CONTENT
Participles are verb forms that function as adjectives, nouns or as part of a compound verb tenses. They are also used to form participle clauses which shorten complex sentences.
There are three types of participles in English grammar: present, past, and perfect participle. Past participle is the third verb form in the tables of irregular verbs.
Example
Explanation
She is often hurried in the morning.
Hurried is the past participle of the verb hurry.
Usage
Rule 1: We use the past participle to form the perfect tenses.
Example
Explanation
We have lived in Nebraska since 2007.
Lived is the past participle form of the verb live used to form the present perfect tense.
Rule 2: We use the past participle to create the passive voice.
Example
Explanation
The concert was held in open air.
Was held is the passive voice created by the form of be (were) + past participle - the third form of the irregular verb hold.
Rule 3: We can use the past participle to change passive voice into participle clause.
Example
Explanation
Mrs. Smith was asked by me and then she carefully began to explain the grammar.
Asked by me, Mrs. Smith carefully began to explain the grammar.
The first sentence is an example of a complex sentence containing the passive voice. The second sentence uses the past participle to change the passive voice into the participle clause in order to make it shorter.
Rule 4: We use the past participle as an adjective to describe a feeling.
Example
Explanation
Mary looks confused by the whole situation.
The past participle confused is used as an adjective to express how Mary feels about the situation.
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Conjugation
Rule 5: To conjugate the past participle of regular verbs, we add -ed.
Here are a few examples:
- cook - cooked,
- show - showed,
- jump - jumped.
Rule 6: To conjugate the past participle of irregular verbs, you should find the correct forms in the third column of the verb tables.
Here are some of the most common English irregular verbs and their past participle forms:
| Base Form | Past Tense Form | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| go | went | gone |
| say | said | said |
| make | made | made |
| take | took | taken |
| come | came | come |
| Base Form | Past Tense Form | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| go | went | gone |
| say | said | said |
| make | made | made |
| take | took | taken |
| come | came | come |
Quiz
1/4
Form the past participle to finish the sentence. We were ___ (tell) to be quiet.
0
correct answers.