Grammar question no. 38 - how to distingush adjectives from participles?

If you are talking about -ing and -ed forms, then it depends on how you view the words. Does it really matter?

fivejedjonDoes it really matter?

Is it possible to have an adjective that is not a participle and the other way round?

Perfect Stranger fivejedjonDoes it really matter?Is it possible to have an adjective that is not a participle and the other way round?

Thousands of adjectives are not participles.

The participles in these sentences are not adjectives:

I am writing a book.
I have written a book.

The problem, if you insist on labellin

Actually, I just need to know whether the words in bold are adjectives or a participles or both (and why...)

an encouraging word, a shocking secret, a worried mother

They were more frightened than we were. Ted's final grades were most pleasing.

Perfect StrangerActually, I just need to know whether the words in bold are adjectives or a participles or both (and why...)

They are words.

Perfect Strangeran encouraging word, a shocking secret, a worried mother

These words are functioning as adjectives. In that they were formed from words that normall function as v

Thank you

an encouraging word, a shocking secret, a worried mother

They were more frightened than we were. Ted's final grades were most pleasing.

These are all functioning as adjectives because:
The ones in the first line can be modified by "very".
The ones in the second line are