Participle Phrases

What Are Participle Phrases? (with Examples)

A participle phrase is an adjective phrase that starts with a participle. Look at this example:

Participle Phrases Can Start with Past Participles or Present Participles

Participles are used as adjectives. There are two types of participles: Look at these examples:
The VerbThe Present ParticipleThe Past ParticipleExample of a Participle Phrase
To risethe rising sunthe risen sun Rising out of the sea in front of us, the sun started to warm our faces.
To printthe printing documentthe printed document Printed on the very first press, the document was extremely valuable.
To breakthe breaking newsthe broken news Broken by a government whistle-blower, the news is all over the media.

Placement of Participle Phrases

A participle phrase will often appear at the start of a sentence to describe something in the main clause. For example: A participle phrase can also appear immediately after whatever it's modifying. For example: It is also possible to use a participle phrase at the end of a clause and not immediately after whatever it's modifying. For example:

Beware of Dangling Modifiers and Misplaced Modifiers

Particularly when using a participle phrase at the start of a sentence, be sure to place the noun being modified directly after the comma. If you fail to do this, you will have made a mistake known as a misplaced modifier. For example: Also, be sure to include the noun being modified. If you omit it, you will have made a mistake known as a dangling modifier. For example:

A Quick Test



Help Us To Improve English Grammar Lessons
Please tell us using this form.

See Also

What are adjective phrases? What are participles? What are present participles? What are past participles? What are misplaced modifiers? What are dangling modifiers? Glossary of grammatical terms