Year 3 · Unit 3 · Lesson 1 of 5
Participle Phrases: Smooth, Smart Sentences
Running down the hill, the kite rose into the sky.
Something in this sentence is impossible. What is it?
The sentence says that the kite was running down the hill. The phrase "Running down the hill" attaches itself to the nearest noun, so it must describe the person who ran: "Running down the hill, Leo watched the kite rise." This error is called a dangling participle.
Master the essentials
Present participle phrase
An -ing phrase shows an action happening at the same time as the main verb.
"Holding the kite, Leo climbed the hill."
Past participle phrase
An -ed or -en phrase has a passive meaning or describes a state.
"Made by his sister, the kite was precious." · "Exhausted, he sat down."
Perfect participle phrase
Having + past participle shows that one action finished before another.
"Having checked the line, he lifted the kite."
Position
A participle phrase can come at the start, in the middle or at the end.
"The kite, torn by the wind, fell." · "He sat down, breathing hard."
Commas
Separate the participle phrase from the main clause with commas.
"Shaking with cold, the boy waited."
Dangling participles
The subject of the main clause must be the one doing the participle.
✗ "Walking to school, a fox crossed my path." ✓ "Walking to school, I saw a fox."
Not a sentence on its own
A participle phrase has no main verb, so alone it is a fragment.
✗ "Running down the hill." ✓ "Running down the hill, he fell."
Why use them
They combine two ideas in one smooth sentence and vary sentence openings.
"Leo checked the line. He lifted the kite." → "Having checked the line, Leo lifted the kite."
See it done
1. Combine using a participle phrase: "Leo checked the line. Then he lifted the kite."
The checking happened first, so use a perfect participle: "Having checked the line, Leo lifted the kite."
2. Fix the dangling participle: "Glued by hand, Mira spent all summer on the kite."
Mira was not glued; the kite was. Put the right subject next to the phrase: "Glued by hand, the kite took Mira all summer to make."
Common mistake: Dangling participles. After a participle phrase, ask: "Who or what is doing this?" The answer must be the subject that comes straight after the comma.
10 questions with instant feedback
Choose the correct answer.
1.___ the kite, Leo climbed the hill.
Correct. Leo was holding it at the same time: present participle.
Not quite. Leo was holding it at the same time: present participle. Answer: A. Holding.
Not quite. Leo was holding it at the same time: present participle. Answer: A. Holding.
Not quite. Leo was holding it at the same time: present participle. Answer: A. Holding.
2.___ by his sister, the kite was very precious to him.
Not quite. The kite was made (passive meaning): past participle. Answer: B. Made.
Correct. The kite was made (passive meaning): past participle.
Not quite. The kite was made (passive meaning): past participle. Answer: B. Made.
Not quite. The kite was made (passive meaning): past participle. Answer: B. Made.
3.___ his homework, he went out to play.
Not quite. "Finishing" suggests he went out while still finishing. Answer: C. Having finished.
Not quite. The homework was finished first: having + past participle. Answer: C. Having finished.
Correct. The homework was finished first: having + past participle.
Not quite. The homework was finished first: having + past participle. Answer: C. Having finished.
4.Which sentence has a dangling participle?
Not quite. The fox was not walking to school. Answer: D. Walking to school, a fox crossed my path..
Not quite. The fox was not walking to school. Answer: D. Walking to school, a fox crossed my path..
Not quite. The fox was not walking to school. Answer: D. Walking to school, a fox crossed my path..
Correct. The fox was not walking to school.
5.Where should the comma go? "Shaking with cold the boy waited for the bus."
Not quite. The comma ends the participle phrase: "Shaking with cold, the boy…" Answer: D. after "cold".
Not quite. The comma ends the participle phrase: "Shaking with cold, the boy…" Answer: D. after "cold".
Not quite. The comma ends the participle phrase: "Shaking with cold, the boy…" Answer: D. after "cold".
Correct. The comma ends the participle phrase: "Shaking with cold, the boy…"
6.He sat down, ___ heavily.
Not quite. An -ing phrase at the end adds an action happening at the same time. Answer: C. breathing.
Not quite. An -ing phrase at the end adds an action happening at the same time. Answer: C. breathing.
Correct. An -ing phrase at the end adds an action happening at the same time.
Not quite. An -ing phrase at the end adds an action happening at the same time. Answer: C. breathing.
7.Which is a sentence fragment?
Correct. It has no main verb and no subject.
Not quite. It has no main verb and no subject. Answer: A. Running down the hill..
Not quite. It has no main verb and no subject. Answer: A. Running down the hill..
Not quite. It has no main verb and no subject. Answer: A. Running down the hill..
8.Combine: "The letter was written in pencil. It was hard to read."
Not quite. This says the letter was doing the writing. Answer: B. Written in pencil, the letter was hard to read..
Correct. The letter was written (passive): past participle.
Not quite. The letter was written (passive): past participle. Answer: B. Written in pencil, the letter was hard to read..
Not quite. The letter was written (passive): past participle. Answer: B. Written in pencil, the letter was hard to read..
9.___ the door, she switched on the light. (She opened it first.)
Correct. One action before another: having + past participle.
Not quite. One action before another: having + past participle. Answer: A. Having opened.
Not quite. One action before another: having + past participle. Answer: A. Having opened.
Not quite. One action before another: having + past participle. Answer: A. Having opened.
10.Which sentence correctly fixes "Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog"?
Not quite. Now the dog is the one barking. Answer: C. Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman..
Not quite. Now the dog is the one barking. Answer: C. Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman..
Correct. Now the dog is the one barking.
Not quite. Now the dog is the one barking. Answer: C. Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman..
Combine the sentences
Join each pair into one sentence using a participle phrase. Then check below.
1. The kite climbed into the sky. It looked like a red flame.
2. Leo was tired of waiting. He sat down on the grass.
3. He had sent the message. He put his phone away.
1. The kite climbed into the sky, looking like a red flame.
2. Tired of waiting, Leo sat down on the grass.
3. Having sent the message, he put his phone away.
Next: the Lesson 1 exit quiz. Five questions, recorded on your dashboard. Aim for 4 out of 5.