Educational worksheet focusing on participles and participial phrases, designed to help students identify and understand their usage in sentences.

Let's solve this worksheet step by step. The task is to underline the participle or participial phrase in each sentence.

First, recall:

- A participle is a verb form used as an adjective (usually ending in *-ing* or *-ed*).
- A participial phrase includes the participle plus its modifiers and complements. It acts as an adjective describing a noun or pronoun.

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Now, let’s go through each sentence and identify the participle or participial phrase.

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1. Laughing, Dave rescued the whining puppy from the high bed.
✔ "Laughing" – present participle modifying "Dave".
🔹 *Underline: Laughing*

2. Chosen by the selection committee, Cindy felt extremely honored.
✔ "Chosen by the selection committee" – past participle phrase modifying "Cindy".
🔹 *Underline: Chosen by the selection committee*

3. Leaping over the hurdles, Cindy appeared as graceful as an antelope.
✔ "Leaping over the hurdles" – present participle phrase modifying "Cindy".
🔹 *Underline: Leaping over the hurdles*

4. The burned brownies did not satisfy my chocolate craving.
✔ "Burned" – past participle modifying "brownies".
🔹 *Underline: burned*

5. Running quickly, the policeman caught the burglar.
✔ "Running quickly" – present participle phrase modifying "policeman".
🔹 *Underline: Running quickly*

6. After tripping on my shoes, my mother demanded that I put them away.
⚠️ Note: "After tripping on my shoes" is a prepositional phrase with a gerund ("tripping"), not a participle used adjectivally. But "tripping" here is a gerund, not a participle acting as an adjective.
✘ So, no participial phrase here — but wait! Let’s reconsider:
Actually, "tripping" is a present participle used in a prepositional phrase. However, it is not functioning as an adjective modifying a noun; it's part of the preposition "after". So not a participial phrase modifying a noun.
✔ Therefore, no participial phrase in this sentence.
But the instruction says to underline the participle or participial phrase — so if there is none, we skip? Wait — actually, “tripping” is a participle, but it's not modifying a noun; it's the object of the preposition. So it's not a participial phrase used as an adjective.
So, this sentence does not have a participial phrase modifying a noun.
But let's check again:
"After tripping on my shoes" — this is a prepositional phrase, and "tripping" is a gerund (noun), not a participle functioning as an adjective.
So, no participle or participial phrase in this sentence.
✘ Skip?

Wait — maybe it's a participial phrase? No — because it's not modifying a noun. It's the object of the preposition "after".

So, no participial phrase here.

But let's see what the expected answer might be. Perhaps they consider it a participial phrase? Actually, no. This is a gerund phrase used as the object of a preposition.

So, no participial phrase in #6.

But wait — look at #7:

7. Before applying for this job, I need to read the requirements carefully.
Same issue: "applying" is a gerund (object of "before"). Not a participial phrase.

So both #6 and #7 are similar.

But let’s double-check:
A participial phrase must modify a noun. In #6, "tripping on my shoes" is not modifying any noun — it’s the object of "after".

So, no participial phrase in #6.

But perhaps the worksheet expects us to include it anyway? Let’s look at other sentences.

Wait — actually, some teachers might accept "tripping on my shoes" as a participial phrase, but grammatically, it’s not — it’s a gerund phrase.

So, #6 has no participial phrase.

But let's move on and come back.

8. Wrapped in crispy bacon, the green beans were delicious.
✔ "Wrapped in crispy bacon" – past participle phrase modifying "green beans".
🔹 *Underline: Wrapped in crispy bacon*

9. Having completed the training program, Henry was ready to go to work.
✔ "Having completed the training program" – perfect participle phrase modifying "Henry".
🔹 *Underline: Having completed the training program*

10. Unprepared for the bad news, the family burst into tears.
✔ "Unprepared for the bad news" – past participle phrase modifying "family".
Note: "Unprepared" is a past participle used as an adjective.
🔹 *Underline: Unprepared for the bad news*

11. Being the best on my team, I was shocked when Jim was chosen as the captain.
✔ "Being the best on my team" – present participle phrase modifying "I".
🔹 *Underline: Being the best on my team*

12. Jill and Terrie tired from working out decided to take a nap.
⚠️ Here, "tired from working out" is a past participle phrase modifying "Jill and Terrie".
"tired" is the past participle, and "from working out" is a prepositional phrase modifying "tired".
So, yes — "tired from working out" is a participial phrase.
🔹 *Underline: tired from working out*

13. Abandoned animals need somebody to take care of them.
✔ "Abandoned" – past participle modifying "animals".
🔹 *Underline: Abandoned*

14. The swinging door makes scary noises in the night.
✔ "swinging" – present participle modifying "door".
🔹 *Underline: swinging*

15. Being held for ransom, the kidnap victims waited to be rescued.
✔ "Being held for ransom" – present perfect passive participle phrase modifying "kidnap victims".
🔹 *Underline: Being held for ransom*

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Now, going back to #6 and #7:

6. After tripping on my shoes, my mother demanded...
- "tripping" is a gerund, not a participle used adjectivally.
- The phrase "After tripping..." is a prepositional phrase with a gerund.
→ So, no participial phrase.

7. Before applying for this job, I need to read...
- Same logic: "applying" is a gerund, not a participle used as an adjective.
→ No participial phrase.

But wait — some grammar sources might say that "tripping" and "applying" are participles, but in these contexts, they are gerunds because they are the objects of prepositions.

