Download English I Pre AP Language: Grammar Verbal Practice A participle is

English I Pre AP Language: Grammar Verbal Practice A participle is a verbal that always acts as an adjective. The past participle is formed by adding –d or –ed, -­‐-­‐en or –t to the present tense. walk—walked smile—smiled The past participles of irregular verbs do not add –ed, so these participles have to be learned separately: think—
thought; do—done. The present participle is formed by adding –ing to the present tense of any verb. walk—walking think—thinking Because past and present participles are used as adjectives, they modify nouns or pronouns. Stumbling, Larry fell against the door. (Stumbling is a present participle modifying the noun Larry.) The shocked woman couldn’t speak. (Shocked is the past participle modifying the noun woman.) Identifying Participles Underline the participle in each sentence. Circle the noun or pronoun that it modifies. Example: Alarmed, Bernie called the police. 1. The plane, veering wildly, almost crashed to the ground. 2. Finished, the artists cleaned their brushes. 3. After his long run, Victor fell to the ground, exhausted. 4. Moving effortlessly, the skaters danced across the ice. 5. Crossing the old bridge, she passed the village store and the stable. 6. Breathing deeply, Nan bent her knees and lifted the box. 7. Leaving, Doug promised, “I’ll be back.” 8. The postal clerk, hurrying, placed the mail in the wrong pile. 9. The promised troops did not arrive until it was too late. 10. The workers smelled smoke, and, alarmed, they fled the factory. 11. The most spectacular ride at the amusement park was called the Screaming Eagle. 12. Laughing, the children dashed onto the playground. 13. Cheering crowds welcomed home the winning team. 14. The ballads, sung rather than spoken, were very impressive. English I Pre AP Language: Grammar Verbal Practice Because participles are formed with verbs, they can have objects and be modified by adverbs. The participle with its objects and modifiers forms a participial phrase. Answering the telephone, Beth looked anxious. (Answering the telephone is a participial phrase modifying Beth; telephone is the object of the participle answering.) Moving silently, the tiger advanced. (Moving silently is ta participial phrase modifying tiger; silently is an adverb modifying the participle moving.) Identifying Participles Underline the participial phrase in each sentence. Circle the noun or pronoun that is modified. Remember, participles are always used as adjectives. Example Dana, grinning happily, told us the news. 1. The art students, brought by bus, toured the museum. 2. You should be careful programming a computer. 3. The antique desk, collecting dust in a corner, is priceless. 4. Holding her torch aloft, the Statue of Liberty welcomes newcomers to the United States of America. 5. Graduation came at last, eagerly awaited by all the students. 6. The letter, damaged in the mail, finally reached its destination. 7. Completed in record time, the new building was open for inspection. 8. The game show contestant, thinking intently about the question, seemed unaware that time had expired. 9. Carefully opening a letter that had no return address, the bank secretary removed a large check made out to the fund for abandoned pets. 10. Hiking briskly, we reached the mountain pass by noon. 11. We watched the goldfish swimming lazily in the pool under the bridge. 12. The old flag, battered by wind and weather, was finally replaced. 13. The ingredients needed for the pancakes are on the table. 14. No phone number was mentioned in the message left on the answering machine. English I Pre AP Language: Grammar Verbal Practice A gerund is a verb form used as a noun. The gerund is formed by adding –ing to the present tense of the verb. Gerunds can be used in all the ways nouns are used. A gerund can be used as a subject, a direct object, a predicate word, or an object of a preposition. Jogging is a popular form of exercise. (Jogging is the subject of the sentence.) Anne enjoys snowmobiling. (Snowmobiling is the direct object of the transitive verb enjoys.) The pencils for drawing are on the easel. (Drawing is the object of the preposition for.) Identifying Gerunds Underline the gerund in each sentence. Then, identify the function of the gerund in each sentence. Example Painting can be enjoyable. 1. Pueblo women are expert at weaving. 2. In many cultures, farming is considered the work of women. 3. At the resort, you can enjoy snorkeling and canoeing. 4. Smoking can affect the health of both smokers and their families. 5. Many hobbies are merely different forms of collecting. 6. Kneeling is difficult for those with arthritis or bursitis. 7. “The key to winning,” said the coach, “is your attitude.” 8. The school office distributes the forms of ordering. 9. For those who work at it, cooking can be an art form. 10. If you enjoy writing, many careers are possible. 11. Swimming, like other sports, requires skill and coordination. 12. Follow the recipe so you won’t have to rely on guessing.