What is the name of a verb form that functions as an adjective?

A participle is a verb form that can function as an adjective, which means it can modify nouns. It typically ends in -ing (present participle) or -ed (past participle) and describes the state or action related to the noun it modifies. For example, in the phrases "the running dog" or "the broken vase," "running" and "broken" are participles that provide more information about the nouns "dog" and "vase," respectively.

In contrast, infinitives, gerunds, and finite verbs serve different grammatical functions. An infinitive is the base form of a verb often preceded by "to," functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb. A gerund also ends in -ing but acts as a noun. Finite verbs are verbs that are conjugated to indicate person and number and can stand alone in a sentence. Understanding these distinctions clarifies how participles specifically function as adjectives.