I have a somewhat basic and embarrassing question to ask. I sometimes get confused as to determining what is an adjective and what's a verb. Clearly, adjectives modify nouns while verbs are actions. However, some words just don't seem to fit neatly in the aformentioned classifications. For example, the word traumatized. In the dictionary, traumatized is listed as a verb and not also an an adjective. How is that possible? Can't one cleary describe someone as traumatized and thus use this word as an adjective?

Is their a foolproof way (i.e. a question I can ask myself) to accurately discern what is an adjective and a verb?

Many kind thanks for anyone who replies to this post.