Grammar: Word classes: Verbs: Verb formation

Participles (-ing/-ed)

Using participles to describe & classify

Participles can also do a similar job to adjectives, ie they describe and classify:

The tired children ...
      adjective (describer)

The sleeping children ...
        adjective (classifer)

Students often have some problems with the use of participles for adjectives. They also tend to overuse the -ing form for adjectives. 

For more about the problems that students have with participles, click here:

For some teaching suggestions to help your students think about the correct participle form to use, click here:

For more information, see Grammar: Word classes: Adjectives: Overview  

For a PrimeTeach teaching activity which provides KS2 students with practice in using participles as adjectives, see:

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