Participles and Participial Adjectives

Q: What is the primary function of a Present Participle (-ing) when used as an adjective?

It describes someone or something that causes a feeling or performs an action (active).

Q: What is the primary function of a Past Participle (-ed) when used as an adjective?

It describes someone who receives a feeling or is the result of an action (passive).

Q: How do you distinguish between -ed and -ing when describing emotions in TOEIC Part 5?

Use -ed for people (how they feel) and -ing for things or situations (the characteristic that causes the feeling).

Q: When choosing a participle to place directly before a noun, what question should you ask yourself?

Ask: "Is the noun doing the action or is the action done to the noun?"

Q: What is the specific rule for using the word "missing" when describing equipment or items in the TOEIC?

Use the -ing form ( missing ) almost exclusively when describing items that are not present.

Q: How is a Present Participle used in a reduced relative clause with active meaning?

The relative pronoun and verb are replaced by the -ing form to shorten the sentence (e.g., "Anyone wanting a refund").

Q: What structural clue helps you identify if a blank requires an -ing or -ed form in a reduced clause?

An object (noun) following the blank suggests -ing , while a preposition (like by or to ) suggests -ed .

Q: Which common business collocations use the Past Participle (-ed) form?

Common examples include: Attached file, Proposed budget, Revised contract, and Detailed information.

Q: Which common business collocations use the Present Participle (-ing) form?

Common examples include: Remaining balance, Leading company, Existing customers, and Demanding schedule.

TOEIC Listening & Reading · Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) · 4 min read · Updated: 12 Aug 2026

Introduction: Mastering Participles for a Higher Score

Welcome! In this chapter, we are focusing on Participles and Participial Adjectives. If you want to master Part 5 (Incomplete Sentences) of the TOEIC Reading test, this is a must-know topic. Many students lose points because they confuse -ing and -ed forms. In the TOEIC exam, these questions are designed to test your ability to identify whether a word is describing a "doer" of an action or a "receiver" of an action. Mastering this will help you answer questions faster, saving you valuable time for the long reading passages in Part 7!

Step 1: Understanding the Two Types of Participles

A participle is a word formed from a verb that can be used as an adjective. There are two main types you will see in the exam:

1. Present Participles (-ing): These describe someone or something that causes a feeling or performs an action. Think of them as "active."
Example: The boring meeting made everyone sleepy. (The meeting caused the boredom.)

2. Past Participles (-ed): These describe someone who receives a feeling or is the result of an action. Think of them as "passive."
Example: The bored employees wanted to leave. (The employees received the feeling of boredom.)

Step 2: The "Emotion Trap" in Participial Adjectives

In TOEIC Part 5, you will often see adjectives describing feelings. This is where most marks are won or lost. The test-makers want to see if you know the difference between the cause and the feeling.

The Rule for People vs. Things:
- Use -ed for people (how they feel).
- Use -ing for things/situations (the characteristic of the thing).

Weak Version (Loses Marks):
The manager was very interesting in the new marketing plan.
(Incorrect: The manager isn't causing interest; he feels it.)

Improved Version (Earns Marks):
The manager was very interested in the new marketing plan.
(Correct: Use -ed for the person's feeling.)

Common TOEIC Adjective Pairs to Memorize:
- Confusing (the instructions) vs. Confused (the student)
- Exhausting (the flight) vs. Exhausted (the traveler)
- Satisfying (the results) vs. Satisfied (the client)
- Disappointing (the sales figures) vs. Disappointed (the director)

Step 3: Using Participles to Describe Nouns

Sometimes, participles act just like normal adjectives placed right before a noun. In Part 5, you might have to choose the correct form to fit a blank before a noun.

Strategy: Ask yourself, "Is the noun doing the action or having the action done to it?"

Example 1:
We need to hire an experienced accountant.
(The accountant has gained experience over time - passive/result.)

Example 2:
The rising cost of fuel is a concern for the shipping industry.
(The cost is doing the action of going up - active/continuous.)

Did you know?
In the TOEIC test, "Missing" is almost always used in the -ing form when describing items. For example: "Please report any missing equipment to the supervisor." You will almost never see "missed equipment" in this context!

Step 4: Reduced Relative Clauses (Advanced Pattern)

TOEIC often uses participles to shorten sentences. This is called a Participial Phrase. These often appear right after the noun they describe.

Active Meaning (Use -ing):
Full: Anyone who wants a refund must show a receipt.
Reduced: Anyone wanting a refund must show a receipt.

Passive Meaning (Use -ed):
Full: The documents which were attached to the email are confidential.
Reduced: The documents attached to the email are confidential.

Exam Tip: If there is an object (a noun) immediately after the blank, you usually need the -ing form. If there is a preposition (like by, to, or in) after the blank, you usually need the -ed form.
Example: The seminar led by Mr. Kim... (Passive because of "by")
Example: The assistant handling the files... (Active because "the files" is an object)

Step 5: High-Value Vocabulary and Collocations

To score high, you must recognize these common business combinations. Test-makers use these frequently in Part 5 blanks:

- Past Participle (-ed) Collocations:
- Attached file / Enclosed document
- Proposed budget / Revised contract
- Limited time / Detailed information
- Preferred method / Written permission

- Present Participle (-ing) Collocations:
- Remaining balance / Lasting impression
- Leading company / Existing customers
- Demanding schedule / Encouraging signs

Quick Review: How to Win Marks in Part 5

1. Identify the Noun: Find the noun that the participle is describing.
2. Active vs. Passive: If the noun does the action, choose -ing. If the noun receives the action, choose -ed.
3. Check for Objects: If there is a noun right after the blank, it is likely -ing.
4. Timing: You should aim to answer these grammar questions in less than 20 seconds. If you see "People" + "Feelings," look for -ed immediately!

Key Takeaway

Participles are versatile tools. Use Present Participles (-ing) for things that cause feelings or perform actions. Use Past Participles (-ed) for people's feelings or the results of actions. In the TOEIC, being able to quickly distinguish between these two forms is the difference between an average score and a top-tier result. Keep practicing these patterns, and they will become second nature!

Quick check

Can you answer these now?

Open each question to check the key ideas from this chapter.

What is the primary function of a Present Participle (-ing) when used as an adjective?

It describes someone or something that causes a feeling or performs an action (active).

What is the primary function of a Past Participle (-ed) when used as an adjective?

It describes someone who receives a feeling or is the result of an action (passive).

How do you distinguish between -ed and -ing when describing emotions in TOEIC Part 5?

Use -ed for people (how they feel) and -ing for things or situations (the characteristic that causes the feeling).

When choosing a participle to place directly before a noun, what question should you ask yourself?

Ask: "Is the noun doing the action or is the action done to the noun?"

What is the specific rule for using the word "missing" when describing equipment or items in the TOEIC?

Use the -ing form (missing) almost exclusively when describing items that are not present.

How is a Present Participle used in a reduced relative clause with active meaning?

The relative pronoun and verb are replaced by the -ing form to shorten the sentence (e.g., "Anyone wanting a refund").

How is a Past Participle used in a reduced relative clause with passive meaning?

The relative pronoun and "be" verb are removed, leaving only the -ed form (e.g., "The documents attached").

What structural clue helps you identify if a blank requires an -ing or -ed form in a reduced clause?

An object (noun) following the blank suggests -ing, while a preposition (like by or to) suggests -ed.

Which common business collocations use the Past Participle (-ed) form?

Common examples include: Attached file, Proposed budget, Revised contract, and Detailed information.

Which common business collocations use the Present Participle (-ing) form?

Common examples include: Remaining balance, Leading company, Existing customers, and Demanding schedule.

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