|
|
par·ti·ci·ple
 participle
|
|
- pronunciation:
- par
tih
sI
p
 l
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun)
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
in grammar, a verb form that combines with certain auxiliary verbs ("be" or "have") to give a verb in a sentence a particular aspect, either "perfect" or "progressive," or voice, either "active" or "passive." Participles can also serve the function of adjectives.
In the sentence "I have been here an hour," the past participle "been" combines with "have" to create the present perfect form of the verb.In the sentence "The children are being very good today," the present participle "being" combines with "are" to create the present progressive form of the verb.In the sentence, "I was forbidden to enter that room," the past participle "forbidden" combines with "was" to create a passive form of the verb.In the sentence "They entered the forbidden room," the past participle "forbidden" is being used as an adjective, just as it is used in the phrase "forbidden fruit."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|