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A participle is a verb used as an adjective.

Two kinds of participles.

1. The past participle has the past form of the verb which would go with the verb have and would usually end in -ed.
2. The present participle ends in -ing.  (Resource:  http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000075.htm)

Examples:

• The stone steps, having been worn down by generations of students, needed to be replaced. [modifies "steps"]
• Working around the clock, the firefighters finally put out the last of the California brush fires. [modifies "firefighters"]
• The pond, frozen over since early December, is now safe for ice-skating. [modifies "pond"] 

• (Resource:  http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrases.htm#participial)

Additional Resources

• Owl at Purdue