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Participles/Adverbs(ESL) Resource
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USING PARTICIPLES

RULE 1:

Present participles and past participles, which are used in verb phrases, can also function as adjectives.

Present participle used in a verb phrase:
Marie is surprising her son with a new bicycle for his birthday.

Present participle used as an adjective:
Marie made a surprising statement in class yesterday.

Past participle used in a verb phrase:
For years my brother has bored us with stories about his dog.

Past participle used as an adjective:
We are so bored we don't know what to do.

Present participles used as adjectives usually describe the source of a feeling. Past participles used as adjectives usually describe the feeling the person has inside.

Present participles used to describe the source of a feeling:
Darius thinks that old buildings are interesting.
Some of the things they show on television are shocking.

Present participles used to describe the feeling a person has inside:
Darius is interested in old buildings.
I am shocked by some of the things I see on television.

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 1

 

USING ADVERBS

RULE 2:

Do not place adverbs between verbs and their direct objects.


 Not:  He wrote quickly a note to his parents.
 But: He quickly wrote a note to his parents.
 Or: He wrote a note to his parents quickly.
 Or: 

Quickly, he wrote a note to his parents.

[The verb is wrote; the direct object is note.]

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR RULE 2








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