So, only underline if it's a participle functioning as an adjective.

Therefore, #6 and #7 do not contain participial phrases.

But let’s check the original directions:
> Underline the participle or participial phrase in each sentence.

So, every sentence should have one? That suggests that even #6 and #7 might be expected to have answers.

Wait — maybe we’re missing something.

Let’s re-analyze:

In #6:
"After tripping on my shoes" — "tripping" is a present participle, but used as a gerund (noun) after "after".

So, it's not a participial phrase.

Similarly, #7: "Before applying..." — same thing.

So unless the worksheet considers gerund phrases as participial phrases (which they are not), then these two don’t have participial phrases.

But perhaps the intended answer is:

6. tripping on my shoes — but that’s a gerund phrase.

Alternatively, maybe the worksheet assumes all -ing forms are participles, even when used as nouns.

But grammatically, participial phrases are adjective phrases, not noun phrases.

So, correctly, only sentences where the -ing or -ed form modifies a noun should be underlined.

Thus, #6 and #7 do NOT have participial phrases.

But let’s look at the model answers typically given.

Wait — perhaps in #6, "tripping" is not a participle — it’s a gerund.

So, final decision:

Only underline if the -ing or -ed word is modifying a noun.

So, #6 and #7 are exceptions — no participial phrases.

But let’s check #12 again:

12. Jill and Terrie tired from working out decided to take a nap.
Yes — "tired" is a past participle modifying "Jill and Terrie".

So, yes.

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Final Answers (with underlines):

1. Laughing
2. Chosen by the selection committee
3. Leaping over the hurdles
4. burned
5. Running quickly
6. ✘ No participial phrase → but if required, maybe "tripping"? But no, it's a gerund.
→ Leave blank
7. ✘ No participial phrase → "applying" is a gerund
8. Wrapped in crispy bacon
9. Having completed the training program
10. Unprepared for the bad news
11. Being the best on my team
12. tired from working out
13. Abandoned
14. swinging
15. Being held for ransom

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But since the worksheet says "in each sentence", and there are 15 sentences, likely they expect an answer for all.

So, perhaps the intention is to underline any -ing or -ed form that could be a participle, even if it's a gerund.

But that would be incorrect.

Alternatively, maybe in #6 and #7, the -ing words are considered participles.

But grammatically, no.

Let’s consult standard grammar:
- Participle: verb form used as an adjective (e.g., "the running water")
- Gerund: verb form used as a noun (e.g., "running is fun")

In #6: "After tripping..." — "tripping" is the object of "after", so it's a noun → gerund

So, not a participle.

Therefore, only underline when it's clearly modifying a noun.

So, correct answers:

1. Laughing
2. Chosen by the selection committee
3. Leaping over the hurdles
4. burned
5. Running quickly
6. (no participial phrase)
7. (no participial phrase)
8. Wrapped in crispy bacon
9. Having completed the training program
10. Unprepared for the bad news
11. Being the best on my team
12. tired from working out
13. Abandoned
14. swinging
15. Being held for ransom

But since the worksheet says "in each sentence", and assuming it’s designed for students, perhaps they want all -ing/-ed forms underlined, regardless.

But that would be wrong.

Alternatively, maybe #6 and #7 are meant to be interpreted differently.

Wait — in #6: "After tripping on my shoes" — could "tripping" be a participle modifying "mother"? No — it's not modifying her; it's explaining why she demanded.

So, no.

Therefore, only sentences 1–5, 8–15 have participial phrases.

But #6 and #7 are the only ones without.

So, likely, the worksheet expects:

6. tripping on my shoes — but that’s incorrect.

Alternatively, perhaps "tripping" is a participle, and the phrase is a participial phrase.

But it's not modifying a noun.

So, I think the correct answers are:

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✔ Correct Answer Key:

1. Laughing
2. Chosen by the selection committee
3. Leaping over the hurdles
4. burned
5. Running quickly
6. ✘ No participial phrase
7. ✘ No participial phrase
8. Wrapped in crispy bacon
9. Having completed the training program
10. Unprepared for the bad news
11. Being the best on my team
12. tired from working out
13. Abandoned
14. swinging
15. Being held for ransom

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But since this is a classroom worksheet, and many teachers might accept "tripping" and "applying" as participles, even though they're gerunds, you might see:

6. tripping on my shoes
7. applying for this job

But grammatically, that’s incorrect.

So, the best answer is to underline only when the phrase is modifying a noun.

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✔ Final Answer (as per grammar rules):

1. Laughing
2. Chosen by the selection committee
3. Leaping over the hurdles
4. burned
5. Running quickly
6. *(no participial phrase)*
7. *(no participial phrase)*
8. Wrapped in crispy bacon
9. Having completed the training program
10. Unprepared for the bad news
11. Being the best on my team
12. tired from working out
13. Abandoned
14. swinging
15. Being held for ransom

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Explanation Summary:

- Participles are verb forms used as adjectives.
- Participial phrases include the participle + modifiers/complements.
- Only underline if the -ing or -ed form is modifying a noun.
- Gerunds (verb forms used as nouns) are not participles, even if they end in -ing.

So, #6 and #7 use gerund phrases as objects of prepositions — not participial phrases.

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If your teacher expects answers for all 15, then they may accept:

6. tripping on my shoes
7. applying for this job

But strictly speaking, those are gerund phrases, not participial phrases.

For accuracy, stick with the first list.

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Let me know if you'd like the worksheet with the underlines marked!