Word
participle
Phoneticspar·tici·ple
US/ˈpɑɹtɪˌsɪpəɫ/
UK/pɑːtˈɪsɪpəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a form of a verb that helps make tenses or works like an adjective. You see it in words like going in is going or eaten in has eaten.
n. a non-finite verb form that helps form compound tenses and can modify nouns in a way similar to adjectives. English distinguishes present participles ending in -ing and past participles often ending in -ed or -en.
Examples
“The word running is a participle in this sentence.”
“In English class we learn that broken in broken window is a past participle used as an adjective.”
“Linguists note that the participle blurs the line between verb and adjective, carrying verbal meaning while modifying nouns like an adjective does.”
Examples
simple
“The word running is a participle in this sentence.”
contextual
“In English class we learn that broken in broken window is a past participle used as an adjective.”
complex
“Linguists note that the participle blurs the line between verb and adjective, carrying verbal meaning while modifying nouns like an adjective does.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “participle” in context.
Verb
01. form participle
“Add -ed to most verbs to form the past participle.”
verb + noun
02. identify participle
“Can you identify the participle in this sentence?”
verb + noun
03. participle ends
“A present participle ends in -ing, like going or playing.”
noun + verb
04. participle functions
“In 'smiling children', the participle functions as an adjective.”
noun + verb
05. participle modifies
“In 'broken window', the participle modifies the noun window.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. dangling participle
“Walking home, the rain soaked me contains a dangling participle.”
adj + noun
07. past participle
“Eaten in 'has eaten' is the past participle of eat.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. form of participle
“Eaten is a form of the participle of eat.”
noun + prep + noun
09. avoid a dangling participle
“Rewrite the sentence to avoid a dangling participle.”
10. confuse participle with past tense
“Many learners confuse the participle with the past tense.”
11. form the past participle
“Add -en to break to form the past participle broken.”
12. participle acts as adjective
“In tired eyes, the participle acts as an adjective.”
Real-World Examples
“As the stylebook says, use the past tense or a participle in captions with a past time element.” Etymology
From Middle English participle, from Old French participle (1388), variant of participe, from Latin participium.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/participle