SUBORDINATING BY PRESENT PARTICIPLES

Lesson 21Joseph C. Blumenthal

In this unit we study other useful devices for subordination that will help us to write more mature sentences. When we subordinate a fact or idea, we express it in a word group that is (more, less) than a sentence.

In this unit we study other useful devices for subordination that will help us to write more mature sentences. When we subordinate a fact or idea, we express it in a word group that is (more, less) than a sentence.

Prepositional phrases and adverb, adjective, and noun clauses are subordinate word groups because they (do, do not) make complete sense apart from a sentence.

Prepositional phrases and adverb, adjective, and noun clauses are subordinate word groups because they (do, do not) make complete sense apart from a sentence.

Verbals are also useful devices for subordination.

A verbal is a verb that has crossed the boundary line and has become another class of word without completely losing its identity as a verb.

A word that functions both as a verb and an adjective would be classified as a _____.

Verbals are also useful devices for subordination.

A verbal is a verb that has crossed the boundary line and has become another class of word without completely losing its identity as a verb.

A word that functions both as a verb and an adjective would be classified as a verbal.

The three kinds of verbals that we study in this unit are all “double-duty” words that have some of the characteristics of both a verb and another class of words—sometimes a noun, sometimes an adverb or an adjective.

Look at the word verbal. As its name suggests, every verbal is formed from a ____.

The three kinds of verbals that we study in this unit are all “double-duty” words that have some of the characteristics of both a verb and another class of words—sometimes a noun, sometimes an adverb or an adjective.

Look at the word verbal. As its name suggests, every verbal is formed from a verb.

a cold wind

Because the word cold modifies the noun wind, it is an ________.

a cold wind

Because the word cold modifies the noun wind, it is an adjective.

a stinging wind

Because the word stinging modifies the noun wind, it is also an ________.

a stinging wind

Because the word stinging modifies the noun wind, it is also an adjective.

a cold, stinging wind

Which adjective was formed from a verb—cold or stinging?

a cold, stinging wind

Which adjective was formed from a verb—cold or stinging?

a stinging wind

The adjective stinging was formed by adding ___ to the verb sting.

a stinging wind

The adjective stinging was formed by adding ing to the verb sting.

An adjective that is formed by adding –ing to a verb is called a present participle. We can turn any verb into a present participle by adding –ing to it (sometimes making a minor change in the spelling).

The present participle form of the verb lose is _____.

An adjective that is formed by adding –ing to a verb is called a present participle. We can turn any verb into a present participle by adding –ing to it (sometimes making a minor change in the spelling).

The present participle form of the verb lose is losing.

The present participle form of the verb win is _______.

The present participle form of the verb win is winning.

In which sentence does a present participle modify the noun team? (a, b)

a. We have a good team.b. We have a winning team.

In which sentence does a present participle modify the noun team? (a, b)

a. We have a good team.b. We have a winning team.

The present participle reading is completed by the direct object ________.

I found Roy reading a magazine. (Roy read magazine)

Besides being formed from a verb, a present participle resembles a verb in still another way; It may take a direct object or a subject compliment, as no ordinary adjective can do.

The present participle reading is completed by the direct object magazine.

I found Roy reading a magazine. (Roy read magazine)

Besides being formed from a verb, a present participle resembles a verb in still another way; It may take a direct object or a subject compliment, as no ordinary adjective can do.

The present participle feeling is completed by the subject compliment ________.

I found Roy feeling lonesome. (Roy feel lonesome.)

The present participle feeling is completed by the subject compliment lonesome.

I found Roy feeling lonesome. (Roy feel lonesome.)

The present participle believing is modified by the adverb ______.

The lawyer defended her client, believing firmly in his innocence.

Like the verb from which it is made, a present participle may be modified by an adverb.

The present participle believing is modified by the adverb firmly.

The lawyer defended her client, believing firmly in his innocence.

Like the verb from which it is made, a present participle may be modified by an adverb.

The participial phrase modifies the noun ___.

The dog, shivering with cold, came into the house.

