A verbal is a word that looks like a verb but acts as a different part of speech.
A participle is a verbal. Participles look like verbs but act like adjectives to modify a noun.
Some verbs take an -ing ending, like this: The boy is running. Mary is playing her trumpet.
In each of these sentences, the -ing word is a verb showing action.
Present participles also take an –ing ending, but they act as a describing word and modify a noun.
Look at the -ing words in these sentences.
The smiling teacher welcomed the class. Smiling modifies teacher.
The opening door made a squeaky noise. Opening modifies door.
The roaring crowd made it difficult to hear the music. Roaring modifies crowd.
Each of these -ing words looks like a verb but is actually acting as an adjective. We call that a participle.
Some action verbs take an –en or -ed ending, like this: He has broken his pencil. She slammed the door.
In these sentences, the -en and -ed words are acting as verbs.
Past participles also take an -en or -ed ending. When they do, they act as a describing word to modify a noun.
Bob gave me a written note. Written modifies note.
The broken window was letting in cold air. Broken modifies window.
The new chair had padded cushions. Padded modifies cushions.
Each of these -en and -ed words looks like a verb but acts like an adjective, so they are participles.
A participle is a verbal – it looks like a verb but it acts as an adjective to modify a noun. Present participles end with -ing. Past participles end with -en or -ed.