THE PARTICIPLE

THE PARTICIPLE

          Read this sentence:-

Hearing the noise, the boy woke up.

The word hearing qualifies the noun boy as an Adjective does.

It is formed from the Verb hear, and governs an object.

The word hearing, therefore, partakes of the nature of both a Verb and an Adjective, and is called a Participle. It may be called a Verbal Adjective.

Def. - A participle is that form of the Verb which partakes of the nature both of a Verb and of an Adjective.

[Or] A participle is a word which is partly a Verb and partly an adjective.

[Note. - The phrase 'Hearing the noise', which is introduced by a Principle, is called a Participle Phrase. According to its use here, it is an Adjective Phrase.]

Study the following examples of Participles:

We met a girl carrying a basket of flowers.

Loudly knocking at the gate, he demanded admission.

The child, thinking all was safe, attempted to cross the road.

He rushed into the field, and foremost fighting fell.

The above are all examples of what is usually called the Present Participle which ends in -ing and represents an action as going on or incomplete or imperfect.

If the verb from which it comes is Transitive, it takes an object, as in sentence 1.

Notice also that in sentence 2, the Participle is modified by an adverb.

Besides the Present Participle, we can form from each verb another Participle called its Past Participle, which represents a completed action or state of the thing spoken of.

The following are examples of Past Participles:-

            Blinded by a dust storm, they fell into disorder.

            Deceived by his friends, he lost all hope.

            Time misspent is lime lost.

            Driven by hunger, he stole a piece of bread.

            We saw a few trees laden with fruit.

It will be noticed that the Past Participle usually ends in -ed, -d, -t, -en, or -n.

Besides these two simple participles, the Present and the Past, we have what is called a Perfect Participle that represents an action as completed at some past time; as, Having rested, we continued our journey.

In the following examples the Participles are used as simple qualifying adjectives in front of a noun; thus used they are called Participle Adjectives:-

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

We had a drink of the sparkling water.

His tattered coat needs mending.

The creaking door awakened the dog.

A lying witness ought to be punished.

He played a losing game.

A burnt child dreads the fire.

His finished manners produced a very favourable impression.

He wears a worried look.

Education is the most pressing need of our country.

He was reputed to be the most learned man of his- time.

Used adjectivally the past participle is Passive in meaning, while the Present Participle is Active in meaning; as,

a spent swimmer = a swimmer who is tired out; a burnt child = a child who is burnt;

a painted doll = a doll which is painted; a rolling stone = a stone which rolls.

Let us now recapitulate what we have already learnt about the Participle.

(1) A participle is a Verbal Adjective.

(2) Like a Verb it may govern a noun or pronoun; as,

Hearing the noise, the boy woke up. [The noun noise is governed by the participle Hearing].

(3) Like a Verb it may be modified by an adverb; as

Loudly knocking at the gate, he demanded admission. [Here the participle knocking is modified by the adverb Loudly,]

Like an adjective it may qualify a noun or pronoun; as, Having rested, the men continued their journey.

Like an Adjective it may be compared; as,

Education is the most pressing need of our time. [Here the participle pressing is compared by prefixing most.]

 Below are shown the forms of the different Participles:

Active

Present: loving

Perfect: having loved

Passive

Present: being loved.

Perfect: having been loved.

Past: loved.

Use of the Participle

It will be noticed that the Continuous Tenses (Active Voice) are formed from the Present Participle with tenses of the verb be; as,

I am loving. I was loving.

I shall be loving.

The Perfect Tenses (Active Voice) are formed from the Past Participle with tenses of the

verb have; as,

I have loved.

I had loved.

I shall have loved.

The Passive Voice is formed from the Past Participle with tenses of the verb be; as,

I am loved.

I was loved.

I shall be loved.

We have seen that Participles qualify nouns or pronouns. They may be used-

(1) Attributively; as,

A rolling stone gathers no moss. His tattered coat needs mending. A lost opportunity never returns.

(2) Predicatively; as,

The man seems worried. (Modifying the Subject)

He kept me waiting. (Modifying the Object.)

Absolutely with a noun or pronoun going before; as,

            The weather being fine, I went out.

            Many having arrived, we were freed from anxiety.

            Weather permitting, there will be a garden party at Government House tomorrow.

            God willing, we shall have another good monsoon.

            The sea being smooth, we went for sail.

            The wind having failed, the crew set to work with a will.

            His master being absent, the business was neglected.

            The wind being favourable, they embarked.

It will be seen that in each of the above sentences the Participle with the noun or pronoun going before it, forms a phrase independent of the rest of the sentence. Such a phrase is called an Absolute Phrase; and a noun or pronoun so used with a participle is called a Nominative Absolute.

An Absolute Phrase can be easily changed into a subordinate clause; as, Spring advancing, the swallows appear. [When spring advances. -Clause of Time.] The sea being smooth, we went for a sail. [Because the sea was smooth. - Clause of Reason.]

God willing, we shall meet again. [If God is willing. - Clause of Condition.]

Errors in the Use of Participles

Since the participle is a verb-adjective it must be attached to some noun or pronoun; in other words, it must always have a proper 'subject of reference'.

The following sentences are incorrect because in each case the Participle is left without proper agreement:

Standing at the gate, a scorpion stung him. (As it is, the sentence reads as if the scorpion was standing at the gate.)

