2. COMPLETED STATE
Verbs expressing a process may take past participle forms which
can modify nouns and express completed states.
These modifiers have some adjectives and some verb-like
properties.
COMPLETED
This is a roasted chicken — done!
Grown children often move out of the house.
Broken dishes were all over the floor.
Fallen trees littered the forest floor.
Fried potatoes would taste good right now.
He was a well-loved child (beloved)
3. ONGOING QUALITY OR STATE
Verbs expressing a process may also take present participle
forms, which can modify nouns and express states in progress
(ongoing). These modifiers also have adjective-like and verb-like
properties.
ONGOING
This is a roasting chicken — still cooking!
Growing children need a lot of food.
Breaking dishes startled the diners. (the sound)
Falling trees are a danger to hikers.
Frying potatoes smell delicious.
He is a loving husband.
4. COMPLETED
Past participle modifiers are pre-position (placed before the word it modifies) and are derived from
reduced clauses. They have the properties of Adjectives.
aged (wine, cheese) fried (potatoes)
broken (glass) exploded (fireworks)
boiled (milk) frozen (water)
brewed (coffee) grown (children)
changed (man) loved (person)
closed (subject) melted (ice)
cooked (food) occupied (region)
crossed (lines) rotten (fruit)
cut (flowers) turned (page)
dripped (wax) wound (watch)
5. ONGOING
Present participle modifiers are also pre-position and are derived from reduced clauses. They do not
share all the properties of Adjectives. .
aging (parents) frying (potatoes)
breaking (glass) exploding (fireworks)
boiling (milk) freezing (water)
brewing (coffee) growing (children)
changing (times) loving (person)
closing (argument) melting (ice)
cooking (food) occupying (force)
crossing (lines) rotting (fruit)
cutting (remark) turning (page)
dripping (wax) winding (road)
6. TESTING FOR PROPERTIES OF AN ADJECTIVE
PAST PARTICIPLE -ED
Usually, we can determine if a word is an adjective by testing its adjective
properties. Can it (1) modify a noun, (2) follow a static verb (look, seem, become,
appear, taste, act) (3) accept a degree adverb (very or too)?
CAN IT MODIFY A NOUN? YES
This is a roasted chicken.
This is a delicious chicken. (a true adj.)
The chicken is roasted. (modifier)
The chicken is roasted. (passive verb)
7. PRESENT PARTICIPLE -ING
With this group of verbs, both of the participle forms accept
other be-like verbs, but do not accept the degree adverb
very. These participles seem to fall somewhere in the middle of
being verbs and adjectives.
ONGOING
CAN IT MODIFY A NOUN? YES
This is a roasting chicken.
This is a delicious chicken. (a true adj.)
The chicken is roasting. (modifier)
The chicken is roasting. (progressive verb)
8. PARTICIPLE MODIFIERS-STATE OR NATURAL QUALITY
COMPLETED STATE
The recently spotted owl was making a nest. (an owl seen or located by
someone usually with binoculars)
The black-eyed boxer walked into the ring. (an eye that was harmed by another
fighter)
We made the pie with pitted cherries. (pits that were removed by us)
The freshly-washed dog sat in the sun. (a dog that was washed by someone)
Would you like some frozen yogurt. (yogurt that was frozen by someone)
She wore a shirt with rolled-up sleeves. (sleeves that were rolled up by someone)
Completed vs. Natural Quality States
9. -ED — NATURAL QUALITY OR STATE
Past participle modifiers may indicate the natural quality or state of the noun (color, pattern,
etc.)
NATURAL STATE
We saw a very spotted owl making a nest. (an owl with natural coloring including
spots)
The black-eyed terrier walked into the ring. (a dog with naturally black eyes)
We made the sculpture from pitted wood. (wood with natural scars)
The short-haired dog sat in the sun. (a dog with naturally short hair)
Would you like to visit the frozen tundra? (a Antarctic region that is permanently
frozen)
She wore a long-sleeved shirt. (a shirt with long-sleeves)
10. -ING – ONGOING PROCESS OR STATE
Present participle modifiers ending in -ing may indicate something still
undergoing a process or activity. These are verb-like modifiers. Note
that we cannot use very before these participle modifiers, which is true
for adjectives.
