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Toderesa97 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Can a verb act as an adjective

Whenever I participate I always write at the end of my interventions standard sentences like:

Thank you in advance for any help provided

or

Thank you in advance for any provided help

Since nobody has told me that neither of those are incorrect, I'm dreading the day I need to use then in a formal context and find out that they both are incorrect. So... what's the correct one? Is in that case the verb 'provided' acting as an adjective? Could I extrapolate the explanation to this sentence?:

Notice that in the provided example, we are using a trigonometric function

or

Notice that in the example provided, we are using a trigonometric function

I have the feeling gut that the first sentence (in both examples) is the correct, but I am neither sure nor know why.

  

Top answer

Neither of them is what a native speaker would write. The main issue is that "provided" is past, and you are thanking in advance for future help. Since the help you are asking for is in the future "help provided" is not appropriate.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Neither of them is what a native speaker would write.
  • The main issue is that "provided" is past, and you are thanking in advance for future help.
  • Since the help you are asking for is in the future "help provided" is not appropriate.
  • If you are thanking a person for any help they may provide in the future: Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
  • If the person already helped you and you are thanking them, write: Thank you for the help provided.
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2 Answers
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Neither of them is what a native speaker would write.

The main issue is that "provided" is past, and you are thanking in advance for future help. Since the help you are asking for is in the future "help provided" is not appropriate.

If you are thanking a person for any help they may provide in the future:

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

If the p

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"Help provided" is the normal form.

"Provided" is not an adjective, but a past-participial clause functioning as a post-head modifier of "help". Such clauses are non-finite, i.e. they are tenseless.

It is interpreted as a 'bare' passive clause because it lacks the "be" or "get" markers.

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