Participles Worksheets - 15 Worksheets Library - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet step by step. The task is to complete each sentence with a participle, using the verb in parentheses as a clue.

A participle is a word derived from a verb that functions as an adjective. There are two types:
- Present participle: ending in *-ing* (e.g., running, eating)
- Past participle: usually ending in *-ed* or irregular forms (e.g., eaten, written)

We'll use the correct form of the verb in parentheses to create a participle that modifies a noun in the sentence.

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1. Every car stopped for the __________ ducks. (to cross)

Answer: *crossing*
Explanation: "Crossing" is the present participle of "to cross." It describes the ducks who are in the process of crossing.
✔ *"Every car stopped for the crossing ducks."*

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2. Janet won the __________ contest. (to spell)

Answer: *spelling*
Explanation: "Spelling" is the present participle used here as an adjective modifying "contest."
✔ *"Janet won the spelling contest."*

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3. I notified the __________ applicant. (to select)

Answer: *selected*
Explanation: "Selected" is the past participle of "to select." It describes the applicant who has been chosen.
✔ *"I notified the selected applicant."*

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4. I like this __________ product. (to clean)

Answer: *cleaning*
Explanation: "Cleaning" is the present participle, describing the product's purpose — it’s a product used for cleaning.
✔ *"I like this cleaning product."*

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5. These are my __________ parents. (to adopt)

Answer: *adopted*
Explanation: "Adopted" is the past participle, indicating that the parents were adopted (they are not biological).
✔ *"These are my adopted parents."*

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6. The __________ stone dazzled me. (to shine)

Answer: *shining*
Explanation: "Shining" is the present participle, describing the stone that is currently shining.
✔ *"The shining stone dazzled me."*

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7. The __________ gelatin was green. (to quiver)

Answer: *quivering*
Explanation: "Quivering" is the present participle, describing the gelatin that is trembling or vibrating.
✔ *"The quivering gelatin was green."*

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8. He has a reputation for __________ his work. (to shrink)

Answer: *shrinking*
Explanation: "Shrinking" is the present participle used after "for," forming a gerund phrase ("for shrinking").
✔ *"He has a reputation for shrinking his work."*

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9. Without exactly __________, I shrugged. (to confess)

Answer: *confessing*
Explanation: "Confessing" is the present participle, part of the phrase "without exactly confessing" — meaning he didn't openly admit something.
✔ *"Without exactly confessing, I shrugged."*

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10. __________ cookies always makes me happy. (to eat)

Answer: *Eating*
Explanation: "Eating" is the present participle (gerund), acting as the subject of the sentence.
✔ *"Eating cookies always makes me happy."*

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11. He left the __________ meat on the counter. (to thaw)

Answer: *thawing*
Explanation: "Thawing" is the present participle, describing the meat that is in the process of thawing.
✔ *"He left the thawing meat on the counter."*

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12. He has a reputation for __________. (to produce)

Answer: *producing*
Explanation: "Producing" is the present participle (gerund), used after "for" to describe what he is known for.
✔ *"He has a reputation for producing."*

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✔ Final Answers:

1. crossing
2. spelling
3. selected
4. cleaning
5. adopted
6. shining
7. quivering
8. shrinking
9. confessing
10. Eating
11. thawing
12. producing

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