ONGOING QUALITY OR STATE
Don't awaken the sleeping dogs. (dogs that are sleeping)
We have a talking parrot (a parrot that talks.)
Look! It's a shooting star. ( a star that is shooting across the sky)
It's a slow-moving train. (a train that is moving slowly)
A hiking party was seen to the north of the volcano. (a group that is hiking)
The waiting parents were very worried. (parents that are waiting)
11. -ING – FUNCTION
Present participle modifiers ending in -ing may indicate the function of
something. These modifiers are noun-like. [activity + noun]
FUNCTION
The pups are in their sleeping bag. (a bag for sleeping)
We have a talking machine. (a device for talking, a text reader)
He practices his rifle skills at the shooting range. (an area for target practice)
It's a moving van. (a truck for transporting households)
Mr. Hanson was wearing his hiking shoes (shoes that are for trekking.)
The doctor's waiting room was brightly decorated. (a room for waiting)
12. BEFORE NOUN—EXISTING STATE
A modifier placed before the noun is the more common position. The positioning of
the modifier affects the meaning of the clause. A participle modifier placed before
the noun describes the noun in its existing state.
He pushed the closed door.
He likes his cleaned car.
George Washington implored Congress to end its squabbling. There was no future
for a divided country.
It is a divided country.
*Across the country thousands of protesters marched in the street; however, the
President was an unmoved man.
Albert Einstein published over 300 scientific papers. His was an unmatched mind.
13. AFTER NOUN—RESULTING STATE
Sometimes the modifier may be placed after the noun if the verb or context
permits it. A modifier placed after the noun describes the resulting state of the
action expressed by the verb or by the context.
He pushed the door closed. "so that it is"
He likes his car cleaned.
George Washington implored Congress to end its squabbling. There was no future
for a country divided¹.
Squabbling made² the country divided.
Across the country thousands of protesters marched in the street; however, the
President was a man unmoved.
The President was unmoved by the protests.
Albert Einstein published over 300 scientific papers. His was a mind unmatched.
14. EXERCISE
We saw ……………fireworks in the sky.
exploded exploding
The next day, we saw …………fireworks on the ground.
exploded exploding
The ………sweet potatoes were on a plate.
fried frying
The ………..sweet potatoes were on the stove.
fried frying
The ……….weather conditions are forcing people to stay inside.
frozen freezing
15. A popsicle is made of ………………..juice.
frozen freezing
"The long and ……………..road leads to your door."
winding wound
………………. string is easy to use.
Winding Wound
The ………………tree nearly hit our car.
falling fallen
Unfortunately, the……… tree was on our neighbor's car.
falling fallen
16. 1. I DIDN´T REALIZE I BOUGHT A TV.
2. SAMANTHA ATE SOME FISH.
3. I SAW AN PERSON YESTERDAY.
4. I´M HUNGRY. I WANT TO EAT. WAIT!!! THERE ARE SOME POTATOES IN
THE PAN.
5. LET´S EAT! THE TABLE IS SET. I CAN SEE SOME POTATOES ON THE
PLATE.
6. TWO MEN WERE TO CROSS THE
FROINTER LAST NIGHT
BREAKING
BROKEN
POISONED
POISONING
INTERESTING
INTERESTED
FRYING
FRIED
FRYING
FRIED
ARMED
ARMING
CATCH
CAUGHT
TRIED
TRYING
17. 1. THERE IS WATER IN THE CUP.
2. THERE IS SOMETHING . I CAN SEE THE STOVE.
3. MRS. CABRERA GAVE HER HUSBAND A RING.
4. THE NUMBER OF CARS WHICH ARE HAS RISEN
CONSIDERABLY.
5. THE DOG WAS PICKED UP AND TAKEN TO HOSPITAL.
6. THE BALLOON GENTLY UP INTO THE AIR.
BOILING
BOILED
BOILING
BOILED
GOLD
GOLDEN
STEALING
STOLEN
SHOOTING
SHOT
RISE
ROSE
RISEN