Going up the hill, an old temple was seen.

Entering the room, the light was quite dazzling.

We should, therefore, recast these sentences as shown below:

   Standing at the gate, he was stung by a scorpion.

Or: While he was standing at the gate, a scorpion stung him.

When we went up the hill, we saw an old temple.

Entering the room, I found the light quite dazzling.

Or: When I entered the room, the light was quite dazzling.

Usage, however, permits in certain cases such constructions as the following where the participle is left without a proper 'subject of references. [The Participle in such cases is called an Impersonal Absolute].

Taking everything into consideration, the Magistrate was perfectly justified in issuing those orders.

Considering his abilities, he should have done better.

Roughly speaking, the distance from here to the nearest railway station is two miles.

It will be noticed that in the above instances the unexpressed subject is indefinite.

Thus, 'Roughly speaking' = If one speaks roughly.

Sometimes, as in the following examples, the Participle is understood:-Sword (being) in hand, he rushed on the jailor.

Breakfast (having been) over, we went out for a walk.

Exercise in Grammar

Pick out the Participle in each of the following sentences. Tell whether it is a Present or a Past participle, and also how it is used:-

Generally speaking, we receive what we deserve.

Having gained truth, keep truth.

I saw the storm approaching.

Hearing a noise, I turned round.

Considering the facts, he received scant justice.

The enemy, beaten at every point, fled from the field.

Being dissatisfied, he resigned his position.

The rain came pouring down in torrents.

Having elected him President, the people gave him their loyal support.

The traveller, being weary, sat by the wood side to rest.

Exercise in Grammar

Pick out the Participle in each of the following sentences. Tell whether it is a Present or a Past Participle, and also how it is used:-

The fat of the body is fuel laid away for use.

Being occupied with important matters, he had no leisure to see us.

The children coming home from school look in at the open door.

Michael, bereft of his son Luke, died of a broken heart.

Books read in childhood seem like old friends.

Lessons learned easily are soon forgotten.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures (baskets) of silver.

Seeing the sunshine, I threw open the window.

Seizing him by the arm, his friend led him away.

Encouraged by his wife, he persevered.

Overcome by remorse, he determined to atone for his crime by liberality to the church.

Exercise in Composition

Combine the following pairs of sentences by making use of Participle:-[Examples. The magician took pity on the mouse. He turned it into a cat. = Taking pity on the mouse the magician turned it into a cat.

The train was ready to leave the station. The people had taken their seats.

= The people having taken their seats, the train was ready to leave the station.]

The porter opened the gate. We entered.

We started early. We arrived at noon.

We met a man. He was carrying a load of wood.

The stable door was open. The horse was stolen.

He seized his stick. He rushed to the door.

The hunter took up his gun. He went out to shoot the lion.

A crow stole a piece of cheese. She flew to her nest to enjoy the tasty meal.

The wolf wished to pick a quarrel with the lamb. He said. “How dare you make the water muddy?”

A passenger alighted from the train. He fell over a bag on the platform.

Nanak met his brother in the street. He asked him where he was going.

My sister was charmed with the silk. She bought ten yards.

The steamer was delayed by a storm. She came into port a day late.

He had resolved on a certain course. He acted with vigour.

He staggered back. He sank to the ground.

The letter was badly written. I had great difficulty in making out its contents.

They had no fodder. They could give the cow nothing to eat,

A hungry fox saw some bunches of grapes. They were hanging from a vine.

Cinderella hurried away with much haste. She dropped one of her little glass slippers.

Participles sometimes contain an implied meaning, which can be more fully expressed by changing the participial phrase into a clause of:- (a) time, (b) cause, (c) concession, or (ct) condition.

Having done his lesson (= after he had done his lesson), he went out to play cricket. Walking along the street one day (= while I was walking along the street one day) I saw a dead cobra.

Being overpowered (= because he was overpowered), he surrendered.

Running at top speed (= because he ran at top speed), he got out of breath.

(c) Possessing all the advantages of education and wealth (= although he possessed all the advantages of education and wealth), he never made a name.

Following my advice (= if you follow my advice), you will gain your object. Seven were killed, including the guard (=if the guard is included).

Exercise in Composition

Rewrite each of the following sentences, by changing the Participle into a Finite Verb;-[Examples. Quitting the forest we advanced into the open plain. = We quitted the forest and advanced into the open plain. Driven out of his country, he sought asylum in a

foreign land. [= As he was driven out of his country, he sought asylum in a foreign land.]

Going up the stairs, the boy fell down.

Having lost my passport, I applied for a new one.

I once saw a man walking on a rope.

Walking on the roof, he slipped and fell.

Having no guide with us, we lost our way.

The stable door being open, the horse was stolen.

Being paralytic, he could not walk.

Hearing the noise, I woke up.

Caesar being murdered, the dictatorship came to an end.

Working all day, I was fatigued.

We met an old Sadhu walking to Benares.

Having come of age, his son entered into partnership with him.

Having failed in the first attempt, he made no further attempts.

Walking up to the front door, I rang the bell.

Winter coming on, the grasshopper had no food.

Enchanted with the whole scene, I lingered on my voyage.

The enemy disputed their ground inch by inch, fighting with the fury of dispair.

Mounting his horse, the bandit rode off.

The policeman, running with all his speed, was scarcely able to overtake the thief.

Not knowing my way, I asked a policeman.