Inform, informed, participle

Question

'http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eat' is an irregular very, eat, ate, eaten. 'eat' is present tense or bare infinitive form, 'ate' past tense form, and 'eaten' past participle, participle can serve the role of verb and adjective. When 'eaten' is used it's meaning is derived from the related definition - there is no separate definition of 'eaten'. Please correct if I'm wrong.

'http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/informed' and 'informed' have two different enteries in the dictonary. 'informed' being an adjective has almost completely different meaning from 'inform'. Why is that? How would you distinguish between the 'informed' and participle of 'inform'?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Why is that?-- Some participles take on adjectival functions and others do not. Meanings drift over time.

How would you distinguish between the 'informed' and participle of 'inform'?-- By its function in the sentence and an intepretation of the sentence's meaning.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thank you, Mr Micawber.

Q1:

Mister MicawberSome participles take on adjectival functions and others do not.

Do you mean if a participle takes on adjectival function then it would require a separate entry in a dictionary - it's meaning could not be derived from parent form?

Q2:
I believed 'informed' in the given text is the particle of 'inform'. Am I correct? Please let me know.

Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals. Though the two activities are closely related, literary critics are not always, and have not always been, theorists.

Thanks
Jack

Mister Micawber · Answer

1-- It could very well have a separate entry, but lexicographers have no 'requirements'. They choose what to include in their dictionaries and how to include it.

2-- It is passive voice.

[url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Inform?r=66]" to give evident substance, character, or distinction to; pervade or permeate with manifest effect: A love of nature informed his writing."[/url]

Jackson6612 · Answer

Thanks a lot for the help.

Inform, informed, participle

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions