Why are past participles used

For example, As you can see, the third form of the verb, usually written on the right, is the past participle. When do we use the past participle? The past participle is used in two main ways: to create past verb forms as an adjective Verb tenses that use the Past Participle The past participle is used in several tenses, especially perfect forms.

Modals in the past — She could have studied more. Past Participle Adjectives There are several adjectives in English that are created from the past participle form of the verb.

For example, broken — This computer is broken. Creating the Past Participle English verbs can be separated into two categories — regular verbs and irregular verbs. For example, So creating past participle from regular verbs is quite easy. Here are some common irregular verbs, with the past participles highlighted on the right. You should have come earlier.

Printed to create a handout. Sent electronically to friends or students. Take a different test on past participles.

Did you spot a typo? Grammarly's app will help with: 1 Avoiding spelling errors 2 Correcting grammar errors 3 Finding better words This free browser extension works with webmail, social media, and texting apps as well as online forms and Microsoft Office documents, like Word and Teams. Download the app.

But sometimes the subject is acted upon or receives the action of the verb. This is called the passive voice. Imagine that someone steals your bike. We can use passive voice when we do not know who or what performed the action or when identifying the performer is not important. Only some past participles can be used as adjectives. These adjectives are a little different from normal ones because they generally describe how someone feels.

If you wanted to describe this feeling in a group of children, you could say this:. When past participles act as adjectives, they appear in the same places as normal adjectives — after linking verbs and before nouns. Now, you try it! Find a few past participles in my story that were not used in any of the examples.

Write your answers in the comments section. Example: By now in your English studies, you have heard and seen the past participle countless times. After each lesson, you take a quiz! Why not learn tenses and participles with exciting, real-world English videos? This quiz from Grammar-Quizzes. Like the previous quiz, choose the right options and fill in the blanks with the correct verb forms. If you want to practice your skills and test your understanding further, try keeping a diary.

You can also try saying them aloud or sharing them with a study buddy to improve your confidence and speaking skills. You now know the differences between the past tense and the past participle and can form them on your own. I hope this post has answered all your questions!

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with games and quizzes. FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Start using FluentU on the website with your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app. Archita Mittra is a freelance writer, journalist, editor and educator. If you liked this post, something tells me that you'll love FluentU, the best way to learn English with real-world videos.

Experience English immersion online!