In sentences ''they are worth it'' ''I am sorry'' what Tense is being used?

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Jackson6612  #343957  Tue, 27 Mar 07 07:54 AM

Please first have a look on this thread:

[link]


Check these sentences:

1: They are worth it.

2: We are proud of ourselves.

3: I am sorry.

What tense is being used in above sentences?

In the thread mentioned above gone is being used as an adjective in he is gone. Now I understand that Past Participle can be used as an adjective like gone in he is gone. Therefore, I have no problem with sentence he is gone. But above sentences are again causing problem to me because in those sentences Past Participles are not being used rather simple Present Tense forms are being used. There are a lot of other sentences of this kind and they are always hard for me to understand. If it were up to me then I would like to write above sentences as:

1: They are worthed it.

2: We are prouded of ourselves.

3: I am sorried.

I hope you will understand my problem.

  
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Nef  #343960  Tue, 27 Mar 07 08:09 AM
 Jackson6612 wrote:

Please first have a look on this thread:

[link]


Check these sentences:

1: They are worth it.

2: We are proud of ourselves.

3: I am sorry.

What tense is being used in above sentences? All three sentences are in the simple present tense. These sentences are fine.

In the thread mentioned above gone is being used as an adjective in he is gone. Now I understand that Past Participle can be used as an adjective like gone in he is gone. Therefore, I have no problem with sentence he is gone. But above sentences are again causing problem to me because in those sentences Past Participles are not being used rather simple Present Tense forms are being used. There are a lot of other sentences of this kind and they are always hard for me to understand. If it were up to me then I would like to write above sentences as:

1: They are worthed it. No. But you may use the simple past tense. They were worth it.

2: We are prouded of ourselves.  We were proud of ourselves.

3: I am sorried.        I was sorry.

I hope you will understand my problem.

  
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Doll  #343961  Tue, 27 Mar 07 08:10 AM

1: They are worth it. I m not sure of this sentence.They worth it seems correct to me.  

2 We are proud of ourselves.Sentences like I am proud of, I am afraid of , I am scared of aren't passive sentences.Here proud, adraid and scared are adjectives.   

3.I am sorry.Here sorry is adjective,too.  I am happy, I am sad , I am clumsy.Happy, sad and clumsy are adjectives.  

You sholdn't change such sentences into passive.In fact they have nothing to do with passive voice.Adjectives like scared, afraid may seem you as the past form of their original one but they aren't.

  
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Philip  #344123  Tue, 27 Mar 07 03:57 PM
 Jackson6612 wrote:

In the thread mentioned above gone is being used as an adjective in he is gone. Now I understand that Past Participle can be used as an adjective like gone in he is gone. Therefore, I have no problem with sentence he is gone. But above sentences are again causing problem to me because in those sentences Past Participles are not being used rather simple Present Tense forms are being used. There are a lot of other sentences of this kind and they are always hard for me to understand. If it were up to me then I would like to write above sentences as:

1: They are worthed it.

2: We are prouded of ourselves.

3: I am sorried.

I hope you will understand my problem.

Gone is a past participle of a VERB, used as an adjective.  Worth, proud and worry are adjectives themselves.
  
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Jackson6612  #350403  Fri, 13 Apr 07 12:29 PM

Is the following sentence correct?

They are worth it.

  
Marius Hancu  #350408  Fri, 13 Apr 07 12:47 PM
Yes. Depending  on the context, it may mean

They deserve this prize/etc.

  
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Goodman  #350601  Fri, 13 Apr 07 11:41 PM
 Jackson6612 wrote:

Is the following sentence correct?

They are worth it.- Yes, it's correct.

Jackson,

I think you are trying to learn 2 years worth of English lessons on this forum in a month’s time Big Smile [:D]which is fine if you can digest all the information.  Apparently, you are showing a little indigestion because you are trying to use adjectives as verbs and passive participles.

Let’s see if we can clear up some of the questions you have with an applicable context.

A-    you bought a new sports car and a condo! It must cost you dearly.

B-     I've  worked hard all my life.  I think they are worth it". Or, I think I am worthy of a little rewards. In this context, Both mean “I deserve it”.

This is one of those crazy irregularity of Eng. Worth is a noun. But “worth it” is the correct expression.

 1: They are worthed it. – Don’t be confused with who is "worth it".  I detect a little of that here.

Context: Even though I work  a 12 hour day, when I come to see the smiles on my wife and my kids, I think to myself “they are all worth it”. In this case "they" refer to your wife and kids who are worthy of your hardwork and devotion.

# 2 and # 3 have already been commented so I won't comment anymore.

  
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CalifJim  #350634  Sat, 14 Apr 07 02:46 AM
Now I understand that Past Participle can be used as an adjective like gone in he is goneNote that the past participle can be used as an adjective.  That is, a verb form called a past participle can function in place of an adjective.

Therefore, I have no problem with sentence he is gone. Good!

But above sentences are again causing problem to me because in those sentences Past Participles are not being used That is correct.  Past participles are not being used (as adjectives).

rather simple Present Tense forms are being used.  <<<  Here is your mistake.  Those are not present tense forms.  Only verbs can have present tense forms.   worth, proud, and sorry are not verbs, so they cannot have present tense forms.  worth, proud, and sorry are adjectives, not verbs.  Smile [:)]

After the forms of the verb be (am, is, are, was, were) you can have nouns, adjectives, prepositional phrases, etc.  You are not required to use a past participle of a verb.  You may use a past participle, but you don't have to.  If you use a past participle after a form of be, the past participle acts as an adjective.

be + noun

Those men are carpenters.
Marty was a tall man.
Mrs. Smith is a good cook.


be + adjective

They are very proud of their son.
We were happy to see our friends.
Julie is really smart.


be + past participle

The students are gone.   [related to the verb go]
The child was lost.        
[related to the verb lose]
All of the doors were closed.
  [related to the verb close]

CJ
  
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Jackson6612  #350662  Sat, 14 Apr 07 06:05 AM

 Goodman wrote:

Apparently, you are showing a little indigestion because you are trying to use adjectives as verbs and passive participles.

Question 1: Do you mean past participle by passive participle?

This is one of those crazy irregularity of Eng. Worth is a noun. But “worth it” is the correct expression.

Question 2: Please explain the above sentence.

1: They are worthed it. – Don’t be confused with who is "worth it".  I detect a little of that here.

 

Question 3: Please explain the above sentence.