A verbal acting as an adjective is called a participle.
Based on the provided definition, a verbal that functions as an adjective is specifically known as a participle. This grammatical element serves to describe nouns or pronouns, much like traditional adjectives do, but it originates from a verb.
Understanding Participles
A participle is a verbal – a word that is based on a verb but functions in a sentence as a different part of speech. In the case of participles, they act as adjectives.
- Origin: They are derived from verbs, retaining the verb's ability to express action or a state of being.
- Function: They modify nouns or pronouns, providing descriptive information.
- Common Forms: Participles most often end in -ing (present participles) or -ed (past participles), although irregular past participles also exist (like broken, gone, burnt).
Think of it as a verb form that has taken on an adjective's job. It carries the 'action' or 'state' meaning of its parent verb but uses that meaning to describe something else.
Examples of Participles as Adjectives
Let's look at how participles function in sentences:
Present Participles (-ing):
- The running water flowed over the rocks. (Describes 'water')
- We watched the dancing flames. (Describes 'flames')
- He comforted the crying baby. (Describes 'baby')
Past Participles (-ed / Irregular):
- She wore a torn dress. (Describes 'dress')
- The broken window needed repair. (Describes 'window')
- He admired the painted masterpiece. (Describes 'masterpiece')
- The burnt toast smelled bad. (Describes 'toast')
Notice how the participles (running, dancing, crying, torn, broken, painted, burnt) are all based on verbs but are placed before nouns to describe them, just like regular adjectives (e.g., cold water, bright flames, hungry baby).
Participle vs. Verb
It's important to distinguish a participle used as an adjective from a verb form used in a verb phrase.
| Feature | Verbal (Participle as Adjective) | Verb Form (in Verb Phrase) |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Describes a noun or pronoun | Part of the main verb, indicates action/state |
| Placement | Often before the noun it modifies (or after, in phrases) | Often follows helping verbs (e.g., is running, has broken) |
| Role | Adjective | Verb |
- Example: The running boy tripped. (Running is a participle acting as an adjective modifying 'boy').
- Example: The boy is running quickly. (Running is part of the verb phrase 'is running').
Understanding participles helps improve sentence structure and descriptive writing by allowing you to use verb-based words to add detail.
