esson 7: Dangling and Misplac Partic What Is a Participle? There are two kinds of participles: Present participles always end in -ing (e.g., col- liding, writing, swimming, eating, fighting). Past participles often end in -ed or -en, but not always (e.g,, collided, written, swum, eaten, fought). A participle is a verb form used when the verb is a phrase with a helping verb, as in the following sentences: Iwas walking through the lobby. We had been talking for over an hour. Thave not yet begun to fight. The chairs were pushed against the wall. Participles as Verbs or Adjectives A participle can be used as a verb part (with a helping verb), as in He is writing his term paper or They have taken the car. It can also be used as an adjective, as in Don't trust a smiling salesman or I like frozen treats. Don't confuse present participles with gerunds. They look the same, but they play very differ- ent roles. Present participles act as verb parts or adjectives (as above), but gerunds act as nouns, as in Writing is harder than it looks. (Writing is the subject of the verb is, so it is a noun anda gerund.) Dan: ig and Misplaced Participial Phrases A participial phrase is a modifying phrase that includes a participle. Such a phrase always de- scribes something, so it acts like an adjective or adverb. It is usually separated from the main emetOk thie sexitonine let Gar or cies Corn, Wrong: After having stud professor postpon. Friday. The participial phrase modifi had studied all night? Certain sor, so the modifying phrase a One way to correct a dangling to place the correct noun ne: phrase: Better: After having studic frustraied to learn i had postponed the (I answers the qu studied?) Another way is to incorporat participial phrase, turning i clause: Better: After I had studi. professor postpon. Friday. Every participial phrase shou possible to the word it modifi: sounds as if it modifies the “misplaced” and must be mov Wrong: = Bob found his we the bathroom. Was the watch walking? Of cc participial phrase is misplace: Better: Walking to the found his watch. Also good: Bob found his w walking to the ba Wrong: It was difficult for the announcement. train.