Dear friends! As you all have some problems using participles, I decided to post this blog as I had promised. First, I will tell you some theory. In fact, you can read it in any grammar book, but I will try to make a long story short. So, let’s proceed!
The participle is a part of speech combining the features of a verb and an adjective/adverb. In English there is The Participle I and The Participle II. They fulfill different functions in a sentence.
The Participle I has the following forms:
| The Active Voice | The Passive Voice |
Simple | teaching | being taught |
Perfect | having taught | having been taught |
In a sentence, the participle I is used as a modifier of action. The perfect forms are used when the action defined by the participle preceded the action defined by the predicate. If both actions are simultaneous, we use the simple form:
Looking at her he couldn’t help smiling. (He couldn’t help smiling while he was looking at her).
Having expressed his opinion, he left. (When he had expressed his opinion, he left).
The Participle II has the following forms:
| The Active Voice | The Passive Voice |
Present | seeing | being seen |
Past | ------ | seen |
The participle II is used as an adjective, i.e., a definition of a noun. The present active and the past passive forms can be used before a noun:
I couldn’t go to sleep because of a crying baby (a baby who was crying).
A stolen car hasn’t been found, yet. (A car that was stolen hasn’t been found)
The present passive form as well as two others followed by some words should be used after a noun:
The film showed on TV yesterday was great. (The film that was showed on TV yesterday was great)
The warmth being felt was coming from the heaters hidden in the walls. (The warmth that was felt was coming from the heaters hidden in the walls).
I saw a boy eating an ice cream. (I saw a boy who was eating an ice cream).
And now, I propose you a test to practice a little. Sure, I will explain all your mistakes and answer all your questions. In the test, you should replace the underlined subordinate clauses with the appropriate forms of the participle (where it is possible) and place them correctly.
- The man who was standing in the lobby was a participant of the contest.
- Children who play are usually very noisy.
- The woman who is playing the piano is my friend.
- The woman who played the piano yesterday is my friend.
- The movies that are shot by Hollywood are always interesting.
- The scholar who has written this article is abroad now.
- After he had read a new fiction, he shared with us his opinion about it.
- As I knew him well, I didn’t ask any questions.
- When we came to the stadium, we saw the game had already begun.
- The house that is being constructed hasn’t been finished, yet.
- We were sitting around the fire that was burning brightly.
- The fiction that has been published recently was written two years ago.
- The people who were slowly walking towards suddenly stopped.
- Be careful when you drive in the rainy weather.
- The wallet that was found has to be returned to the owner.
Let the deadline be May 25, OK?
Good luck!
Comments
Go ahead, dear! I am here to asnwer learners' questions!
Thank you, Danny, for your explanation. I got it.
Even logically your sentences sound better.
Hahaha. Danny, I hope you are not tired of my questions.
Believe me, I have many of them.
Dear Lana, as Tanya is really very busy these days, let me answer your question.
Some of your sentences are correct but not all.
4. Yes, you can say so but it is better to use a participle
The woman (who was) playing the piano yesterday is my friend.
6. No, it is incorrect. It must be
The scholar who has written this article is abroad now.
9. Yes, this sentence is correct.
12. It is correct, too.
13. Yes, you can say so but the participle is better:
The people (who were )walking towards suddenly stopped.
Sure, you can ask your questions if you have any.
Dear Tanya,
Thank you so much for this great lesson. I tried to take your test and almost passed it successfully.
Dear, I would like to know may I write these sentences in this way?
4.The woman who was playing the piano yesterday is my friend.
6.The scholar written this article is abroad now.
9. After coming to the stadium, we saw the game had already begun.
10.The constructed house hasn’t been finished, yet.
12.The fiction written two years ago has been published recently.
13.The people who were walking towards suddenly stopped.
I know you are too busy now and I will be waiting for answers paciently.
Thank you in advance. )))
Here are the correct answers! I am so sorry for the bad connection during this week.
Thank you all for taking an active part! I hope such tests help you improve your knowledge a little. Of course, you may ask me any questions in this connection as well as any others.
Dear Oporazita! I am happy you have given it a try! In fact, all our lives we learn from our mistakes, but if we don't make them, we will never know anything for sure!
So, here are your mistakes: 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14. As you see, there are not so many and if you read my explanations more carefully, you will be able to correct them all. Will you do it, please?
Hello Tanya,
I’m weak in english grammar but I’ve trying to solve these.
10. The house having constructing hasn’t been finished, yet.
11. We were sitting around the brightly burning fire.
12. The recently published fiction was written two years ago.
13. The slowly walking people were suddenly stopped.
14. Be careful to driving in the rainy weather.
15. The found wallet has to be returned to the owner.
Dear Shoba! Everything is correct now! Thank you!
Dear Afro! Will be waiting for your reply
Thank you for your kind comment, dear Teacher Tanya.
4. The woman who played the piano yesterday is my friend.
9. Having come to the stadium, we saw the game had already begun.
11. We were sitting around brightly burning fire.
-
1
-
2
-
3
of 3 Next