Use of Participle in IELTS Grammar

A participle is a verb, and it functions in different ways, such as an adjective, noun, noun phrase, etc. Participles let the speaker or author mention more than one thing in one sentence while making sense. It also allows altering the tense of a verb. Using participles in IELTS speaking or writing tests aids the candidates to acquire desired scores.

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While using participles, the candidates must be extremely cautious. In case a participle is used in an incorrect format, the meaning of the sentence gets altered.

For instance:

Sentence 1: I saw Janet go to the market driving a red car.
Sentence 2: Driving a red car, I saw Janet going to the market.

Driving is the participle in both sentences. In the first sentence, it is clear that it is Janet who is driving the red car. However, the meaning completely changes in the second sentence when the participle is used at the beginning. Here, it sounds like the speaker was driving the red car.

Different Kinds of Participles in IELTS

There are two kinds of Participles- Present and Past. Participles act as helping verbs in IELTS grammar. Here in the below article we have discussed about kinds of participles, their usage with examples:

Present Participles

A verb+ing composes a present participle and is used as an adjective, verb, or phrase.

Example: Ride (verb)+ing:
Sentence: Toby is riding a red bicycle.
The three forms of continuous tenses i.e., present, past, or future tenses can be used here.

• Present continuous tense:

Sentence: Jade is reading a fashion magazine.
Sentence: Alex and her sisters are playing in the backyard.

• Past continuous tense:

Sentence: I was doing laundry in the morning.
Sentence: Jenny was studying for her test all week.

• Future continuous tense:

Sentence: I will be baking a cake for Penny's birthday.
Sentence: Angie will be playing the piano tonight.

Read More about- Uses of Confusing Verbs in IELTS Grammar

Participles Used as an Adjective

1. Based on the position in a sentence:

Participles are often used as adjectives in English grammar. They can be placed in different ways. Some participle adjectives can position before or after a noun, while others can strictly be used after a noun.

• Participle adjective used before a noun:

Sentence: The stolen car was found at the river bank.

• Participle adjective used after a noun:

Sentence: The students selected will go abroad for the exchange program.

• Participle adjective that can be used only after a noun:

Sentence: The students are requested to drop their answer scripts in the boxes provided.

2. Based on the use in a sentence:

An -ing participle represents the active meaning, and an -ed participle denotes the passive meaning when used as an adjective.

• Sentence: My mother plants flowering trees in the springtime.
• Sentence: Jay's lies angered his parents.

3. Used with that or those

Participle adjectives can be used with that or those. 'That' refers to inanimate objects, whereas 'those' refers to people or items.

• Sentence: (with 'that'): The prettiest dress is that given by grandma.
• Sentence: (with 'those'): We feel tragic for those affected by the flood.

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Past Participle

Past participles, also known as the third form of a verb, refer to a task that has already been done. They usually end with -ed and are added to the infinitive of regular verbs.

Sentence: This is a collector's edition superhero figurine signed by the actor himself.

• Past participles as used adjectives:

Sentence: Hailey wore an ironed dress.

Perfect Participle

The past participle is a concoction of both perfect participles as well as a past participle. It has the element of -ing paired with the third form of the verb. It is commonly used to indicate an action that was accomplished long ago.

Sentence: Having been promoted, she threw a big party.

A perfect participle can be used in different parts of a sentence.

• After the subject in the main clause:

Sentence: Diana, having passed the entrance exam, got selected for the course.

• At the starting of the main clause:

Sentence: Having passed the entrance exam, Diana got selected for the course.

• At the end of the main clause:

Sentence: Diana got selected for the course, having passed the entrance exam.

Read More about - Frequent Tense Errors in IELTS

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Participle clause

Participle clauses allow us to frame complicated sentences in a simpler way while retaining their meaning. They are widely used in written form. They do not have a particular tense and go along with the tense of the verb in the main clause.

Sentence: While I was waiting for Jake at the coffee shop, I saw Sandra there.

Participle clause: Waiting for Jack, I saw Sandra at the coffee shop.

Participle clauses can be used in the form of present participle, past participle, and perfect participle. The three structures are elaborated below with appropriate examples.

Read More ABout - Relative clauses in IELTS

• Present participle clause:

Present participle clauses have the same kind of meaning as active verbs:

1. Resulting in something:

Sentence: Starting the project late, Max could not submit it on time.

2. Reason for action:

Sentence: Knowing she loved jewelry, I gifted her a necklace.

3. Two actions taking place at the same time:

Sentence: Driving to the supermarket, Jane remembered she did not lock the front door.

4. Give information about the subject in the main clause:

Sentence: Going to the library, Jerry decided to stop at the new bakery.

• Past participle clause:

These kinds of clauses have a passive voice. Here are some examples of past participle clauses:

1. As a consequence of an action:

Sentence: Failed his test, Jack decided to drop the course

2. Assign reason for action:

Sentence: Angered by his misdeeds, Luke fired the employee.

3. Give information about the subject in the main clause:

Sentence: Filled with joy, she called her mother.

4. Used as an if condition:

Sentence: Solved using this method, the calculations became easier.

• Perfect participle clause:

A perfect participle clause addresses an action that was finished before the action in the main clause. It can have active as well as passive meanings.

Sentences:

1. Having eaten her dinner, Judy took her medicines.
2. Having been laid off, Austin started looking for new jobs.

• Participle clauses used after conjunctions:

Sentence:

1. Before going out, remember to wear your mask.
2. After watching the movie, Niel did his homework.
3. While eating, do not talk.

• Participle clause used after prepositions:

Sentence:

1. On arriving late, Jane could not enter the class.
2. Instead of going out for dinner, Sarah stayed home.
3. Despite telling him to stay at home, Jim went out anyway.