
| 6. Chip describes himself as an innocent guppy swimming among the sharks. |
| 7. Laurel came to work wearing shorts, blouse, a tailored jacket, and flat shoes. |
| 8. A barometer measures the weight of the air covering the earth’s surface. |
| 9. El Dorado was the fabled city of gold sought by early Spanish explorers in the New World. |
| 10. Heather wears adhesive bandages decorated with cartoon characters. |
Answers:
| 1. colored |
4. flashing |
7. wearing |
10. decorated |
| 2. unaccompanied |
5. made |
8. covering |
|
| 3. hissing |
6. swimming |
9. sought |
|
Examples
1- colored – participle of the verb “color”
2- unaccompanied – participle of the verb “accompany”
3- hissing – participle of the verb “hiss”
4- flashing – participle of the verb “flash”
5- made – participle of the verb “make”
6- swimming – participle of the verb “swim”
7- wearing – participle of the verb “wear”
8- covering – participle of the verb “cover”
9- sought – participle of the verb “seek”
10- decorated – participle of the verb “decorate” |
Participles As Adjectives Exercise -1
| Identify the participles in the sentences below. |
Annie soldered the colored pieces of glass together.
colored
pieces
soldered
Answer : colored
|
Many unaccompanied children regularly fly across the country.
unaccompanied
regularly
children
Answer : unaccompanied
|
Briggs named his car Whistler because of the hissing sounds it makes.
hissing
sounds
makes
Answer : hissing
|
New Yorkers assume that a flashing “Don’t Walk” sign actually means “Run”.
flashing
actually
means
Answer : flashing
|
Helen collects sunglasses made in the 50s and 60s.
made
collects
sunglasses
Answer : made
|
Chip describes himself as an innocent guppy swimming among the sharks.
swimming
describes
innocent
Answer : swimming
|
Laurel came to work wearing shorts, blouse, a tailored jacket, and flat shoes.
wearing
tailored
work
Answer : wearing
|
A barometer measures the weight of the air covering the earth’s surface.
covering
measures
weight
Answer : covering
|
El Dorado was the fabled city of gold sought by early Spanish explorers in the New World.
sought
early
explorers
Answer : sought
|
Heather wears adhesive bandages decorated with cartoon characters.
decorated
bandages
adhesive
Answer : decorated
|
|
1. colored
2. unaccompanied
3. hissing
4. flashing
5. made
6. swimming
7. wearing
8. covering
9. sought
10. decorated
Participles As Adjectives |
Participles As Adjectives
Exercise-2
Choose the word or words that best complete each sentence.
| 1. The largest (knowing/known) insects are found in tropical rain forest. |
| 2. A bill of lading is a (writing/written) receipt for goods that are sent by public transportation. |
| 3. A hummingbird’s heart beats at the (astonishing/astonished) rate of 615 beats per second. |
| 4. At the peak of the jump, a pole-vaulter performs a series of (twisting/twisted) body motions to clear the bar. |
| 5. Anyone (working/worked) under conditions that cause a heavy loss of perspiration can suffer heat exhaustion. |
| 6. A mosquito (filled/ is filled) with blood is carrying twice its own body weight. |
| 7. The state of Wisconsin has 72 counties, many (naming/named) after Indian tribes. |
| 8. Sunspots occur in cycles, with the greatest number generally (appearing/are appearing) every 11 years. |
| 9. A delta is a more-or-less triangular area of sediments (depositing/deposited) at the mouth of a river. |
| 10. William H. Kilpatrick was a philosopher and scholar now generally (regarding / regarded) as the father of progressive education. |
| 11. Drug abuse is increasing at an (alarmed/alarming) rate. |
| 12. The petition has been signed by (concerning/concerned) citizens. |
Answers :
| 1. known |
5. working |
9. deposited |
| 2. written |
6. filled |
10. regarded |
| 3. astonishing |
7. named |
11. alarming |
| 4. twisting |
8. appearing |
12. concerned |
Examples :
1- known – comparative form of the adjective “knowing”
2- written – past participle of the verb “write”
3- astonishing – adjective form of the verb “astonish”
4- twisting – present participle of the verb “twist”
5- working – present participle of the verb “work”
6- filled – past participle of the verb “fill”
7- named – past participle of the verb “name”
8- appearing – present participle of the verb “appear”
9- deposited – past participle of the verb “deposit”
10- regarded – past participle of the verb “regard”
11- alarming – adjective form of the verb “alarm”
12 -concerned – past participle of the verb “concern” |
Participles As Adjectives
Participles As Adjectives Exercise-2
Choose the word or words that best complete each sentence.
