The Present Participle
The Present Participle :
Participles
A Participle is that form of the verb which partakes of the nature both of a verb and of an adjective.
Explanation : A man deserving blame should be censured accordingly.
Here DESERVING is a form of the verb DESERVE. It expresses the same fact as the verb, only the assertion is under a sort of limitation or in a state of suspense, as if we were to say, “ If he deserves blame,” or “ Since he deserves blame.” This form of the verb is capable also of denoting time, as verbs do. DESERVING BLAME means doing it now. HAVING DESERVED BLAME means having done it in some pan time. It expresses action also as verbs generally do. It partakes therefore of the nature of a verb.
But suppose we say, “A man not meritorious in his conduct should be censured.” Meritorious is an adjective belonging to man or qualifying man. In the same way, DESERVING belongs to or qualifies man. It partakes therefore of the nature of an adjective.
The Participles are three.
The Present Participle
The Past or Perfect Participle
The Compound-Perfect Participle
The Present Participle denotes that which is now in progress as, going, being, living, working, etc. The Present participles all end in ING.
The Past or Perfect Participle denotes that which is complete or finished as, written, stolen, added.
The Compound-Perfect Participle denotes that which is finished before something else mentioned as, having written, having stolen, having added.
The Present Participle :
Elementary English Grammar Index
Related Links : The Present Participle
