Answer: Participial adjectives are those adjectives that are formed from verbs, specifically from participles.
Participles are verb forms that can function as adjectives, and they come in two types: present participles (ending in “-ing”) and past participles (often ending in “-ed” or irregular forms). Participial adjectives modify nouns and add descriptive information to them.
Here’s how you can use participial adjectives:
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Present Participial Adjectives:
- Formed by adding -ing to the base form of the verb.
- Example: “The falling leaves covered the ground.”
- Explanation: “Falling” modifies the noun “leaves,” describing their current state.
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Past Participial Adjectives:
- Formed from the past participle of a verb (often ending in -ed or irregular forms).
- Example: “The broken window needed repair.”
- Explanation: “Broken” describes the noun “window,” indicating its damaged state.
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Placement in Sentences:
- Participial adjectives can be placed before or after the nouns they modify.
- Example: “The girl, smiling, waved at her friends.”
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Agreement:
- Participial adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in terms of number and gender.
- Example: “The frightened children sought refuge.”
Using participial adjectives adds vivid details to your writing, providing more information about the characteristics or qualities of the nouns they modify.