|
The largest ————– insects are found in tropical rain forest.
knowing
known
Answer : known
|
A bill of lading is a —————- receipt for goods that are sent by public transportation.
writing
written
Answer : written
|
A hummingbird’s heart beats at the —————- rate of 615 beats per second.
astonishing
astonished
Answer : astonishing
|
At the peak of the jump, a pole-vaulter performs a series of —————- body motions to clear the bar.
twisting
twisted
Answer : twisting
|
Anyone —————- under conditions that cause a heavy loss of perspiration can suffer heat exhaustion.
working
worked
Answer : working
|
A mosquito —————- with blood is carrying twice its own body weight.
filled
is filled
Answer : filled
|
The state of Wisconsin has 72 counties, many —————- after Indian tribes.
naming
named
Answer : named
|
Sunspots occur in cycles, with the greatest number generally —————- every 11 years.
appearing
are appearing
Answer : appearing
|
A delta is a more-or-less triangular area of sediments —————- at the mouth of a river.
depositing
deposited
Answer : deposited
|
William H. Kilpatrick was a philosopher and scholar now generally —————- as the father of progressive education.
regarding
regarded
Answer : regarded
|
Drug abuse is increasing at an —————- rate.
alarmed
alarming
Answer : alarming
|
The petition has been signed by —————- citizens.
concerning
concerned
Answer : concerned
|
|
1. known
2. written
3. astonishing
4. twisting
5. working
6. filled
7. named
8. appearing
9. deposited
10. regarded
11. alarming
12. concernedParticiples As Adjectives |
Exercise-3
Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
| 1 I don’t find this story (amusing/amused). |
| 2.I must have the mixer (fixing/fixed). |
| 3.My room is a mess: I really must get it (tidying/tidied) up. |
| 4.I would stay at home after such a (tiring/tired) day. |
| 5.Uncle Frank has a gentle old horse (naming/named) Pete on his farm. |
| 6. Can you smell something (burning/burned)? |
| 7. He opened the letter with (shaking/shaken) fingers. |
| 8. She had rather a (pleasing/pleased) look on her face. |
| 9. Deeply (shocking/shocked) I left them. |
| 10. When (answering/answered) your question yesterday, I forgot this fact. |
| 11. He walked along the road with his collar (turning/turned) up, hands in pockets. |
| 12. I didn’t enjoy the party because I was (boring/bored) there. |
| 13. Why not throw away the (breaking/broken) umbrella, we are not likely to repair it. |
| 14. She didn’t pay any attention to the (ringing/rung) telephone. |
| 15. Don’t you think your hair needs (cutting/cut)? |
| 16. Can you think of the name of an animal (beginning/begun) with “B”? |
Answers :
| 1. amusing |
5. named |
9. shocked |
13. broken |
| 2. fixed |
6. burning |
10. answering |
14. ringing |
| 3.tidied |
7. shaking |
11. turned |
15. cutting |
| 4. tiring |
8. pleased |
12. bored |
16. beginning |
Participles As Adjectives
|
Participles As Adjectives Exercise-3
Choose the word that best completes each sentence.
|
I don’t find this story ——-
amusing
amused
Answer : amusing
|
I must have the mixer ———- .
fixing
fixed.
Answer : fixed
|
My room is a mess: I really must get it ———– up.
tidying
tidied
Answer : tidied
|
I would stay at home after such a ————– day.
tiring
tired
Answer : tiring
|
Uncle Frank has a gentle old horse ————– Pete on his farm.
naming
named
Answer : named
|
Can you smell something ————– ?
burning
burned
Answer : burning
|
He opened the letter with ————- fingers.
shaking
shaken
Answer : shaking
|
She had rather a ————– look on her face.
pleasing
pleased
Answer : pleased
|
Deeply —————— I left them.
shocking
shocked
Answer : shocked
|
When ———— your question yesterday, I forgot this fact.
answering
answered
Answer : answering
|
He walked along the road with his collar ————— up, hands in pockets.
turning
turned
Answer : turned
|
I didn’t enjoy the party because I was —————- there.
boring
bored
Answer : bored
|
Why not throw away the umbrella, we are not likely to repair it.
