CEFR C1

active participle

noun phrase

Meaning

A verb form that describes an action or state, often ending in -ing, and used to describe the doer of the action, as opposed to the passive participle, which describes the receiver of the action.

Examples

The active participle 'writing' in the sentence 'The writer is writing a novel' describes the action of the subject.
In the phrase 'the singing bird', 'singing' is an active participle describing the bird's action.

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active participle (C1)

noun phrase

Pronunciation: /ˈæktɪv ˈpɑːrsɪpəl/

Definition

A verb form that describes an action or state, often ending in -ing, and used to describe the doer of the action, as opposed to the passive participle, which describes the receiver of the action.

Examples

The active participle 'writing' in the sentence 'The writer is writing a novel' describes the action of the subject.
In the phrase 'the singing bird', 'singing' is an active participle describing the bird's action.

How to Use active participle

be + active participle (verb phrase): to be in the state of doing something — "She is writing a novel."
active participle + noun (noun phrase): a noun that is doing something — "The writing desk is messy."

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