What is past participle and present participle?

Answer 1

PAST PARTICIPLEEvery verb in English has a past participle form. (except modals)

FORM

With regular verbs the past participle is formed by adding -ed to the basic form of the verb.

• walk - walked, play - played, talk - talked

With irregular verbs the past participle is formed in different ways:

• know - known, come - came, drink - drank.

USAGE

The past participle is used:

1. in perfect verb phrases: has walked, have waited, had come
2. in passive verb phrases: am known, are drunk, was eaten, were found
3. as an adjective: baked bread, stolenmoney, worn shoes, an interested person.

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PRESENT PARTICIPLE

FORM

The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the basic form of the verb.

• walk - walking, play - playing, be - being

USAGE

The present participle is not only used when referring to the present. It is also used when referring to the past or the future. The present participle form is also used in different parts of speech:

1. verb forms, to make perfect, passive and continuous (progressive) verb forms with the auxiliary verbs have and be:

• I have been thinking... / Having been invited by the chairman to attend this meeting at this, I ... / He was eating his breakfast... / They will be arriving...

2. as adjectives: the walking injured, a pack of playing cards, an aging population, an interesting* person.

* n.b. The 'present participle' (-ing) form is used as the adjective when describing people or things that causefeelings, NOT the past participle form.

Compare this usage in the following examples:

• 'a boring teacher' (present participle)
• 'a bored student' (past participle).

3. in clauses:

• Can you see that man sitting on the grass?
• Having lost all my money, I ...
• Being naturally cautious, I ...

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