Participial Phrase

A Participial Phrase is a (typically short) Phrase with a Participle as a Head Word and some Object.

• AKA: Participle Phrase.
• Context:
  • It always acts as an Adjective within a Sentence.
  • It can contain Modifiers of the … ?Object?.
  • It can function as an adjective or adverb.
  • It can appear at the beginning of a sentence or the end of the sentence.
  • It can be a Present Participle Phrase.
• Example(s):
  • “The chef [keenly [arranging] the salad] wanted to impress the customer.”
    • an Adjective modifying "the chef ".
    • Present Participle:"arranging”, Participle's Direct Object:"the salad"; Modifier: “keenly” (an Adverb).
  • “Arranged by the chef], the salad was about to impress the customer.”
    • an Adjective modifying “the salad”.
    • Past Participle:"arranged”, Participle's Direct Object:"by the chef".
  • “The team went home defeated by its archrival].”
    • an Adjective modifying “the team”.
    • Past Participle:"defeated”, Participle's Direct Object:"by its archrival".
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • “nagging Bill” ⇒ "I enjoy [nagging Bill].”, a Gerund Phrase.
  • “nagging Bill” ⇒ "[Nagging Bill] is enjoyable.”, a Gerund Phrase.
• See: Gerund Phrase, Infinitive Phrase.

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References

2019

• (Purdue OWL, 2019) ⇒ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/gerunds_participles_and_infinitives/participles.html Retrieved: 2019-05-17.
  • QUOTE: A participial phrase is a group of words consisting of a participle and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the participle, such as:

Removing his coat, Jack rushed to the river.

The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying Jack.

Removing (participle)

his coat (direct object of action expressed in participle)

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