Participle Example Sentences for Tenses and Passive Verbs

A participle is a verb form that forms part of a verb tense or describes a noun, as in walking, broken, and written. These 357 participle example sentences are written for continuous and perfect tenses, passive sentences, adjectives, participle phrases, irregular forms, questions, and everyday contexts from home to sports. You get model sentences for speaking, essays, and exam practice, together with related practice on participle clauses, participial phrases, and gerunds.

Quick Answer: Participle Example Sentences

• Continuous tense: Priya is writing a letter to her aunt.
• Perfect tense: The guests have arrived at the hotel.
• Passive: The bridge was repaired last year.
• Present participle as adjective: The howling wind kept us awake.
• Past participle as adjective: A cracked cup sat on the table.
• After a noun: The man carrying the box is my uncle.
• At the start: Hearing the bell, the pupils ran inside.
• Perfect participle: Having locked the door, Ravi left.

Participle Example Sentences for Everyday Use

A participle is used in a verb tense, before a noun, after a noun, and at the start of a sentence, as in “walking”, “frozen”, and “won”.

1. The girl walking her dog is my cousin.
2. Someone has broken the window in the hall.
3. The letter was written in blue ink.
4. We heard the choir singing in the church.
5. Tariq is learning to play the cello.
6. She has finished her homework already.
7. The frozen lake was safe enough for skating.
8. Hassan came home tired after a double shift.
9. The smiling waiter brought us two glasses of water.
10. The old farm was sold at auction last spring.
11. Walking home through the park, Ines saw a fox.
12. The film recommended by my teacher was wonderful.
13. A crying baby woke the whole carriage.
14. Her sister has won a scholarship to study music.
15. Her ripped jeans were the fashion that summer.
16. They were sitting on the steps when the rain began.
17. The stolen bicycle was found in a canal.
18. Luca has taken the dog for a long walk.
19. Excited by the news, the children ran outside.
20. The soup is boiling over the edge of the pot.

Continuous Tense Sentences with Participles

Be plus a present participle forms each continuous tense here, as in “learning”, “staying”, and “taking”.

Participle Example Sentences in the Present Continuous

An -ing form follows am, is, or are, as in “reading”, “repainting”, and “learning”.

1. She is reading a mystery novel on the balcony.
2. The children are building a snowman in the yard.
3. I am waiting for the eight fifteen train.
4. Our neighbours are repainting their fence this week.
5. Listen, someone is knocking at the door.
6. The river is rising after the heavy rain.
7. We are learning about volcanoes in science.
8. Ahmed is cooking dinner for six guests.
9. Look, the baby is taking her first steps.
10. The price of coffee is climbing again this autumn.

Participle Example Sentences in the Past Continuous

Was or were is followed by an -ing form, as in “cycling”, “mowing”, and “sleeping”.

1. Rita was cycling to work when the tyre burst.
2. The students were taking the test when the alarm sounded.
3. It was snowing heavily all night.
4. While Dad was mowing the lawn, the neighbour called over.
5. The musicians were tuning their instruments when the doors opened.
6. We were sitting on the roof at midnight.
7. Khalid was sleeping soundly when the phone rang.
8. At six o’clock the guests were still arriving.
9. The waiter was carrying a tray of glasses.
10. They were arguing loudly about the score.

Participle Example Sentences in the Future Continuous

Will be is followed by an -ing form, as in “flying”, “staying”, and “using”.

1. This time tomorrow I will be flying over the Atlantic.
2. Nadia will be sitting her final exam at ten.
3. We will be staying with relatives in Pune.
4. At noon the crew will be loading the cargo.
5. Will you be using the car this evening?
6. The engineers will be testing the new engine all week.

Participle Example Sentences in the Perfect Continuous

Been plus an -ing form follows have, has, had, or will have, as in “raining”, “digging”, and “baking”.

1. It has been raining since breakfast.
2. Lena has been studying Korean for two years.
3. The workers had been digging all morning before the pipe burst.
4. We have been waiting for an hour.
5. He had been running when he twisted his ankle.
6. The chef has been baking since dawn.
7. By June she will have been teaching for thirty years.
8. How long have you been learning the guitar?

Perfect Tense Sentences with Participles

A past participle follows have, has, had, or will have in each sentence, as in “played”, “gone”, and “risen”.

Participle Example Sentences in the Present Perfect

Have or has is followed by a past participle, as in “finished”, “broken”, and “eaten”.

