PARTICIPLE PHRASES
275. If you will refer now to Lesson 9 you will find that we studied in that lesson concerning participle phrases; that is, several words used as a participle. We found that these participle phrases may also be used as nouns; as, for example:
- His having joined the union caused him to lose his position.
Having joined is here a participle phrase used as a noun, subject of the verb caused. Participle phrases may also be used as adjectives.
You remember that we had four participle phrases, as follows:
- Present perfect, active, having called.
- Present perfect, passive, having been called.
- Progressive, active, having been calling.
- Progressive, passive, being called.
These participle phrases are used as adjectives to describe and modify nouns, thus:
- The soldier, having joined his comrades, fought in the trenches.
- The nurse, having been watching for days, was nearly exhausted.
The passive phrases also are used as adjectives, thus:
- The woman, having been hired by the manager, went to work.
- The man, being attacked, fought bravely.
Here the participle phrases having been hired and being attacked are used as adjectives to modify the nouns woman and man.
Use the participles and participle phrases of the verbs see and obey in sentences of your own.