grammar and style: participles as adjectives
a participle is a verb form that can act as an adjective. when it does, it generally answers
the question what kind? or which one? about the noun or pronoun it modifies. present partici-
ples are formed by adding -ing to a verb. in this sentence, the present participle moaning modi-
fies the noun boughs:
the moaning boughs swayed.
past participles are usually formed by adding -ed to a verb. if the verb already ends in silent
e, you drop the e before adding -ed. in the following sentences, the past participle sharpened
modifies the noun face, and the past participle baffled modifies the noun wind. note that baffled
is a predicate adjective following a linking verb, seemed.
i turned a sharpened face to the cold. the north wind seemed baffled.
some past participles are formed irregularly. these irregular forms often end in n or t. in the
following sentence, the irregular past participles blown and burnt both modify the noun leaves.
the leaves, burnt and blown, covered the ground.
a. practice: for each sentence below, underline the participle being used as an adjective, and
circle the noun or pronoun that it modifies. if it is a present participle, write present on the line
before the number. if it is a past participle, write past. if the sentence contains no participles
used as adjectives, write none on the line before the sentence.
1. it seemed to tell of pisas leaning miracle.
2. the cock his lusty greeting said, and forth his speckled harem led.
3. we minded that the sharpest ear the buried brooklet could not hear.
4. our own warm hearth seemed blazing free.
5. the hill range stood transfigured in the silver flood.
6. its blown snows flashed cold and keen.
b. writing application: for the first four items below, describe each noun with a past or
present participle. for the next four items, turn each verb into a past or present participle and
use it to describe a noun of your choice.
nouns
1. book
2. rain
3. sky
4. child
verbs
5. to soothe
6. to conquer
7. to burn
8. to drape

Question

grammar and style: participles as adjectives
a participle is a verb form that can act as an adjective. when it does, it generally answers
the question what kind? or which one? about the noun or pronoun it modifies. present partici-
ples are formed by adding -ing to a verb. in this sentence, the present participle moaning modi-
fies the noun boughs:
the moaning boughs swayed.
past participles are usually formed by adding -ed to a verb. if the verb already ends in silent
e, you drop the e before adding -ed. in the following sentences, the past participle sharpened
modifies the noun face, and the past participle baffled modifies the noun wind. note that baffled
is a predicate adjective following a linking verb, seemed.
i turned a sharpened face to the cold. the north wind seemed baffled.
some past participles are formed irregularly. these irregular forms often end in n or t. in the
following sentence, the irregular past participles blown and burnt both modify the noun leaves.
the leaves, burnt and blown, covered the ground.
a. practice: for each sentence below, underline the participle being used as an adjective, and
circle the noun or pronoun that it modifies. if it is a present participle, write present on the line
before the number. if it is a past participle, write past. if the sentence contains no participles
used as adjectives, write none on the line before the sentence.
1. it seemed to tell of pisas leaning miracle.
2. the cock his lusty greeting said, and forth his speckled harem led.
3. we minded that the sharpest ear the buried brooklet could not hear.
4. our own warm hearth seemed blazing free.
5. the hill range stood transfigured in the silver flood.
6. its blown snows flashed cold and keen.
b. writing application: for the first four items below, describe each noun with a past or
present participle. for the next four items, turn each verb into a past or present participle and
use it to describe a noun of your choice.
nouns
1.  book
2.  rain
3.  sky
4.  child
verbs
5. to soothe
6. to conquer
7. to burn
8. to drape

Accepted Answer

### Part A (Practice)

#### 1. It seemed to tell of Pisa’s leaning miracle.
# Explanation:
## Step1: Identify the participle.
The word "leaning" is a present participle (formed by adding -ing to "lean") and modifies "miracle".
## Step2: Determine the type.
Since it's a present participle, we write "present". Underline "leaning" and circle "miracle".
# Answer:
present; Underline: leaning; Circle: miracle

#### 2. The cock his lusty greeting said, and forth his speckled harem led.
# Explanation:
## Step1: Identify the participle.
"Speckled" is a past participle (formed by adding -ed to "speckle", irregular? Or regular? Anyway, it modifies "harem").
## Step2: Determine the type.
It's a past participle, so write "past". Underline "speckled" and circle "harem".
# Answer:
past; Underline: speckled; Circle: harem

#### 3. We minded that the sharpest ear the buried brooklet could not hear.
# Explanation:
## Step1: Identify the participle.
"Buried" is a past participle (formed by adding -ed to "bury") and modifies "brooklet".
## Step2: Determine the type.
It's a past participle, so write "past". Underline "buried" and circle "brooklet".
# Answer:
past; Underline: buried; Circle: brooklet

