Skill 4: Be Careful of Present Participles

SKILL 4: BE CAREFUL OF PRESENT PARTICIPLES
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
A present participle is the -ing form of the verb.
The present participle can be (1) part of the verb or (2) an adjective.
It is part of the verb when it is accompanied by some form of the verb be. It is an adjective
when it is not accompanied by some form of the verb be.
1. The boy is standing in the corner.
2. The boy standing in the corner was my best friend.
EXERCISE 4: Each of the following sentences contains one or more present

participles. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the present participles
and label them as adjectives or verbs. Then, indicate if the sentences are Correct (C) or
Incorrect (I).
C 1. The companies offering the lowest prices will have the most customers.
I 2. Those travelers are completing their trip on Delta should report to Gate
Three.
3. The artisans were demonstrating various handicrafts at booths throughout the
fair.
4. The fraternities are giving the wildest parties attract the most new pledges.
5. The first team winning four games is awarded the championship.
6. The speaker was trying to make his point was often interrupted vociferously.
7. The fruits were rotting because of the moisture in the crates carrying them to
market.
8. Any student desiring official transcripts should complete the appropriate form.
9. The advertisements were announcing the half-day sale received a lot of
attention.
10. The spices flavoring the meal were quite distinctive.
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SKILL 5: BE CAREFUL OF PAST PARTICIPLE
PAST PARTICIPLE
A past participle often ends in -ed, but there are also many irregular past participles. For
many verbs, including -ed verbs, the simple past and the past participle are the same and
at can be easily confused. The -ed form of the verb can be (1) the simple past, (2) the
past participle of a verb, or (3) an adjective.
1. She painted this picture.
2. She has painted this picture.
3. The picture painted by Karen is now in a museum.
EXERCISE 5: Each of the following sentences contains one or more past participles.
Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the past participles and label them
as adjectives or verbs. Then, indicate if the sentences are Correct (C) or Incorrect (I).
I 1. The money was offered by the client was not accepted
VERB VERB
C 2. The car listed in advertisement had already stalled.

ADJ VERB
3. The chapters were taught by the professor this morning will be on next
week’s exam.
4. The loaves of bread were baked in a brick oven at a low temperature for many
hours.
5. The ports were reached by the sailors were under the control of a foreign nation.
6. Those suspected in the string of robberies were arrested by the police.
7. The pizza is served in this restaurant is the tastiest in the country.
8. The courses are listed on the second page of the brochure have several
prerequisites.
9. All the tenants were invited to the Independence Day barbecue at the apartment
complex.
10. Any bills paid by the first of the month will be credited to your account by the
next day.
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EXERCISE (Skills 1-5): Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice in each of the
following sentences. Then, indicate if the sentences are Correct (C) or Incorrect (I).
C 1. For three weeks at the beginning of the semester, students with fewer than
the maximum number of units can add additional courses.
I 2. On her lunch hour went to a nearby department store to purchase a wedding gift.
3. The fir trees were grown for the holiday season were harvested in November.
4. In the grove the overripe oranges were falling the ground.
5. The papers being delivered at 4.00 will contain the announcement of the
president’s resignation.
6. A specialty shop with various blends from around the world in the shopping mall.
7. The portraits exhibited in the Houston Museum last month are now on display in
Dallas.
8. With a sudden jerk of his hand, threw the ball across the field to one of the other
players.
9. Construction of the housing development it will be underway by the bus of
the month.
10. Those applicants returning their completed form at the earliest date have
the highest priority.
EXERCISE (Skills 1-5): Choose the letter of the word or group of words that best
completes the sentence.
1. The North Platte River from Wyoming into Nebraska.
A. it flowed
B. flows
C. flowing
D. with flowing water
2. Biloxi received its name from a Sioux word meaning “first people”.
A. The city of
B. Located in
C. It is in
3
D. The tour included
3. A pride of lions up to forty lions, including one to three males, several
females, and cubs.
A. can contain
B. it contains
C. contain
D. containing
4. tea plant are small and white.
A. The
B. On the
C. Having flowers the
D. The flower of the
5. The tetracyclines antibiotics are used to treat infections.
A. are a family of
B. being a family
C. a family of
D. their family
6. Any possible academic assistance from taking stimulants marginal at
best.
A. it is
B. there is
C. is
D. as
7. Henry Adams, born in Boston, famous as a historian and novelist.
A. became
B. and became
C. he was
D. and he became
8. The major cause the pull of the Moon on the Earth.
A. the ocean tides are
B. of ocean tides is
C. of the tides in the ocean
D. the oceans tides
9. Still a novelty in the late ninety century, limited to the rich.
4
A. was
B. was photography
C. it was photography
D. photography was
10. A computerized map of the freeways using information gathered by sensors
embedded in the pavement on a local cable channel during rush hours.
A. airs
B. airing
C. air
D. to air

Skill 4: Be Careful of Present Participles

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SKILL 4: BE CAREFUL OF PRESENT PARTICIPLES

EXERCISE 4: Each of the following sentences contains one or more present

C 2. The car listed in advertisement had already stalled.

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