Participle (Noun)
Meaning
A non-finite form of the verb; in English it is used adjectivally and to form compound tenses.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The present participle of the verb "run" is "running", which can be used as an adjective to describe a person or thing that is currently running.
- The past participle of the verb "eat" is "eaten", which is used to form the present perfect tense, as in "I have eaten breakfast".
- In the sentence "The sun was setting", "setting" is a present participle used to form the past continuous tense.
- The verb "write" has two past participles, "written" and "wrote", which are used in different contexts to form the present perfect and simple past tenses.
- The phrase "having eaten" is a present participle phrase used to form the present perfect continuous tense, as in "Having eaten dinner, I went for a walk".