Participial Phrase

Definition of a Participial Phrase

To understand participial phrases, you need to first understand the definition of phrases.

That's simple enough. Two other important terms to understand are the verb phrase and the adjective phrase. A participle phrase is similar to both. Here's a quick refresher:

• A verb is a word that describes an action or a state of being.
• A verb phrase is a phrase made up of modifiers and a verb.
• An adjective is a word that adds information to a noun phrase, answering questions of which one, what kind, and how many.
• An adjective phrase is a phrase made up of an adjective and optional modifiers.
• A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that provides extra information about a particular word.

Now you're ready to define a participial phrase.

You may have noticed in this definition that a participial phrase is also called a participle phrase. The two terms have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. You'll see both terms in this explanation.

What is a Participle?

The definition of a participial phrase doesn't make much sense if you don't know what a participle is! Here is the definition:

Basically, a participle is a verb-turned-adjective. That means that a participle can be difficult to distinguish from a normal verb.

Fig. 1 - A rejected sandwich.

Both sentences include the word rejected.

In the first example, rejected is preceded by a helping verb (was) and explains what the sentence says about the sandwich. These are classic traits of a verb.

In the second example, rejected describes the noun sandwich, answering the question of what kind of sandwich? These are telltale traits of an adjective.

Examples of Participial Phrases

There are two main types of participial phrases: present participial phrases and past participial phrases. Here are some examples of both types.

Present Participial Phrase

In English, present participles take the form of verbs ending in -ing. This is the same form that verbs take in the present progressive tense.

The present progressive verb and the present participle take the same form: smiling. In the first example, smiling answers the question of what was the baby doing? This signals a verb. In the second, smiling answers the question of which baby? This signals an adjective.

Another grammar concept similar to the present participle is the gerund. While a present participle is a present progressive verb used as an adjective, a gerund is a present progressive verb used as a noun.

Because they take the same forms, these parts of speech are sometimes difficult to tell apart. To tell whether a word is a present progressive verb, present participle, or gerund, ask yourself, "does this word behave like a verb, an adjective, or a noun?"

Fig. 2 - The smiling baby is a present participial phrase.

Past Participial Phrase

Past participles in English take the same form as a verb in the simple past tense. These are typically verbs that end in -t, -ed, or -d.

In the first example, written well follows a helping verb and explains what the sentence says about the play, signaling a verb phrase. In the second, well-written precedes play and answers the question, what kind of play? This signals an adjective.

How Do You Identify Participial Phrases in a Sentence?

The previous examples have involved isolated participial phrases. But how would you recognize a participial phrase within a complete sentence?

There are a few hints that can help you to identify a participial phrase in contrast to a verb phrase.

• A helping verb (like am, is, was, are, were, etc.) can precede a verb, but not a participle. If the phrase connects to a helping verb, it's not a participial phrase.

• A verb phrase explains what the subject does or is. A participle phrase describes the subject.

• A sentence can consist of just a subject and a verb phrase, but it cannot consist of just a subject and a participle phrase.

Try following these hints with this example.

In one of these sentences, the phrase troubled by the disturbing news is a participial phrase. In the other, it is part of a verb phrase. Use the three hints to find out which is which.

• Does the phrase follow a helping verb?In sentence 1, troubled by the disturbing news follows the helping verb were. This hints at a verb phrase.In sentence 2, troubled by the disturbing news does not follow a helping verb. This hints that this is not a verb phrase.
• Does it explain what the subject does or is? Does it describe the subject?In sentence 1, troubled by the disturbing news explains what the subject is. In other words, troubled by the disturbing news is what they are.In sentence 2, the phrase doesn't explain what they do or what they are. Instead, it provides an additional description of the subject they.
• Does the phrase form a full sentence when paired with the subject, or does it require another phrase?The two main elements of sentence 1 are they and were troubled by the disturbing news. Sentence 2 also contains those two elements, but includes another: sat in complete silence. If you dropped this phrase, sentence 2 would read, they, troubled by the disturbing news. Sentence 2 needs the additional verb phrase, sat in complete silence.

The three hints suggest that the phrase troubled by the disturbing news is a verb phrase in sentence 1 and a participial phrase in sentence 2. If you're ever unsure whether a phrase is a participial phrase or a verb phrase, work through these questions to come to a conclusion.

Introductory Participial Phrases

You've seen some examples of participle phrases in the middle of a sentence and at the end of a sentence. Now for a new category: introductory participial phrases.

Here are some examples of sentences with introductory participial phrases.

The first phrase in this sentence, squinting into the sunlight, is a present participial phrase. The primary action in this sentence is emerged from the vault. The participial phrase describes the subject, Nora.

This is another example of an introductory participial phrase. The main message of the sentence is that Luisa was able to go home early. The introductory participial phrase, having already finished her tasks, adds an extra description to the proper noun, Luisa.

You might notice from these examples that an introductory participial phrase has to be followed by a comma. While a comma is often optional with other participial phrases, it is necessary in an introductory participial phrase. The comma separates the introductory participle phrase from the rest of the sentence.

Uses of a Participial Phrase

Participial phrases function as adjectives. Just like simple adjectives, they add valuable information to noun phrases.

A participle phrase can sometimes allow for a more interesting, informative, and rich description than an adjective can provide. Take a look at this example:

The participle phrase fighting back tears communicates more emotion than the adjective sadly.

Fig. 3 - Poe uses particle phrases in "The Raven."

Speaking of communicating emotion, participial phrases can also play a powerful role in poetry. This excerpt from "The Raven" (1845) by Edgar Allen Poe contains a very long participial phrase:

The main substance of this sentence is long I stood there. Everything else is part of a participle phrase!

One purpose of these long participial phrases is to maintain the rhyme. The participles peering, fearing, and dreaming extend a constant rhyme, helping the lines to flow in a natural and interesting pattern.

Another purpose of the participial phrases is to create sustained tension. They keep the narration continuous and incessant. The reader is constantly stuck in the moment of the narrator's fear. These repetitive participles appear throughout the entire poem, maintaining the tension until the final lines.