Participles Doing Another Job
A participle can stand alone and name a person or a thing.
How It Works
| Participle | As an adjective | As a noun |
|---|---|---|
| amans | loving | a lover |
| sapiens | wise | a wise person |
| natus | born | a son |
| dictum, dicta | said | a saying, sayings |
| factum, facta | done | a deed, deeds |
| mortuus, mortui | dead | the dead |
As a noun, the participle keeps the endings of its gender: sapientes is wise people, and sapientis is of the wise person.
When a participle stands without a noun, a dictionary may list it as a noun of its own, as with amans and natus.
The Mass has two good examples. Benedictus qui venit uses the participle as an adjective: blessed. Resurrectionem mortuorum uses it as a noun: the resurrection of the dead.
Examples (5)
- Sapiens verba bona dicit.
A wise person says good words.
Sapiens is a participle used as a noun.
- Facta Marci bona sunt.
The deeds of Marcus are good.
Facta is neuter plural: things done.
- Dicta sapientis audio.
I hear the words of the wise person.
Dicta is neuter plural, and sapientis is genitive singular.
- Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Benedictus is a participle used as an adjective. The words are from the Sanctus.
- Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum.
And I look for the resurrection of the dead.
Mortuorum is a participle used as a noun: the dead. The words are from the Creed.
Common Mistakes
Using a singular participle for several people.
Sapiens verba bona dicunt.Sapientes verba bona dicunt.Sapiens is singular, so it cannot go with the plural verb dicunt. The intended meaning was: wise people say good words, which needs the plural sapientes.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Participles can do the work of adjectives and nouns.
- Present Participle: amans, ducensThe Participle: Amans, Ducens
Know the present participle, because it can describe a noun or stand alone.
Level 4 - Perfect Passive Participle: amatus, ductus, captusThe Participle: Amatus, Ductus, Captus
Know the perfect participle, because it can do the same.
Level 4 - Good People and Many Things
Know adjectives used as nouns, because a participle can stand alone: amans (a lover), amatus (one who is loved).
Level 3
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Participles Doing Another Job in Bubblegum
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