Present Participles are verbs with the ending "~ing". When they are used as adjectives or adverbs, they have an active meaning.
- The MAs helped the screaming patient. (= adjective)
- The RN was sitting at the back of the room checking his email. (= adverb)
- Exercise is very tiring. (= adjective)
- Hoping to improve my score, I took extra classes before the test. (= adverb)
Past Participles have a passive meaning when used as adjectives or adverbs.
- The broken bone was treated in the ER. (= adjective)
- She is very interested in the surgery. (= adjective)
- The damaged liver didn't look healthy any more. (= adjective)
- Dressed in scrubs, she was ready for surgery. (= adverb)
Participles can be used after a noun. In this use, they have the same meaning as Defining Adjective Clauses.
- She is the student sitting beside the teacher. (who is sitting beside...)
- Cough syrup made in Brazil is much stronger than the cough syrup here. (that is made in Brazil...)
- The student interested in phlebotomy asked many questions about the process. (that is interested in phlebotomy...)
Exercise
Using what you have learned about participles, complete the activity.