Anonymous  +  959543 Mon, 02 Nov 09 04:51 AM Hi. I think it is right to say that an intransitive verb can't have a passive form and I think the words "sleep" and "vanish" are intransitive verbs.   I think it also is correct to say that for a transitive verb the participle part of what seems to be a passive verb could be an adjective as in "His work is done." Here, I think the participle "done" in what seems (looks) to be the passive verb form "is done" is an adjective.   Going back to the issue of intransitive verbs and what I think are two examples, the words "sleep" and "vanish," would you say these are not correct?   1. He is vanished. 2. He is slept.   I think no. 2 is incorrect, but for no. 1, I think the verb "vanished" carries the sense of an adjective (I could be mistaken) and seems not to be part of a passive structure. If that is an adjective, could that be a valid ground for an exception to what I think is the general rule that an intransitive verb can't be (have??) a passive form?   Anonymous

	Mister Micawber  +  959601 Mon, 02 Nov 09 06:23 AM 1-- possible 2-- not possible There is no violation of the 'rule' when the participle is adjectival. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,769 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

	dimsumexpress  +  959711 Mon, 02 Nov 09 09:58 AM Many learners are confused about past participles. I for one was. If I said "he was completely consumed for the past few days with the conference preparation." Do you consider "consumed" as participle adjective? Or passive construction? I was trained to look at it as passive. but I think they are both correct as ong as one can use them properly. dimsumexpress Joined on Mon, Oct 12 2009 Full Member 273 Constructions, Adjectives, Training

	Avangi  +  960083 Mon, 02 Nov 09 08:27 PM I'm puzzled by "he is vanished."  I would have called it incorrect. Even Google (   ) gives it only 127,000 hits against 2,090,000 for "he has vanished." Okay, King James' boys came up with "He is risen, as he said," but that was years ago. Is it generally okay to use the past participle as an adjective when the verb has no transitive usage?    -  A. Avangi Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007 Veteran Member 8,172 ". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

	Huevos  +  960102 Mon, 02 Nov 09 08:56 PM Avangi “I'm puzzled by "he is vanished."  I would have called it incorrect.” To me, a native, it also seems very wrong. Huevos Joined on Tue, Mar 25 2008 Regular Member 626 British Native

	CalifJim  +  960103 Mon, 02 Nov 09 09:03 PM Avangi “King James' boys came up with "He is risen ..."” That's the same flavor I get from "He is vanished". Avangi “Is it generally okay to use the past participle as an adjective when the verb has no transitive usage?” I doubt it.  I can't think what data we would use as evidence of such a claim.  The counterexamples are numerous. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,388 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Adjectives, Usages

	Avangi  +  960112 Mon, 02 Nov 09 09:14 PM Thank you.   - A. Avangi

	CalifJim  +  960288 Tue, 03 Nov 09 02:17 AM Anonymous “Can you please tell me what you meant when you said "I doubt it" in your response below?” Certainly.  I would be glad to.  I meant that I don't think it is generally okay to use the past participle as an adjective when the verb has no transitive usage.  (There may be a few cases of it, but I don't see how this principle could apply generally.) CJ CalifJim Adjectives, Usages