What is the term for a verb form used in passive sentences and to form perfect and progressive aspects, including present participle and past participle?

• A. Participles
• B. Gerunds
• C. Infinitives
• D. Tenses

Answer: (A)

Participles are non-finite verb forms that combine with auxiliary verbs to express voice and aspect. The present participle, which is the -ing form, shows up in progressive tenses (I am walking, they were running) and in participial phrases. The past participle is used with have/has/had to form perfect tenses (She has eaten, they had finished) and with be to create passive voice (The book was written, meals are prepared). Because these forms—present participle and past participle—are the ones used to build both progressive and perfect aspects and to form passives, the term that covers them is participles. Gerunds use the same -ing form but function as nouns, infinitives are to + base form, and tense refers to finite verb forms, so they don’t fit the described usage.