Is not updated / has not been updated

Question

The program is not updated.The report is not updated with the new information.The program has not been updated.The report has not been updated with the new information yet.Can you let me know which sentences are correct from above?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

User_garyCan you let me know which sentences are correct from above?

All of them.

Adding a prepositional phrase only gives more information. It does not make the sentence grammatically incorrect.

User_gary · Answer

Is this sentence a present perfect as well?

"The program is not updated"?

Ozzourti · Answer

No

User_gary · Answer

Then, is it a simple present tense and the word "updated" has been used as an adjective?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

User_garyThen, is it a simple present tense and the word "updated" has been used as an adjective?

You can analyze it in two different ways:
1) present tense passive voice: The database is quickly updated every night at 3 am by a special program.
2) present tense of "be" + complement (updated).. "Updated" is not a true adjective because it is not gradable and cannot be modified by an adverb.
eg. more updated, very updated, most updated - all these are wrong.

The forms with "have" are present perfect, passive voice.
The program has been updated recently. It is up-to-date.
The report is up-to-date. You have the latest version with the most recent data.

CalifJim · Answer

User_garyThen, is it a simple present tense and the word "updated" has been used as an adjective?

A. The program is not updated.
Ambiguous.
1. The program is not in an updated state. (if you think of 'updated' as an adjective)
2. Nobody ever updates the program. (if you think of 'updated' as a verb)

Adding 'with the new information' doesn't resolve the ambiguity.
___

Adding certain expressions can sometimes resolve the ambiguity.

The program is not updated every day. (verb)
_______________________

B. The program has not been updated.
Not ambiguous.
Nobody has updated the program. (Only the verb interpretation is available for 'updated' in this case.)

Adding 'with the new information' doesn't change the interpretation.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

AlpheccaStars"Updated" is not a true adjective because it is not gradable and cannot be modified by an adverb.

Errrrm. Ummm. This seems to say that 'true', 'perfect', and 'unique' aren't adjectives.

How about we expand the tests for adjectives here?

It can be used before a noun: an updated report
It can be used after a linking verb: It looks updated to me.
It can be used with the adverb 'already': Don't bother; it's already updated.
It can be coordinated with another adjective: It's updated and ready for you to test.

I believe that the "very", "more", and "extremely" tests never work if the adjective happens to be of the non-gradable kind, but they aren't the only tests. Does that sound believable?

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

CalifJimDoes that sound believable?

That is very true, almost perfect, and quite unique....

But, seriously, since the modern grammarians split up the universe of noun modifiers into quantifiers, determiners, articles, adjectives, noun adjuncts and maybe even more categories, it has all become more of a mystical art of semantics.
(case in point: http://www.EnglishForward.com/English/ParticipleVsAdjective/bzjzrk/post.htm)

I think the best-fit adjective for "updated" is "up-to-date."

CalifJim · Answer

AlpheccaStarsthe modern grammarians

Yes. The bane of our existence.

AlpheccaStarsa mystical art

Syntax, thy name is "Arcana". Soon we'll all be murmuring incantations to turn conjunctions into verbs (now that many of them have already been turned into prepositions).

AlpheccaStarsI think the best-fit adjective for "updated" is "up-to-date."

Agree. That's a good idea.

CJ

Is not updated / has not been updated

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