ctivnan
12/26/07, 09:29 PM
ACTIVE PRESENT PARTICIPLES
When present participles (Verb + -ing) are used like adjectives and adverbs, they have similar meanings to active verbs.
e.g.
falling leaves (= leaves that fall)
a crying baby (= a baby that cries)
John walked toward me laughing. (= He was laughing.)
PASSIVE PAST PARTICIPLES
Most past participles have passive meanings when they are used like adjectives or adverbs.
e.g.
a broken heart (= a heart that has been broken)
prescribed usage (= a usage that has been prescribed)
faded jeans (= jeans that have been faded)
He lived alone, forgotten by everybody. (= He had been forgotten by everybody.)
:yell: **EXCEPTIONS** :BU:
A few past participles can be used as adjectives with active meanings, especially before nouns.
e.g.
a fallen leaf (= a leaf that has fallen)
advanced students (= students who have advanced)
escaped prisoners (= prisoners who have escaped)
a retired general (= a general who has retired)
faded colors (= colors that have faded)
a grown-up daughter (= a daughter that has grown up)
Source: Swan, M. (2005). Practical English usage: new international student's edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
When present participles (Verb + -ing) are used like adjectives and adverbs, they have similar meanings to active verbs.
e.g.
falling leaves (= leaves that fall)
a crying baby (= a baby that cries)
John walked toward me laughing. (= He was laughing.)
PASSIVE PAST PARTICIPLES
Most past participles have passive meanings when they are used like adjectives or adverbs.
e.g.
a broken heart (= a heart that has been broken)
prescribed usage (= a usage that has been prescribed)
faded jeans (= jeans that have been faded)
He lived alone, forgotten by everybody. (= He had been forgotten by everybody.)
:yell: **EXCEPTIONS** :BU:
A few past participles can be used as adjectives with active meanings, especially before nouns.
e.g.
a fallen leaf (= a leaf that has fallen)
advanced students (= students who have advanced)
escaped prisoners (= prisoners who have escaped)
a retired general (= a general who has retired)
faded colors (= colors that have faded)
a grown-up daughter (= a daughter that has grown up)
Source: Swan, M. (2005). Practical English usage: new international student's edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.