Introduction

A participle is a verbal adjective. This means that it takes its meaning from a verb root, but its endings from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd declensions, like adjectives. These are words like 'swimming' and 'swum' in English.

Latin has three participles:

i.Present active:portanscarrying
ii.Perfect passive:portatushaving been carried
iii.Future active:portaturusabout to carry