1. I have finished my homework for tomorrow.
2. She has lived in Cairo since 2015.
3. We have visited the museum twice.
4. The mail has arrived early today.
5. Tomas has broken his tablet again.
6. They have gone to the market.
7. Have you seen my glasses anywhere today?
8. The students have written their essays.
9. My brother has never eaten sushi.
10. Prices have risen sharply this year.
11. Our team has won three matches in a row.
12. She has taught at the same school for ten years.

Participle Example Sentences in the Past Perfect

With had, a past participle forms the past perfect, as in “started”, “lived”, and “gone”.

1. The film had already started when we arrived.
2. After she had eaten, Mia washed the plates.
3. He realised he had left his keys at home.
4. They had lived in Quito before moving to Madrid.
5. By noon the snow had melted.
6. I had never seen the sea until that summer.
7. The train had gone by the time we reached the platform.
8. Because Ines had forgotten her passport, she missed the flight.
9. The bakery had sold every loaf by nine.
10. We had walked for hours before we found the village.

Participle Example Sentences in the Future Perfect

Will have plus a past participle forms the future perfect, as in “finished”, “graduated”, and “saved”.

1. By Friday I will have finished the report.
2. They will have built the bridge by next spring.
3. She will have graduated by the time he returns.
4. By midnight the guests will have eaten everything.
5. Will you have saved enough by December?
6. The team will have played twenty matches by the end of the season.

Passive Sentences with Participles

Passive verbs are formed with a form of be and a past participle, as in “frozen”, “delivered”, and “built”.

Participle Example Sentences in the Present and Past Passive

Am, is, are, was, and were come before the past participle, as in “broken”, “closed”, and “cancelled”.

1. The window was broken by a football.
2. English is spoken at the hotel by all the staff.
3. The cake was baked by my grandmother.
4. These shirts are made in a small factory in Lahore.
5. The road is closed every winter.
6. The letter was delivered on Monday.
7. The suspect was questioned for six hours.
8. Our house was built in 1962.
9. The match was cancelled because of the fog.
10. Rice is grown in the valley south of the town.
11. The tickets were sold within an hour.
12. The winners are announced every June.
13. The children were taught by a retired nurse.

Participle Example Sentences in Longer Passive Forms

Been, be, or being comes before the past participle, as in “repaired”, “cleaned”, and “chased”.

1. The old bridge has been repaired at last.
2. The documents had been signed before noon.
3. The parcel will be delivered tomorrow.
4. The room must be cleaned before the guests arrive.
5. A new library is being built near the park.
6. The invitations have been sent to all the neighbours.
7. The thief was being chased down the street.
8. The report should be finished by Friday.
9. The old school has been turned into a museum.
10. The cake can be frozen for a month.

Adjective Sentences with Participles

Before a noun, a participle describes it, as in “torn”, “lost”, and “sleeping”.

Participle Example Sentences with Present Participles as Adjectives

An -ing form comes before the noun, as in “boiling”, “falling”, and “smiling”.

1. Be careful with the boiling water.
2. A barking dog kept the street awake.
3. Rising prices worried the shoppers at the market.
4. The setting sun painted the hills orange.
5. Falling leaves covered the garden path.
6. The running tap wasted a bucket of water an hour.
7. A flowing river separates the two villages.
8. The sleeping child did not hear the thunder.
9. The smiling guide waved from the front of the bus.
10. A growing problem in the city is traffic.
11. The crying toddler reached for her mother.
12. The shining stars guided the sailors home.

Participle Example Sentences with Past Participles as Adjectives

Before the noun, a past participle describes it, as in “broken”, “wrapped”, and “stolen”.

1. The broken window let in a cold draught.
2. A locked door stopped the visitors.
3. Pablo ordered fried rice and a glass of water.
4. The lost keys turned up in the garden.
5. A wrapped parcel lay on the platform bench.
6. The frozen peas melted on the kitchen counter.
7. Fresh bread and cooked meals filled the market stall.
8. Swahili is a spoken language in many countries.
9. The stolen painting was never returned.
10. A trained nurse runs the village clinic.
11. The sealed envelope contained only a few coins.
12. She read the torn pages aloud.

Phrase and Clause Sentences with Participles

Participles are used at the start of a sentence, after a noun, and in a longer clause, as in “not tired”, “having read”, and “living”.

Participle Example Sentences at the Start of Sentences

A participle phrase begins each sentence, followed by a comma, as in “walking”, “painted”, and “disappointed”.