Participles—with their related words—form useful phrases known as participial phrases. These phrases are used as adjectives to modify nouns and pronouns.

The participial phrase modifies the noun dog.

The dog, shivering with cold, came into the house.

Participles—with their related words—form useful phrases known as participial phrases. These phrases are used as adjectives to modify nouns and pronouns.

Can a participial phrase be some distance away from the noun it modifies? (yes, no)

Shivering with cold, the dog came into the house.

The dog, shivering with cold, came into the house.

The dog came into the house, shivering with cold.

A participial phrase can often be shifted about.

Can a participial phrase be some distance away from the noun it modifies? (yes, no)

Shivering with cold, the dog came into the house.

The dog, shivering with cold, came into the house.

The dog came into the house, shivering with cold.

A participial phrase can often be shifted about.

The participial phrase is separated by several words from the word it modifies, the noun _____.

The train roared past, leaving a trail of smoke.

The participial phrase is separated by several words from the word it modifies, the noun train.

The train roared past, leaving a trail of smoke.

All three word groups modify the noun ___.

ADJECTIVE PHRASE: a girl with a dogADJECTIVE CLAUSE: a girl who was

walking her dogPARTICIPIAL PHRASE: a girl walking her

dog

We now have become acquainted with three kinds of word groups that are used like adjectives to modify nouns.

All three word groups modify the noun girl.

ADJECTIVE PHRASE: a girl with a dogADJECTIVE CLAUSE: a girl who was

walking her dogPARTICIPIAL PHRASE: a girl walking her

dog

We now have become acquainted with three kinds of word groups that are used like adjectives to modify nouns.

To change the italicized sentence to a participial phrase, drop the subject We and change the verb heard to the present participle _______.

(We) heard a loud crash. We rushed to the window.

Hearing a loud crash, We rushed to the window.

To change a sentence to a participial phrase is simple.

To change the italicized sentence to a participial phrase, drop the subject We and change the verb heard to the present participle hearing.

(We) heard a loud crash. We rushed to the window.

Hearing a loud crash, We rushed to the window.

To change a sentence to a participial phrase is simple.

To change the italicized sentence to a participial phrase, drop the subject I and change the verb thought to the present participle ______.

I picked up the hot pan. (I) thought it was cold.

I picked up the hot pan, thinking it was cold.

To change the italicized sentence to a participial phrase, drop the subject I and change the verb thought to the present participle thinking.

I picked up the hot pan. (I) thought it was cold.

I picked up the hot pan, thinking it was cold.

In changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase, we lost the subject ___.

(Bob) needed a haircut. He looked for a barber shop.

Needing a haircut, he looked for a barber shop.

In changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase, we lost the subject Bob.

(Bob) needed a haircut. He looked for a barber shop.

Needing a haircut, he looked for a barber shop.

To let the reader know the name of the person you’re writing about, you must substitute Bob for the pronoun ___ in the main statement.

(Bob) needed a haircut. He looked for a barber shop.

Needing a haircut, he looked for a barber shop.

(Bob)

To let the reader know the name of the person you’re writing about, you must substitute Bob for the pronoun he in the main statement.

(Bob) needed a haircut. He looked for a barber shop.

Needing a haircut, he looked for a barber shop.

(Bob)

If you lose a noun when making a participial phrase, put this noun back at the beginning of your main statement.

Aunt Mae lives alone. She is often lonesome for company.

What goes in the blank space?

Living alone, _________ is often lonesome for company.

If you lose a noun when making a participial phrase, put this noun back at the beginning of your main statement.

Aunt Mae lives alone. She is often lonesome for company.

What goes in the blank space?

Living alone, Aunt Mae is often lonesome for company.

Which two sentences you subordinate depends on which idea you prefer to put in the background if the sentence.

a. Reaching for the sugar, I knocked over a glass.

b. I reached for the sugar, knocking over a glass.

Which of the two sentences emphasizes the accident that occurred? (a, b)

Which two sentences you subordinate depends on which idea you prefer to put in the background if the sentence.

a. Reaching for the sugar, I knocked over a glass.

b. I reached for the sugar, knocking over a glass.

