Is the past participle an adjective?

Question

I've been taught that a participle is always an adjective? Is this true? Specifically, I'd like examples with the passive voice and whether the word following the form of to be is a passive verb or past participle?

Ex: The letters were sent.

What is sent?

In my research, I've also seen the distinction between passive voice constructions with and without an agent.

Ex: The letters were sent by his secretary.

Is there any difference in this sentence?

Thanks for all the help!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

daniel.layton.wrightI've been taught that a participle is always an adjective? Is this true?

No. A participle can be part of a verb phrase. The past participle is always used to form the perfect tenses, for example, have gone, has seen, had done, etc. And the present participle is used to form the progressive tenses, for example, is going, was doing, am reading, etc.

sent in your example sentences shows yet another use of the past participle as a verb. Here the past participle is part of the passive construction were sent.

daniel.layton.wrightthe distinction between passive voice constructions with and without an agent.

It's true that you can have passives with or without an agent, but the past participle is still part of a verb phrase in either case, not an adjective.

CJ

Is the past participle an adjective?

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