Participial Phrases

Question 1

What is a participle?

Answer 1

• verbals that function as ADJs
• modify N/PRO by

ING - The dancing cat - The cat, dancing is too busy to chase gerbals - Dancing, the cat wears top shoes

D/ED - The tired cat - the cat, tired, is too busy to chase gerbals - tired, the cat wears top shoes, the frightened cat, the cat, frightened, is too busy to chase gerbals

Having + verb - The protector, having picketed, moved on to marching

Having been + v - Having been arrested, the protestor called her lawyer

Question 2

What is the formula for a participial phrase?

Answer 2

Question 3

Find the participle or participial phrase in the following sentences;

1. The dancing cat yodeled
2. The happily dancing cat yodeled
3. The cat dancing a merry jig is my favorite

Answer 3

1. There is not participial phrase, but there is a participle Dancing is an ADJ modifies cat by “Which one?”
2. “Happily (ADV) dancing (PART)” is a participial phrase mod dancing to tell “How.” The whole phrase modifies cat by “Which one?”
3. “Dancing (PART) a merry (ADJ) jig (DO)” is a participial phrase mod cat by “which one”

Question 4

Find the participle or participial phrase in the following sentences;

1. The cat happily dancing an Irish jig fell down
2. The cat dancing in the rain got sick
3. Can participial phrases be in the past tense?

Answer 4

1. “Happily (ADV) dancing (PART) an Irish (ADJ) jig (OBJ)” is a participial phrase that mod cat by “which one”
2. “Dancing (PART) in the rain (ADV prep phrase)” is a participial phrase modifying cat by “which one”
3. Yes! Irregular forms of a participial phrase will be in past tense

Question 5

What is an absolute phrase?

How often are these seen?

Can they have commas?

Answer 5

• contains a participial phrase
• modifies an independent clause
• explains the circumstance under which something else occurs

They are not that common, but will be on test

They can have commas or no commas