participle

American  

[pahr-tuh-sip-uhl] / ˈpɑr təˌsɪp əl /

noun

Grammar.

1. a form derived from a verb, used in English as an adjective to express participation in the action or state of the verb, or combined with an auxiliary verb to construct any of various tenses, as in a burning candle, a known fact, I am freezing, She has gone: a participle does not specify person or number, but may have a subject or object, show tense, etc.

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participle British  

/ ˈpɑːtɪsɪpəl, ˌpɑːtɪˈsɪpɪəl, pɑːˈtɪsɪpəl /

noun

1. a nonfinite form of verbs, in English and other languages, used adjectivally and in the formation of certain compound tenses See also present participle past participle

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participle Cultural  

1. The verb form that combines with an auxiliary verb to indicate certain tenses. The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the infinitive; it indicates present action: “The girl is swimming”; “I am thinking.” (Compare gerund.) The past participle usually ends in -ed; it indicates completed or past action: “The gas station has closed”; “The mayor had spoken.” Participles may also function as adjectives: “Your mother is a charming person”; “This is a talking parrot”; “Spoken words cannot be revoked.”

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Grammar

See dangling participle, misplaced modifier.

Discover More

A “dangling” participle is one that is not clearly connected to the word it modifies: “Standing at the corner, two children walked past me.” A better version of this example would be, “While I was standing at the corner, two children walked past me.”

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• participially
  adverb
• participial
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of participle

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, variant of participe, from Latin participium, derivative of particeps “taking part,” from parti- (stem of pars “piece, portion”; see part) + -ceps “taking” (combining form of capere “to take”)

Compare meaning

How does participle compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• gerund vs. participle

Explanation

A participle is a verb that acts like an adjective, like a running leap, scorned lover, or boiled egg. This is a technical word that will come up when you're studying grammar or linguistics. From a Greek root meaning “partaker,” a participle wants to partake of both the verb and adjective worlds. If you said, "I need a running start!" before a race, running is a participle. If you notice a trapped bear, trapped is the participle. This is a word that is a little confusing to understand, even though you use participles all the time.

Example Sentences

The Active is formed by combining the Future Active Participle with the auxiliary sum, the Passive by combining the Gerundive with the same auxiliary.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)

The Past or Passive Participle is formed by adding es to the root, with or without modification of the root vowel.

From A Handbook of the Cornish Language chiefly in its latest stages with some account of its history and literature by Jenner, Henry

But when the verb ends in a mute, whether plain or aspirated, there is no such coalescence between its final consonant and the adjected t of the Participle.

From Elements of Gaelic Grammar by Stewart, Alexander

The Present Participle is sometimes employed with Conative force; as,— assurgentem rēgem resupīnat, as the king was trying to rise, he threw him down.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)

Here the Participle is often equivalent to a subordinate clause.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)