Participles as Describing Words
Participles are verb-related forms that often behave like adjectives.
A participle is a form built from a verb but used here to describe a person, thing, or resulting state.
How can a verb form describe a noun?
Present Participle
The present participle often ends in -ande or -ende.
läsaläsandeboboendespringaspringandeleleendeIt describes an ongoing or characteristic action:
en läsande student
ett leende barnUnlike adjectives and past participles, the present participle never changes form. One spelling covers every gender and number:
en läsande student
ett läsande barn
läsande studenterMany present participles are learned as words in their own right, especially common noun-like uses:
boende
studerandePast Participle
Past participles often describe a state or result:
en stängd dörr
ett stängt fönster
stängda dörrarIf the common form is known, common spelling patterns are:
| Common form | Neuter | Plural/definite |
|---|---|---|
målad | målat | målade |
stängd | stängt | stängda |
sedd | sett | sedda |
skriven | skrivet | skrivna |
löst | löst | lösta |
A Small Example
The participle agrees like an adjective.
Chapter summary
| Form | Typical job | Example |
|---|---|---|
present participle -ande/-ende | ongoing or characteristic action; never changes form | en läsande student |
| past participle | result or state | en stängd dörr |
| past participle agreement | matches gender and number like an adjective | stängt, stängda |
| supine | follows har/hade, not a noun description | har skrivit |
Study check
- 1
en ___ dörr(stängd) - 2
ett ___ fönster(stängd) - 3
___ dörrar(stängd) - 4
ett ___ brev(skriven) - 5
en ___ student(present participle ofläsa) - 6
present participle of
bo - 7
Which form is used in
Jag har skrivit: supine or participle?