#### 4. Our own warm hearth seemed blazing free.
# Explanation:
## Step1: Identify the participle.
"Blazing" is a present participle (formed by adding -ing to "blaze") and modifies "hearth".
## Step2: Determine the type.
It's a present participle, so write "present". Underline "blazing" and circle "hearth".
# Answer:
present; Underline: blazing; Circle: hearth

#### 5. The hill range stood transfigured in the silver flood.
# Explanation:
## Step1: Identify the participle.
"Transfigured" is a past participle (formed by adding -ed to "transfigure", or irregular? It modifies "hill range").
## Step2: Determine the type.
It's a past participle, so write "past". Underline "transfigured" and circle "hill range".
# Answer:
past; Underline: transfigured; Circle: hill range

#### 6. Its blown snows flashed cold and keen.
# Explanation:
## Step1: Identify the participle.
"Blown" is an irregular past participle (of "blow") and modifies "snows".
## Step2: Determine the type.
It's a past participle, so write "past". Underline "blown" and circle "snows".
# Answer:
past; Underline: blown; Circle: snows

### Part B (Writing Application)

#### Nouns

##### 1. ______ book
# Explanation:
## Step1: Choose a participle.
Let's use a present participle, e.g., "interesting" (but wait, "interesting" is a present participle? Or "reading"? Wait, the task is to describe the noun with a past or present participle. Let's use "interesting" (present participle) or "read" (past participle, "read" as in "a read book" – but "read" is past participle of "read"). Let's pick "interesting" (present) or "read" (past). Let's go with "interesting" (present) for "book".
## Step2: Fill in the blank.
Write "interesting" before "book".
# Answer:
interesting book

##### 2. ______ rain
# Explanation:
## Step1: Choose a participle.
Let's use "pouring" (present participle, "pouring rain") or "soaked" (past, but "soaked" for rain? Maybe "pouring" (present) or "dripping" (present). Let's pick "pouring".
## Step2: Fill in the blank.
Write "pouring" before "rain".
# Answer:
pouring rain

##### 3. ______ sky
# Explanation:
## Step1: Choose a participle.
Let's use "blazing" (present, "blazing sky" – like a sky with a blazing sun) or "cloudless" – no, "cloudless" is an adjective, not a participle. Wait, "blazing" (present) or "painted" (past, "painted sky" – like a sky painted by the sunset). Let's pick "blazing".
## Step2: Fill in the blank.
Write "blazing" before "sky".
# Answer:
blazing sky

##### 4. ______ child
# Explanation:
## Step1: Choose a participle.
Let's use "laughing" (present, "laughing child") or "spoiled" (past, "spoiled child"). Let's pick "laughing".
## Step2: Fill in the blank.
Write "laughing" before "child".
# Answer:
laughing child

#### Verbs

##### 5. to soothe ______
# Explanation:
## Step1: Convert the verb to a participle.
"To soothe" can be made into a present participle "soothing" or past participle "soothed". Let's pick "soothing" (present) or "soothed" (past). Let's use "soothing" and describe a noun, e.g., "a soothing song".
## Step2: Fill in the blank and describe a noun.
Write "soothing" and then use it to describe a noun, e.g., "soothing song".
# Answer:
soothing; soothing song

##### 6. to conquer ______
# Explanation:
## Step1: Convert the verb to a participle.
"To conquer" can be "conquering" (present) or "conquered" (past). Let's pick "conquering" (present) and describe a noun, e.g., "a conquering army".
## Step2: Fill in the blank and describe a noun.
Write "conquering" and then use it to describe a noun, e.g., "conquering army".
# Answer:
conquering; conquering army

##### 7. to burn ______
# Explanation:
## Step1: Convert the verb to a participle.
"To burn" can be "burning" (present) or "burnt" (past). Let's pick "burning" (present) and describe a noun, e.g., "a burning fire".
## Step2: Fill in the blank and describe a noun.
Write "burning" and then use it to describe a noun, e.g., "burning fire".
# Answer:
burning; burning fire

##### 8. to drape ______
# Explanation:
## Step1: Convert the verb to a participle.
"To drape" can be "draping" (present) or "draped" (past). Let's pick "draped" (past) and describe a noun, e.g., "a draped curtain".
## Step2: Fill in the blank and describe a noun.
Write "draped" and then use it to describe a noun, e.g., "draped curtain".
# Answer:
draped; draped curtain

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QUESTION IMAGE

Question

Explanation:

Part A (Practice)

1. It seemed to tell of Pisa’s leaning miracle.

Step1: Identify the participle.

Step2: Determine the type.

Step1: Identify the participle.

Step2: Determine the type.

Step1: Identify the participle.

Step2: Determine the type.

Answer:

2. The cock his lusty greeting said, and forth his speckled harem led.