Question

The delayed flight left in the early morning because a bad winter storm arose.

What is the participle?

Answer 1

Hey sharshar,

A participle is "an adjective that is normally used as a verb or is in a form of a verb but used as an adjective." In your case, the past tense of your verb delay (delayed) could be used as a verb: The teacher delayed the grading of my assignment yesterday.

BUT here in your sentence the word delayed describes your flight, so it is actually used as an adjective! So guess which word is your participle?

Still not sure when something is a participle? Ask 2 things:
1. Which words are action verbs?
2. Is that word used to DESCRIBE an object/noun, or is it being used to show what an object/noun is DOING? If it is describing, it's a participle! If not, it's just being used as a plain old verb.

Answer 2

dear @sharshar
Definition

A participle is a lexical item, derived from a verb, that has some of the characteristics and functions of both verbs and adjectives.


The adjectival form of the term participle is participial.

Examples (English)

In English, participles may be used as adjectives, and in nonfinite forms of verbs.


Here are some examples of participles:


'He ate a boiled egg for breakfast.'
'I like to see smiling faces.'
'You are singing a good song.'
'I have exercised.'
'He has eaten dinner already.'
'She got a bad sunburn while playing in the pool.'