1. Walking along the beach, Sara found a blue shell.
2. Tired from the journey, the travellers fell asleep at once.
3. Surprised by the noise, Tomas dropped his cup.
4. Waving goodbye, the children boarded the bus.
5. Painted in bright colours, the boat attracted every tourist.
6. Hoping to catch the last train, Iris ran to the station.
7. Written in 1890, the letter was almost unreadable.
8. Opening the door slowly, Hugo peered into the dark room.
9. Disappointed by the result, the coach left quietly.
10. Carrying two heavy bags, Nora climbed the stairs.
11. Left alone in the house, the puppy chewed a slipper.
12. Singing softly, the nurse adjusted the pillows.

Participle Example Sentences After Nouns

After a noun, a participle describes it, as in “standing”, “written”, and “stolen”.

1. The man standing at the gate is my uncle.
2. The cake baked by Rosa won first prize.
3. Students arriving late must sign the register.
4. The book lying on the table belongs to Omar.
5. A letter written in red ink arrived this morning.
6. The girl wearing the yellow scarf is our guide.
7. Houses built on the hill survived the flood.
8. People living near the airport hear the planes all day.
9. The money stolen from the shop was never found.
10. Passengers waiting for the ferry gathered under the shelter.
11. The photograph taken in 1980 shows my grandparents.
12. The woman speaking to the mayor is a doctor.

Participle Example Sentences in Participle Clauses

To give a time, a reason, or a condition, each sentence uses a participle clause, as in “waiting”, “opened”, and “worn”.

1. While waiting for the bus, Joon read the newspaper.
2. Being tired, Zoe went to bed at eight.
3. Seeing the storm clouds, the farmer brought the sheep inside.
4. If heated gently, the sauce thickens without burning.
5. Once opened, the jar must be kept in the fridge.
6. Given more time, the team would have finished the model.
7. Known for his honesty, the mayor won easily.
8. Born in a small village, Amara dreamed of the sea.
9. Worn out by the climb, the hikers rested at the hut.
10. When asked about the delay, the manager apologised.
11. Having no map, they asked a shopkeeper for directions.
12. Unless repaired soon, the old bridge will be closed for good.

Perfect Participle Example Sentences

Having or having been plus a past participle begins each sentence, as in “having finished”, “having eaten”, and “having lived”.

1. Having finished the race, Tomas collapsed on the grass.
2. Having lost his keys, Ravi climbed through the window.
3. Having read the instructions twice, Mei assembled the shelf.
4. Having been warned about the ice, we drove slowly.
5. Having eaten lunch, the children went back to class.
6. Having studied all night, Lena felt confident.
7. Having seen the film before, Marta stayed home.
8. Having been invited, Karim felt obliged to attend.
9. Having lived abroad for years, Chidi spoke four languages.
10. Having promised to call, Hana kept her word.
11. Having missed the bus, they walked to school.
12. Having completed the course, the nurses received certificates.

Negative Participle Example Sentences

Not or never begins each sentence and comes before the participle, as in “not knowing”, “not wanting”, and “not finding”.

1. Not knowing the answer, Ravi stayed silent.
2. Not having a ticket, the man waited outside.
3. Never having flown before, Ada gripped the armrest.
4. Not wanting to be late, we left at six.
5. Not impressed by the offer, the owner refused.
6. Not having been told, Ines arrived early.
7. Not finding the book, he borrowed another.
8. Never having been taught to swim, Ben stayed on the shore.
9. Not seeing a taxi, they walked home.
10. Not tired at all, the children ran around the garden.

Question and Reported Sentences with Participles

Negative sentences, questions, and reported statements contain a participle, as in “repaired”, “building”, and “coming”.

Participle Example Sentences in Negative Sentences

Each sentence has not or n’t before the participle.

1. The children are not sleeping yet.
2. I have not finished my breakfast.
3. The door was not locked last night.
4. She hasn’t eaten anything since early morning.
5. They weren’t waiting for us at the gate.
6. The letter had not arrived by Friday.
7. We aren’t staying for dinner this evening.
8. The windows were not broken by the storm.

Participle Example Sentences in Questions

In questions, the participle follows a form of be or have, as in “coming”, “studying”, and “cancelled”.

1. Are you coming to the party?
2. Have they finished the painting in the hall?
3. Was the shop closed on Sunday?
4. Is Tariq studying for the exam?
5. Where were you going when the rain started?
6. Has anyone seen my blue umbrella today?
7. Why was the match cancelled this afternoon?
8. Were the guests invited by email?
9. Had the guests eaten before the storm began?
10. What are the students building in the workshop?

Participle Example Sentences in Reported Speech

Reports of what someone said, asked, or announced contain a participle, as in “waiting”, “broken”, and “left”.

