The present participle is used in the formation of the continuous tenses (active voice).

• The boy is writing.
• She is cooking.
• I am reading.
• They are playing.

The past participle is used in the formation of the perfect tenses.

• The boy has written a letter.
• She has cooked dinner.
• I have read the novel.
• They have played for two hours.

The past participle is also used in the formation of the passive verb forms.

• A letter was written by him.
• Dinner was cooked by my mother.
• He is loved by all.

A participle may be used absolutely with a noun or pronoun going before it.

• The weather being fine, we decided to go out.
• God willing, we shall meet again.
• The wind being favorable, they embarked.

In the three sentences given above, the participle and the noun or pronoun going before it form a phrase independent of the rest of the sentence. Such a phrase is called an absolute phrase.

An absolute phrase can be changed into a subordinate clause.

• As the weather was fine, we decided to go out.
• If God is willing, we shall meet again.
• Because the wind was favorable, they embarked.

Related posts:

1. The Participle
2. Non-finite verbs