Which of the two sentences emphasizes the accident that occurred? (a, b)

a. Reaching for the sugar, I knocked over a glass.

b. I reached for the sugar, knocking over a glass.

Which sentence emphasizes the action that led to the accident? (a, b)

a. Reaching for the sugar, I knocked over a glass.

b. I reached for the sugar, knocking over a glass.

Which sentence emphasizes the action that led to the accident? (a, b)

a. Thinking the paint was dry I sat on the bench.

b. We removed the tree shading the flower beds.

Which sentence requires a comma? (a, b)

Put a comma after any participial phrase that comes at the beginning of a sentence.

a. Thinking the paint was dry I sat on the bench.

b. We removed the tree shading the flower beds.

Which sentence requires a comma? (a, b)

Put a comma after any participial phrase that comes at the beginning of a sentence.

a. We noticed a small dog crossing the busy highway.

b. Attempting to start a conversation I made some remark about the weather.

Which sentence requires a coma? (a, b)

Put a comma after any participial phrase that comes at the beginning of a sentence.

a. We noticed a small dog crossing the busy highway.

b. Attempting to start a conversation I made some remark about the weather.

Which sentence requires a coma? (a, b)

Put a comma after any participial phrase that comes at the beginning of a sentence.

a. We found Mr. Ling hoeing his garden.

b. Mr. ling was in the back year hoeing his garden.

Which sentence requires a coma? (a, b)

When a participial phrase ends a sentence, look for the word it modifies. If it modifies the subject at the other end of the sentence, set it off with a comma.

a. We found Mr. Ling hoeing his garden.

b. Mr. ling was in the back year hoeing his garden.

Which sentence requires a coma? (a, b)

When a participial phrase ends a sentence, look for the word it modifies. If it modifies the subject at the other end of the sentence, set it off with a comma.

a. The director took us through the museum explaining all the important pictures.

b. The museum sold a guidebook explaining all the important pictures.

Which sentence requires a coma because the participial phrase that ends the sentence modifies the subject? (a, b)

a. The director took us through the museum explaining all the important pictures.

b. The museum sold a guidebook explaining all the important pictures.

Which sentence requires a coma because the participial phrase that ends the sentence modifies the subject? (a, b)

Write the following answers on your own sheet of paper.

I read the list of winners. I hoped to see my name.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

EXAMPLE:

I read the list of winners. I hoped to see my name.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

EXAMPLE:

I read the list of winners, hoping to see my name.

1. Fred stood at the window. He saw the lightning strike.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

Be sure to change the italicized sentence—not the main statement—to a participial phrase. If you lose your subject in so doing, put it back at the start of the main statement.

1. Fred stood at the window. He saw the lightning strike.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

Be sure to change the italicized sentence—not the main statement—to a participial phrase. If you lose your subject in so doing, put it back at the start of the main statement.

2. Reverend Jesse Jackson stresses education. He maintains it is key to success.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

Be sure to change the italicized sentence—not the main statement—to a participial phrase. If you lose your subject in so doing, put it back at the start of the main statement.

3. Mrs. Kern held on to the purse-snatcher. She shouted for help.

(HINT: Don’t lose Mrs. Kern in your revision.)

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

Be sure to change the italicized sentence—not the main statement—to a participial phrase. If you lose your subject in so doing, put it back at the start of the main statement.

4. The company expected a strike and bought a large amount of steel.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

Eliminate the and by changing the italicized statement to a participial phrase.

5. We walked along the shore and looked for a place to swim.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

Eliminate the and by changing the italicized statement to a participial phrase.

6. Lita worked until midnight and finally completed her essay.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

7. A milk truck overturned and caused a traffic jam.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

8. Several planes circled the airport and waited their turn to land.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

9. A present participle always ends with the letters ___.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

10. A participle is considered a verbal because it has the characteristics of both a verb and an _______.

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

11. A participial phrase can come either before or after the noun it modifies (true, false).

Combine each pair of sentences by changing the italicized sentence to a participial phrase. Insert a comma wherever needed.

You are done!!!