1. Mia said that she was waiting for a friend.
2. He told us that the road had been closed.
3. Ravi explained that he had broken the vase.
4. The teacher announced that the results were being checked.
5. She said the parcel had already been sent.
6. Tom wondered whether the train had left.
7. They reported that the bridge was being repaired.
8. Anna asked if the work had been done.

Past Participle Form Sentences with Participles

Regular and irregular past participles follow have, has, had, or be, as in “spent”, “read”, and “driven”.

Participle Example Sentences with Regular Past Participles

A regular past participle ending in -ed follows have, has, or had, as in “walked”, “planned”, and “closed”.

1. The boys have walked to school every day this month.
2. The bus has stopped at the corner.
3. Maya had studied French before moving to Lyon.
4. We have lived in this village for ten years.
5. The farmer has planned the harvest carefully.
6. She has carried the shopping home on foot.
7. They have decided to adopt a puppy.
8. He had hoped for better weather.
9. The shop has closed its doors for good.
10. Rohan has tried every flavour of ice cream.
11. The workers have painted the whole corridor.
12. Our team had played well until the last minute.

Participle Example Sentences with -en and -n Endings

An irregular past participle ends in -en or -n, as in “broken”, “driven”, and “spoken”.

1. The storm has broken several windows in the school.
2. Nikhil has taken the early train to Delhi.
3. The children have eaten all the strawberries.
4. Her first novel was written in a small flat in Prague.
5. The driver had driven for nine hours without a break.
6. Anna has given her old bicycle to a neighbour.
7. Our team has chosen a new captain.
8. Leaves had fallen across the whole path.
9. I have seen this film three times.
10. The mayor has spoken to the families of the victims.
11. That village is known for its pottery.
12. The old coat was worn at the elbows.
13. The letter had been torn into small pieces.
14. Samir has forgotten his umbrella again.

Participle Example Sentences with Irregular Participles That Do Not Change

Past participles such as put, cut, and hit have the same form as the base verb, as in “put”, “set”, and “cost”.

1. Beatriz has put the keys on the shelf.
2. The shop has cut its prices for the summer.
3. He had hit the target three times in a row.
4. The sun had set before we reached the hut.
5. They have let the dog out into the garden.
6. The door was shut at nine each evening.
7. The meal has cost more than we planned.
8. Have you read this poem by Neruda?
9. The accident has hurt several passengers.
10. The rumour has spread across the whole town.

Participle Example Sentences with Vowel and Ending Changes

Irregular past participles such as bought, found, sung, and kept change a vowel or an ending, as in “bought”, “begun”, and “kept”.

1. Elena has bought tickets for the concert.
2. The fisherman had caught three trout by noon.
3. Police have found the missing child.
4. The choir has sung in the cathedral every Easter.
5. The lesson has begun without us.
6. The old ship has sunk to the bottom of the bay.
7. The church bell has rung every hour since noon.
8. The children have swum across the lake twice.
9. The thief was held at the border.
10. We have kept the receipt for a year.
11. The company has sold its oldest factory.
12. She has told me the story twice.
13. A new school has been built by the river.
14. The family has spent the summer in the mountains.

Context Sentences with Participles

The settings are homes, classrooms, offices, journeys, newsrooms, stories, sports, and clinics.

Participle Example Sentences for Home Life

At home, the participles describe kitchens, chores, and family routines, as in “baked”, “folded”, and “running”.

1. The smell of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen.
2. A leaking tap kept Dad awake all night.
3. Grandma has folded the blankets and put them away.
4. The sleeping cat lay in a patch of sunlight.
5. We have painted the hallway a pale green.
6. The washing machine is running its last cycle.
7. The cracked mug was thrown away.
8. Mother was sweeping the porch when the postman arrived.

Participle Example Sentences for School Life

In the classroom, the participles describe lessons, homework, and exams, as in “completed”, “reading”, and “revising”.

1. The teacher collected the completed homework on Monday.
2. A raised hand showed that Elif knew the answer.
3. The student reading aloud stumbled over one word.
4. Nearly all the pupils have passed the spelling test.
5. The laughing class fell silent when the head entered.
6. We were revising for the final exam all weekend.
7. The printed worksheets were handed out at the door.
8. The essay submitted by Hana earned top marks.

Participle Example Sentences for Work

At the office, the participles describe offices, contracts, and reports, as in “signed”, “working”, and “typing”.

1. The signed contract is in the top drawer.
2. A ringing phone interrupted the meeting.
3. The team working late finished the proposal at ten.
4. Our manager has approved the new budget.
5. The updated schedule was emailed to everyone.
6. Carla was typing the minutes when the power failed.
7. The firm has hired three engineers this month.
8. The report prepared by Samuel impressed the board.

