A recent blog post discussed the different functions that a participle ending in -ing can have. More confusion may arise when a participle ends in -ed. A past participle is formed by adding the suffix -ed to the simple present form of a regular verb: splash + ed = splashed. The past participles of irregular verbs must be memorized or found in the dictionary: take–taken, go–gone, sing–sung. This confusion over identifying adjectives and verbs usually occurs when the participle follows a helping verb that is a be verb.
Let’s look at some sentences for examples. What are these participles doing?
For years, she had longed to visit the city.
He has taken the garbage out.
The boy was frightened.
The toddler appears tired.
When a participle follows a helping verb, the participle is a verb and expresses action.
For years, she had longed to visit the city.
He has taken the garbage out.
When a participle follows a linking verb, the participle is an adjective and describes the subject. A participle-adjective may also appear directly before a noun.
The boy was frightened. The frightened boy hid under the covers.
The toddler appears tired. The tired toddler slept.
However, it is not always clear whether the verb that comes before the participle is functioning as a helping verb or a linking verb. Be verbs dominate our language and perform important functions as both helping and linking verbs. The be verbs—am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been (usually paired with has)—are used with past participles.
You can ask questions to help determine how the word is functioning in the sentence.
Does the past participle follow a be verb? Yes. Then ask these next questions.
Does the be verb + the past participle tell what the subject is doing? Then it is a verb.
Does the be verb + the past participle describe the subject? Then it is an adjective.
The student was interested.
Does interested follow a be verb?
Yes! Does that make it a verb? No, we must ask the second question.
Does was interested tell what the student is doing?
No! In this case, an adjective follows the be verb and describes the subject. What kind of student? Interested student
The picnickers were annoyed.
Does annoyed follow a be verb?
Yes! Does that make it a verb? No, we must ask the second question.
Does were annoyed tell what the picnickers are doing?
No! In this case, an adjective follows the be verb and describes the subject. What kinds of picnickers? Annoyed picnickers
Finally, sometimes confusion arises with sentences that are written in the passive voice. In these sentences, the subject receives the action of the verb. The subject is not doing any action. The verb is always in the form of a verb phrase (two or more words) that contains a be verb and a past participle. Understanding passive voice helps distinguish if a past participle is operating as a verb or an adjective. The passive sentence contains four elements.
passive voice pattern = subject (person/thing being acted on) + be verb + past participle + by someone or something (either in the sentence or implied)
The tree was climbed by Will.
The tree (thing being acted on) was (be verb) climbed (past participle) by Will (by someone). Since this sentence follows the passive voice pattern, climbed is a verb.
The castle was demolished by the soldiers.
The castle (the thing being acted on) was (be verb) demolished (past participle) by the soldiers (by someone). Since this sentence follows the passive voice pattern, demolished is a verb.
The sandwich was devoured.
The sandwich (the thing being acted on) was (be verb) devoured (past participle). Someone must have devoured the sandwich, so the “by someone” is implied. Since this sentence follows the passive voice pattern, devoured is a verb.
Molly was famished.
Molly (subject) was (be verb) famished (past participle). Since famished describes the subject, not something being done to Molly, there is no implied “by someone” phrase. Thus, famished is an adjective that follows a linking verb (was), describing Molly.
Why does this matter? Andrew Pudewa’s philosophy is to teach grammar at the point of need. It is important that students can distinguish between a verb and an adjective. Students who struggle to label verbs will struggle to find clauses. This results in fragments, run-ons, and poorly punctuated sentences.
Beginning with the first level of Fix It! Grammar, students label verbs. Deciding if a past participle follows a be verb is not difficult. Determining if it tells what the subject is doing requires a higher level of thinking. Be patient with your students and offer encouragement. With continued practice, you’ll train your students’ ears to hear the distinction between words that show action and words that describe.
Asking questions and reasoning together will help your students learn to identify words correctly. As an added bonus, you’ll enhance their reasoning skills. Enjoy the process!
