ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Can all participles OK as an adjective?

CalifJim — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:49:01 GMT

Believer
an adjective in participle form

I can see that you are a bit confused about the terminology. Adjectives don't have "participle forms". You start with a participle, that is, a verb form -- present participle or past participle of a verb. It may be part of a verb phrase, and often it is:

We are going to town tomorrow.

We have gone to Hawaii on vacation several times.

Or it may be used as an adjective, either a 'predicative' adjective (i.e., after a linking verb):

The child seemed very interested when the magician made the rabbit disappear.

or as an 'attributive' adjective (i.e., before the noun it modifies):

They decided not to disturb the sleeping dog.

or as an initial (adjectival) participial phrase, typically modifying the subject:

Frightened by the wolf, the bird flew into the nearest tree.

There are probably a few more patterns as well, but these are the most important.

In some cases, grammarians don't even call verb forms like interested (above) participles. They treat them as ordinary adjectives that coincidentally resemble verb forms. Maybe that's the source of your confusion. There are several different approaches to participles, so it depends on which authors you read.

________

Believer
the word 'powered' seems to be a participle acting as an adjective.

Except when they are parts of verb phrases, participles always function as adjectives, so yes, powered is a participle and it is an adjective.

A fan-powered reprieve is a reprieve powered by fans (the people, not the machines, I suspect!)

The same pattern cannot be applied at random, however, if that's what you're asking. For example, you could not confidently use the pattern a magician-interested child. (See my example above.)

Re: Can all participles OK as an adjective?

Clive — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:12:52 GMT

Hi,

But sometimes whether it is a participle acting as an adjective or is an adjective in participle form? How would you describe the difference?

I know sometimes these questions help people to learn, but my advice is not to get too caught up in naming things as long as you can use them OK.

Clive

Can all participles OK as an adjective?

Believer — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:08:02 GMT

Hi,

Can all participles be used as an adjective?

Despite getting a fan-powered reprieve, CBS has given ...

Here, the word 'powered' seems to be a participle acting as an adjective.

But sometimes whether it is a participle acting as an adjective or is an adjective in participle form? Eventhough I am writing this question, I am confused about how to ask this question.

The response was fan-powered.

Here, I think it is safe to say 'powered' is an adjective in participle form, not a participle acting as an adjective.