Participle Example Sentences for Travel

On the road, the participles describe flights, trains, and tourists, as in “delayed”, “standing”, and “leaving”.

1. The delayed flight left two hours late.
2. A crowded platform greeted the commuters.
3. The tourists standing in the queue looked tired.
4. We have booked a room near the harbour.
5. The lost suitcase arrived the next morning.
6. The ferry was leaving just as we reached the pier.
7. Passengers travelling with children may board first.
8. The train arriving at platform four comes from Zurich.

Participle Example Sentences for News Reports

In news reports, the participles describe storms, officials, and public events, as in “rising”, “meeting”, and “growing”.

1. Rising floodwaters forced hundreds to leave their homes.
2. The closed road will reopen on Friday.
3. Officials meeting the press promised a full inquiry.
4. The bridge was damaged in the storm.
5. The council has announced a new recycling plan.
6. A growing number of voters stayed at home.
7. Workers protesting outside the factory demanded higher pay.
8. The injured driver was taken to hospital.

Participle Example Sentences for Stories

Stories describe characters, creatures, and eerie settings with participles, as in “haunted”, “fallen”, and “hidden”.

1. The haunted house stood at the end of the lane.
2. A whispering stranger followed the girl through the market.
3. The fallen knight lay beside his broken sword.
4. The dragon, wounded in the battle, flew back to its cave.
5. The villagers were hiding in the cellar.
6. A hidden door opened behind the bookcase.
7. The old sailor sat staring at the empty sea.
8. The princess had vanished before dawn.

Participle Example Sentences for Sports

On the pitch, the participles describe players, matches, and trophies, as in “winning”, “scored”, and “cheering”.

1. The winning goal came in the last minute.
2. The players warming up on the pitch looked confident.
3. Our captain has scored twelve goals this season.
4. The injured striker watched from the bench.
5. The match was postponed because of the rain.
6. Spectators were cheering from the first whistle.
7. The runner leading the race slowed near the finish.
8. The trophy was won by a team from the north.

Participle Example Sentences for Health

At the clinic, the participles describe patients, doctors, and healthy habits, as in “broken”, “sleeping”, and “recovering”.

1. Tomas has a broken arm and cannot play.
2. A healing wound needs a clean bandage.
3. The nurse checked the sleeping patient every hour.
4. Doctors have warned people against skipping breakfast.
5. The prescribed medicine must be taken twice a day.
6. She was recovering well after the surgery.
7. A balanced diet has improved his energy.
8. The exhausted runners drank water at the finish line.

Kids and Student Sentences with Participles

The range runs from short sentences for beginners to formal sentences for exam answers.

Participle Example Sentences for Kids

For kids, the participles are short and about familiar people, animals, and objects, as in “running”, “broken”, and “finished”.

1. The dog is running in the park.
2. I have eaten my apple.
3. Look at the falling leaves.
4. The broken toy is on the floor.
5. Mum is cooking dinner.
6. The cat is sleeping on my bed.
7. We have finished our painting.
8. My sister has flown the kite all morning.
9. A sleeping baby is a quiet baby.
10. The painted eggs are on the table.

Short Participle Sentences for Beginners

Beginners start with sentences of three or four words, as in “raining”, “boiling”, and “singing”.

1. It is raining.
2. She has gone.
3. He is eating.
4. Boiling water burns.
5. The door is closed.
6. We have won.
7. Birds are singing.
8. The cup is broken.
9. They are playing.
10. I have finished.

Participle Example Sentences for Exams

In exam answers, the wording is formal, as in “having analysed”, “encouraged”, and “suffering”.

1. Having analysed the data, the researchers concluded that rainfall had increased steadily.
2. The treaty, signed by both leaders, ended a long and exhausting conflict.
3. Governments facing rising costs have reduced their public spending.
4. Encouraged by early results, the team has extended its study to three more regions.
5. The evidence presented in the report was considered unreliable by several critics.
6. Written in the first person, the diary gives a detailed account of the voyage.
7. Farmers suffering from drought have asked the ministry for emergency support.
8. Faced with a shortage of funds, the museum has delayed its expansion.
9. The experiment, repeated twice, produced consistent results.
10. Students preparing for the exam should have reviewed each unit at least once.

FAQs

Related:

• Infinitive Example Sentences
• Verb Phrase Examples
• Adjective Phrase Examples
• Absolute Phrase Examples
• Gerund Phrase Examples
• Adjective Clause Examples