Be careful of Past Participle (Skill 5)

Previous skill: Be careful with present participle (skill 4)

Past Participle is verb III of a verb, such and was)as studied, taught, cooked and many others. Past participles can cause confusion in structure questions on the TOEFL test because a past participle can be either an adjective or a part of a verb. 

1. As a part of a verb.

Past participle functions as a part of a verb if it is accompanied by have, has, had and to be (am, is, are, were and was). Example:

The family has purchased a television.

  VERB

The poem was written by Paul.

         VERB

1. In the first sentence the past participle purchased is part of the verb because it is accompanied by has.
2. In the second sentence the past participle written is part of the verb because it is accompanied by was.

2. As an adjective

Past participle functions as an adjective if it is not accompanied by have, has, had and to be. Example:

The television purchased yesterday was expensive.

                                                                ADJECTIVE

The poem written by Paul appeared in the magazine.

                                                       ADJECTIVE

• In the first sentence purchased is an adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or have (and there is a verb, was, later in the sentence). 
• In the second sentence written is an adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or have (and there is a verb, appeared, later in the sentence).

The following example shows how a past participle can be confused with the verb in structure questions on the TOEFL test.

Example:

The packages............. mailed at post office will arrive Monday.

(A) have
(B) were
(C) them
(D) just

• In this example, if you look only at the first few words of the sentence, it appears that packages is the subject and mailed is either a complete verb or a past participle that needs a helping verb. But if you look further in the sentence, you will see that the verb is will arrive. You will then recognize that mailed is a participial adjective and is therefore not part of the verb. Answers (A) and (B) are incorrect because mailed is an adjective and does not need a helping verb such as have or were. Answer (C) is incorrect because there is no need for the object them. Answer (D) is the best answer to this question.

The following chart outlines what you should remember about past participles:

PAST PARTICIPLES

A past participle often ends in -ed, but there are also many irregular past participles. For many verbs, including -ed verbs, the simple past and the past participle are the same and can be easily confused. The -ed form of the verb can be (I) the simple past (2) the past participle of a verb, or (3) an adjective.

1. She painted this picture.

2. She has painted this picture.

3. The picture painted by Karen is now in a museum.

EXERCISE 5: Each of the following sentences contains one or more past participles. Circle the past participles and label them as adjectives or verbs. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1. The money was offered by the client was not accepted. (I)

    Analysis:

• was offered should be offered only and function as as adjective.
• Correct sentence should be The money offered by the client was not accepted.

2. The car listed in the advertisement had already stalled. (C)

    Analysis:

• listed function as an adjective.
• The Subject is car and verb is had already stalled.

3. The chapters were taught by the professor this morning will be on next week's exam. (I)

    Analysis:

• were taught should be taught only and functions as an adjective, not part of a verb.
• Correct sentence should be The chapters taught by professors this morning will be on next week's exam.

4. The loaves of bread were baked in a brick oven at a low temperature for many hours. (C)

    Analysis:

• baked is part of a verb. Subject is loaves of bread and Verb is were baked.

5. The ports were reached by the sailors were under the control of a foreign nation. (I)

    Analysis:

• were reached should be reached only and functions as adjective.
• Subject is ports and verb is were.
• Correct sentence is the ports reached by the sailors were under the control of a foreign nation.

6. Those suspected in the string of robberies were arrested by the police.(C)

    Analysis:

• arrested is part of a verb. Subject is robberies and verb is were arrested.

7. The pizza is served in this restaurant is the tastiest in the county. (I)

    Analysis:

• is served should be served only and functions as adjective.
• Subject is pizza and verb is is correct sentence should be The pizza served in this restaurant is the tastiest in the country.

8. The courses are listed on the second page of the brochure have several prerequisites. (I)

    Analysis:

• are listed should be listed and functions as adjective, not part of a verb.
• Subject is courses and verb is have.
• Correct answer should be The course listed on the second page of the brochure have several prerequisites.

9. All the tenants were invited to the Independence Day barbeque at the apartment complex. (C)

    Analysis:

• invited is part of a verb. 
• Subject is tenants and verb is were.

10. Any bills paid by the first of the month will be credited to your account by the next day. (C)

      Analysis:

• paid is adjective.
• Subject is bills and verb is will be.