Page 142 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

Activities 3.4, 3.14
Unit 3
Lesson: Participles and Participial Phrases
Learning Target
• Explain the function of verbals, such as participles, in general and their function in particular sentences.
A phrase is a word group that does NOT have both a subject and a verb and that functions as a part of speech, such as a noun or modifier (adjective or adverb). There are different kinds of phrases. You can enliven your writing by using phrases to vary your syntax and add detail.
A verbal is a verb form that is used as a noun, adjective, or adverb. Verbals include infinitives, participles, and gerunds. A verbal phrase is a word group that contains a verbal and its modifiers and complements and that acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb. This mini-lesson focuses on participles and participial phrases.
Participle and Participial Phrases
A participle is a verb form that can be used as an adjective. Present participles end in –ing. Past participles often
end in –ed.
A singing bird is outside my window. [The participle modifies bird.]
The buried treasure includes gold doubloons. [The participle modifies treasure.] A participial phrase includes a participle and any modifiers or objects of the participle.
The bird singing outside my window is a mockingbird. [The phrase modifies bird.]
The treasure buried by Spanish pirates includes gold doubloons. [The phrase modifies treasure.]
If a participial phrase is not essential to the meaning of the sentence—if it adds extra information without changing the sentence’s basic meaning—it should be set off by commas.
Elaine, worrying about the weather, suggested we cancel the picnic. Playing for the first time ever, Ethan won the game.
Grammar Activities • Unit 3 1
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