How do you identify a participle?

Great question, Ahmend! Let me break it down for you.

Is "broken" a participle in the sentence?

Yes, "broken" is a participle in the sentence "The broken window caused a lot of trouble."

Here’s why:

• A participle is a word formed from a verb that acts like an adjective.
• "Broken" comes from the verb break. In this sentence, it describes the noun "window," so it’s a past participle being used as an adjective.

How to Identify Participles

1. Does the word come from a verb?
   • Yes! "Broken" is from the verb break.
2. Does it describe something?
   • Yes! "Broken" tells us more about the window.
3. Is it the main verb of the sentence?
   • No. The main verb here is "caused." That means "broken" is not the main verb—it’s a participle acting as an adjective.

Practice Tips

1. Spot the participle:
   • "The running water is cold." (Running describes water.)
   • "The painted wall looks nice." (Painted describes wall.)
2. Write sentences:
   • Ask her to make sentences like: "The crying baby is loud." or "The broken chair needs fixing."

Let me know if you have other questions. Thank you!