Dear users
please consider these two sentences:
1. In fact, if all parties are agreed, possibly they do not need the sanction of the court.
2. And once changes are agreed, they cease to be the adjustments of the Government.
I assume that in #1 'agreed' is an adjectival past participle rather than part of a passive verb construction ('be + past participle'). My question is: is it possible to replace 'are agreed' with 'agree' without changing the meaning of the sentence? When is 'are agreed' preferred to 'agree'?
And one more point: you would probably agree that in #2 'are agreed' is a passive verb construction ('be' + past participle of 'agree'). My question is: is there any foolproof way of distinguishing adjectival past particples from similar passive verb constructions?
Contributions appreciated.
Mirek
please consider these two sentences:
1. In fact, if all parties are agreed, possibly they do not need the sanction of the court.
2. And once changes are agreed, they cease to be the adjustments of the Government.
I assume that in #1 'agreed' is an adjectival past participle rather than part of a passive verb construction ('be + past participle'). My question is: is it possible to replace 'are agreed' with 'agree' without changing the meaning of the sentence? When is 'are agreed' preferred to 'agree'?
And one more point: you would probably agree that in #2 'are agreed' is a passive verb construction ('be' + past participle of 'agree'). My question is: is there any foolproof way of distinguishing adjectival past particples from similar passive verb constructions?
Contributions appreciated.
Mirek
1 2
Comments
When is 'are agreed' preferred to 'agree'?-- The former is more formal.
Is there any foolproof way of distinguishing adjectival past participles from similar passive verb constructions?-- Try modifying it: They are very agreed? Are they very excited?
'They are very agreed' doesn't sound right to my non-native ear so 'agreed' must be a verb.
'They are very excited' sounds right so 'excited' must be an adjectival past participle. Is that what you mean?
Mirek
Mirek