is dressed a participle here?

Question

Every morning, he left home dressed in a smart black suit.Is dressed a participle here? Does "he left home dressing in a smart black suit" make sense too?

John liao · Accepted Answer

Is anyone able to answer this question?

Fivejedjon · Answer

john liaoIs dressed a participle here?

Yes

john liaoDoes "he left home dressing in a smart black suit" make sense too?

No

John liao · Answer

I am confused.

Why sentence 1 makes sense but sentence 2 does not?

1.He set (past tense) off down the main street of the city riding baby elephant called Jumbo.
2.He set (past tense) off down the main street of the city dressing up as Father Christmas.

Fivejedjon · Answer

john liaoWhy does sentence 1 makes sense but sentence 2 does not?

The first sentence makes sense because he had dressed before he left home. He was in a state if 'having-dressed" . The second would suggest that he was actually in the process of getting into his smart black suit while he was leaviing home.This is, I suppose, possible, but it's unlikely.

john liao1.He set (past tense) off down the main street of the city riding a baby elephant called Jumbo.

That's fine. The two activities take place at the same time. The -ing form here, though called 'the present participle' is actually tenseless. We can say "He sets/set/has set/will set off riding a baby elephant".

john liao2.He set (past tense) off down the main street of the city dressing up as Father Christmas.

This is possible if he was putting on his Father Christmas costume as he set off.

is dressed a participle here?

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