breaking
broken
Answer : broken
|
She didn’t pay any attention to the ————- telephone.
ringing
rung
Answer : ringing
|
Don’t you think your hair needs ————-?
cutting
cut
Answer : cutting
|
Can you think of the name of an animal ————— with “B”?
beginning
begun
Answer : beginning
|
|
Answers
1. amusing
2. fixed
3.tidied
4. tiring
5. named
6. burning
7. shaking
8. pleased
9. shocked
10. answering
11. turned
12. bored
13. broken
14. ringing
15. cutting
16. beginningParticiples As Adjectives |
Exercise-4
Define whether the following sentences are True (T) or False (F). Correct mistakes.
| 1. By the time Joan arrived, all of the food had been ate. |
| 2. Having stolen the money, the thief ran down the street as fast as he could. |
| 3. John had gave his speech when Bob was finally able to get to the meeting. |
| 4. Wrote in 1847, the opera has never enjoyed popular success. |
| 5. The professor told the class that they should have known the correct answer. |
| 6. Claire has not wore her new coat since she came to Florida. |
| 7. Betty began to cry when she realized that her new dress was torn. |
| 8. Never having flied before, Mark was very excited as he drove to the airport. |
| 9. I would like to have rang the bell earlier. |
| 10. If he had shown the official his passport, he would not have any problems. |
| 11. She has began to look like her mother. |
| 12. That old horse has been ridden by children for years. |
| 13. I would not have did it if he had not made me nervous. |
| 14. The broke chair had only three lags. |
| 15. He claims to have hurted his leg in the game last night. |
Answers :
| 1. F, had been eaten |
9. F, … to have mng …. |
| 2. ? |
10.? |
| 3. F, had given his speech |
11 .F, She has begun …. |
| 4. F, Written in 1847… . |
12.T |
| 5. T |
13. F, I would not have done it…. |
| 6. F, has not worn |
14. F, The broken chair …. |
| 7. T |
15. F, … to have hurt his leg … . |
| 8. F, Never having flown before …. |
|
1- By the time Joan arrived, all of the food had been eaten.
2- Having stolen the money, the thief ran down the street as fast as he could.
3- John had given his speech when Bob was finally able to get to the meeting.
4- Written in 1847, the opera has never enjoyed popular success.
5- The professor told the class that they should have known the correct answer.
6- Claire has not worn her new coat since she came to Florida.
7- Betty began to cry when she realized that her new dress was torn.
8- Never having flown before, Mark was very excited as he drove to the airport.
9- I would like to have rung the bell earlier.
10- If he had shown the official his passport, he would not have any problems.
11- She has begun to look like her mother.
12- That old horse has been ridden by children for years.
13- I would not have done it if he had not made me nervous.
14- The broken chair had only three legs.
15- He claims to have hurt his leg in the game last night.
Participles As Adjectives Exercise -4
|
| Define whether the following sentences are True or False Correct mistakes. |
By the time Joan arrived, all of the food had been ate.
True
False
Answer : False
had been eaten
|
Having stolen the money, the thief ran down the street as fast as he could.
True
False
Answer :
|
John had gave his speech when Bob was finally able to get to the meeting.
True
False
Answer : False
had given his speech
|
Wrote in 1847, the opera has never enjoyed popular success.
True
False
Answer : False
Written in 1847 —– .
|
The professor told the class that they should have known the correct answer.
True
False
Answer : True
|
Claire has not wore her new coat since she came to Florida.
True
False
Answer : False
has not worn
|
Betty began to cry when she realized that her new dress was torn.
True
False
Answer : True
|
Never having flied before, Mark was very excited as he drove to the airport.
True
False
Answer : False
Never having flown before ——
|
I would like to have rang the bell earlier.
True
False
Answer : False
—- to have mng —– .
|
If he had shown the official his passport, he would not have any problems.
True
False
Answer :
|
She has began to look like her mother.
True
False
Answer : False
She has begun —— .
|
That old horse has been ridden by children for years.
True
False
Answer : True
|
I would not have did it if he had not made me nervous.
True
False
Answer : False
I would not have done it —– .
|
The broke chair had only three lags.
True
False
Answer : False
The broken chair —- .
|
He claims to have hurted his leg in the game last night.
True
False
Answer : False
—- to have hurt his leg —– .
|
|
| Participles As Adjectives |