Fried

Question

I don't eat deep fried food anymore, because of the grease and oil. The waitress then serves some fried fish, so I ask:is this fish deep fried?  Or  should it be past tense?

Philip · Accepted Answer

Either is fine.

CalifJim · Answer

PreciousJonesIs this fish deep fried? Or should it be past tense?

This is an interesting one. Both are fine.

In Is it deep fried? is ... fried is a linking verb and an adjective describing the fish as it is now. This is not a description of what usually happens to this fish! It's not asking: Does somebody usually deep fry this fish?

In Was it deep fried? was ... fried is a passive verb construction describing what happened to the fish to cause it to be as it is now, namely, deep fried. This is not a description of how the fish used to be!
________________________________

It is quite usual for the present and past forms to show this contrast when you have is or was followed by certain past participles - not all. You can practice making your brain "feel" the difference with these.

Present State / Past Action (in passive voice)

The seat is taken. / The seat was taken.
The man is injured. / The man was injured.
My glasses are broken. / My glasses were broken.
Ed is invited to the party. / Ed was invited to the party.
The pencil is sharpened. / The pencil was sharpened.
Everyone is seated. / Everyone was seated.
The door is closed. / The door was closed.
The floor is swept. / The floor was swept.

Once you can get your brain to do that, you can practice the reverse, thinking of these two forms as

Habitual Action (in passive voice) / Past State

which are the less usual ways of using these patterns.

CJ

Fried

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions