I dont understand something in this sentence .

Question

Hi,In this sentence :" The library is closed then,so somebody ..." why we have "is closed " - it's passive ? ( if yes i would like some material to learn that ).Thankes for all one...

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Hi,

"Closed" is a predicate adjective. the verb is "to be." What kind of a library is it?? It's a closed library, like a closed issue.

The library is closed. The car is smashed. You could argue that these are passive voice but you'd probably lose.

This library has been closed by the Department of Public Safety would be an example of passive voice

or The library is closed by the janitor every night at nine o'clock. The past participle closed acts in one case like an adjective and in another case as part of the passive verb form.

Try the site's search function for threads about passive.

Good luck,

- A.

Yoong Liat · Answer

BeginStudentHi,

In this sentence :" The library is closed then,so somebody ..."

why we have "is closed " - it's passive ? ( if yes i would like some material to learn that ).

The library is closed ... ('closed' is an adjective meaning 'not open').

It would seem that we should say 'The library is close ... ' because of 'is'. But 'close' means 'nearby'.

7-eleven is always close but never closed means that it is always nearby (because it has many branches) but the branches are never closed because they are open 24 hours every day.

I hope this helps.

BeginStudent · Answer

Thankes for help...

Avangi "The library is closed by the janitor every night at nine o'clock. The past participle closed acts in one case like an adjective and in another case as part of the passive verb form."

That's mean the word " closed " can be action or adj , I'm right?

secondly : How can you know when the word for example : "closed" it's an adj or action ?

Yoong Liat - I dont understand you : "7-eleven is always close but never closed means that it is always nearby (because it has many branches) but the branches are never closed because they are open 24 hours every day."

In which time you used in this : "is always close " ?

secodnly - if you mark "means" - the word mean and the word means are a different meaning?

- In the book " The hacker" written - "And do you know what that means ?"

in dictionary the translate is :

means

n. method, way, medium; resources, funds

but in the below sentence it isn't the meaning , I'm right ?

Thankes a lot ...

CalifJim · Answer

closed just means not open.

The library is closed. = The library is not open.

There is no action taking place. So it's not passive voice. It's just a statement of how the library is at the moment.

Somebody closed the library. (This is the action - in the past.)
So now the library is closed. (This is not an action; it's a state - in the present.)

CJ

Marius Hancu · Answer

CalifJimclosed just means not open.

The library is closed. = The library is not open.

There is no action taking place. So it's not passive voice.

Very interesting, CJ

Yoong Liat · Answer

Hi Begin Student

Yoong Liat - I dont (don't) understand you : "7-eleven is always close but never closed means that it is always nearby (because it has many branches) but the branches are never closed because they are open 24 hours every day."

In Singapore, 7-eleven is a store which is open day and night, so it is never closed ('never closed' means 'always open')

In which time you used in this : "is always close " ? 7-eleven is always close (In Singapore, there are many, many 7-eleven stores and so the people can find a store near their house when they want to buy bread, sweets, pens, etc.)

secodnly (secondly) - if you mark "means" - the word mean and the word means are a different meaning?

- In the book " The hacker" written - "And do you know what that means ?" ('means' in your sentence below is a verb and means 'to express something': 'Vacation' means 'holiday'.)

in dictionary the translate is :

means

n. ('n' stands for 'noun') method, way, medium; resources, funds

but in the below sentence it isn't the meaning , I'm right ?

Thankes (Thanks) a lot ...

Is everything clear now?

Avangi · Answer

Avangi "The library is closed by the janitor every night at nine o'clock. The past participle closed acts in one case like an adjective and in another case as part of the passive verb form."

That's mean the word " closed " can be action or adj , I'm right?

secondly : How can you know when the word for example : "closed" it's an adj or action ?

Hi BS,

Yes, you're right. Past participles are often used as adjectives. Throw the broken light bulbs in the trash. Broken is the P.P. of the transitive verb to break. Sure, to break is an action verb, but as CJ points out, the action [which made these light bulbs "broken"] took place sometime in the past, possibly at several different times. Those actions are not a part of this sentence. Broken is simply an adjective telling us which light bulbs. The action verb for this sentence is to throw, used here in the imperative form.

These light bulbs were broken through carelessness! Many light bulbs will be broken through carelessness. Light bulbs are often broken through carelessness. In these three sentences the action verb is "to break." The past participle "broken" is used to form the verb in three different tenses, passive voice.

Active voice would be, "Please don't break the light bulbs!" "Oh @&*$# !! I just broke the light bulb!"

I dont understand something in this sentence .

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