ref – https://www.esu.edu/writing-studio/guides/participles.cfm

Initially we mentioned present participles in Present Continuous, where the participle is used to represent the main verb and we had a helping verb to help express the tense.

I(subj) am (helping verb) working (main verb) on a project.
They(subj) are (helping verb) eating (main verb) fried chicken.
She(subj) is (helping verb) sleeping (main verb) on (prep) the sofa (obj).

But let’s look at participles more in detail:

Present Participles act as:

Adjectives

• The running [water] tastes fresh.
• I know a [pond] teeming with fish.
• The smiling [child] waved at us.
• Mariah carries [two tubs of ice cream] dripping from the lid.
• The warrior jumps into the unwavering [battle].
• The warrior notices the [battle] ending.

(As nonessential (没必要) information modifying a noun) (non-restrictive Participle phrase)

• Delores, walking along the shoreline, noticed her cousin.
• The old house, creaking with every gust of wind, stood on the hilltop.
• The dancer, twirling gracefully across the stage, captivated the audience.

As Adverbs modifying independent sentences

• Cooper enjoyed dinner at Audrey’s house agreeing to a large slice of cherry pie even though he was full to the point of bursting.

  BUT! It is WRONG because Audrey’s house cannot ‘agree’:

  Cooper enjoyed dinner at Audrey’s house, agreeing to a large slice of cherry pie even though he was full to the point of bursting.

• The warrior jumps (into battle), [swinging an ax].

  The battle cannot swing an ax. It is the warrior who is swinging an ax.

• I stood staring at the sunset.

  stood is the main verb.

  I stood, staring at the sunset

• In these examples –
  independent sentence, [nonessential information]:

  She walked away, [whistling a tune].
  She walked out of the room, [slamming the door behind her].
  He left the room, [whistling a tune].
  She walked down the street, [smiling happily].

Fronted Participle Phrase – Modify entire sentences (as a sentence adverb)

Time: [Finishing his homework], he went out to play.
Reason or cause: [Feeling tired], she decided to go to bed early.
Condition: [Weather permitting], we will have a picnic tomorrow.
Manner: [Smiling broadly], she accepted the award.
Concession: [Admitting his mistake], he apologized sincerely.

[Laughing hysterically], the children ran around the playground.

Forming part of a verb phrase:

Present Continuous:
subj + [is/am/are/..etc] + verb+ing + [complements]

Examples:

They are (helping verb) playing (main verb) in the park.
She is (helping verb) helping (main verb) with the dishes.
I am (helping verb) having (main verb) the time of my life.

Participles vs Gerunds

• Present Participle usage: He ran, carrying two plates of food.

  ran is main verb
  “carrying” describes an action happening simultaneously with ‘run’.

  Gerund usage: Carrying luggage is hard work.
  ‘Carrying’ is used as a noun, in the subject position.

• Present Participle usage: The warrior jumps into battle, swinging a mighty ax.

  jump is main verb
  “swinging a mighty ax” (挥hui1 舞着）is nonessential information that modifies the sentence “The warrior jumps into battle”.

  Gerund usage: The warrior likes [swinging axes].
  swinging is a gerund. “swinging axes” is a gerund phrase acting as the direct object of the verb “like”. It functions as a noun.

• Present Participle usage: I stood, looking at the sky.

  stood is the main verb
  “looking at the sky” is nonessential information.

  Gerund usage:

  [Looking at the sky] is my favorite pastime.
  “looking” is the subject of the sentence, and functions as noun.

  “Looking at the sky” is a gerund phrase and acts as the subject of the sentence.

Sample Story

Participle Practice (1-5):

A tiger appears [waving its tail]. // no distance, no comma needed

It roars (out loud), [baring its teeth]. // distance, so we need a comma

He notices a bunch of chickens [strutting around]. // as adjectives to describe ‘chickens’

[Crouching comfortably], the tiger waits to pounce.

The chickens, [being clueless], stares into the tiger’s hot dark mouth.

A turtle lives in a [soothing] forest. (modifies forest as adjective)

His name is Ted.

Ted jumps (into a cool pond), [paddling his flippers]. // nonessential info ‘paddling…’

He swims in the cool water.

He resurfaces, [kicking frantically with his short stubby flippers]. // nonessential info ‘kicking…’

Ted sees a group of birds [landing on a tree branch]. (“landing on a tree branch” modifies birds as an adjective)