What does a participle phrase begin with?

A participle phrase begins with a present or past participle, making this choice the correct answer. A participle is a verbal form that typically ends in -ing (present participle) or -ed, -en, or other past tense forms (past participle).

The purpose of a participle phrase is to provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in a sentence. For instance, in the phrase "Running down the street," "Running" serves as the present participle beginning the participle phrase, describing the subject. Similarly, in "Hurt by the fall," “Hurt” is the past participle that adds detail about the subject’s condition.

Other options such as adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions do not serve as the starting point for a participle phrase. They have different functions in a sentence, such as modifying verbs, connecting clauses, or indicating relationships, but they do not initiate participle phrases.