SKILL 2: BE CAREFULL OF PAST PARTICPLES
Past
participles can cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test
because a past participle can be either an adjective or a part of a verb. The
past participle is the form of the verb that appears with have or be. It often
ends in -ed, but there are also many irregular past participles in English.
(See Appendix F for a list of irregular past participles.)
For
example:
1. The family has purchased a television. (verb)
2. The poem was written by Paul. (verb)
In the first sentence
the past participle purchased is part of the verb because it is accompanied by
has. In the second sentence the past participle written is part of the verb
because it is accompanied by was.
A past participle is an
adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of be or have.
For
example:
1. The television purchased yesterday was expensive. (adjective)
2. 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
the structure section of the TOEFL test.
The
packages____ mailed at the 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.
EXERCISE:
Each of the following sentences contains one
or more past participles. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice.
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.
________ 2. The car listed in the advertisement had already
stalled.
________ 3. The chapters were taught by the professor 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.
________ 5. The ports were reached by the sailors were under the control
of a foreign nation.
________ 6. Those suspected in the string of robberies were arrested by
police.
________7.The pizza is 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.
________ 9. All the tenants were invited to the Independence Day
barbecue at the apartment
complex.
________ 10. Any bills paid by the first of the month will be credited
to your account by the next day.
Answer key:
____I____ 1. The money was offered by the client was not accepted.
____C____ 2. The car listed in the advertisement had already stalled.
____I____ 3. The chapters were taught by the professor this
morning will be on next
week’s exam.
____C____ 4. The loaves of
bread were baked in a brick oven at a
low temperature for many hours.
____I____ 5. The ports were reached by the sailors were under the control of a
foreign nation.
____C____ 6. Those suspected in the string of robberies were arrested by police.
____I____7.The pizza is served in this restaurant is
the tastiest in the country.
____I____ 8. The courses are listed on the second page of
the brochure have several
prerequisites.
____C____ 9. All the tenants were invited to the Independence
Day barbecue at the apartment
complex.
____C____ 10. Any bills paid by the first of the month will be credited to your account
by the next day.
Noted:
Block as Subject
Block and underline as verb
Italic as past particple
