Difference between revisions of "Participle"

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The '''participle''' is a [[finiteness|non-finite]] form of a [[verb]]. One distinguishes the [[present participle]] ''writing'' in (i), the [[participle of the perfect tense]] ''written'' in (ii), and the [[passive participle]] ''written'' in (iii):
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A '''participle''' is a [[finiteness|non-finite]] form of a [[verb]], generally with [[adjective|adjectival]] [[external syntax]] and verbal [[internal syntax]].
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===Examples===
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In English, one distinguishes the [[present participle]] ''writing'' in (i), the [[participle of the perfect tense]] ''written'' in (ii), and the [[passive participle]] ''written'' in (iii):
  
 
  (i)    John is writing a book
 
  (i)    John is writing a book
 
  (ii)  John has written a book
 
  (ii)  John has written a book
 
  (iii)  This book was been written by John
 
  (iii)  This book was been written by John
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These forms are mostly used as [[periphrasis form]]s for tense-aspect and voice periphrases.
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===Comments===
  
 
In [[Germanic]] and [[Romance]] languages participles sometimes show [[agreement]] [[inflection]], as shown in (iv) by the passive participle ''écrites''<nowiki>: </nowiki>
 
In [[Germanic]] and [[Romance]] languages participles sometimes show [[agreement]] [[inflection]], as shown in (iv) by the passive participle ''écrites''<nowiki>: </nowiki>

Revision as of 05:30, 22 February 2009

A participle is a non-finite form of a verb, generally with adjectival external syntax and verbal internal syntax.

Examples

In English, one distinguishes the present participle writing in (i), the participle of the perfect tense written in (ii), and the passive participle written in (iii):

(i)    John is writing a book
(ii)   John has written a book
(iii)  This book was been written by John

These forms are mostly used as periphrasis forms for tense-aspect and voice periphrases.

Comments

In Germanic and Romance languages participles sometimes show agreement inflection, as shown in (iv) by the passive participle écrites:

(iv)   Cettes lettres ont été écrites par Marie
       Those letters[Pl,F] have been written[Pl,F] by Marie

Links

Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

References

  • Spencer, A. 1991. Morphological Theory, Blackwell, Oxford.

Other languages

German Partizip

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