A participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective, describing a noun. There are two main types of participles: present participles, which end in “-ing” (like running or swimming), and past participles, which often end in “-ed” (like played or cooked). Participles help add detail to sentences by providing more information about the action or state of the noun. Participles can also be used to create verb tenses. For example, the present participle is used in continuous tenses, such as “I am running,” while the past participle is used in perfect tenses, like “I have played.” Understanding participles is essential for constructing clear and varied sentences in the English language.