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Marold Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Past participle - adjectives

I've been wondering for a long time about past participle in a function of adjective. For instance:

"It is bought."

So bought is here in the passive voice and stands for past participle of the verb. But it can be also an adjective without the change meaning when comparing to passive voice, right? There is only a change in the passive or active voice, isn't it? (Bought as an adjective is active voice and so on...)

And why then isn't bought in dictionaries as an adjective?

I am a little puzzled about that. If anybody could give me a satisfactory and clear summary from a grammar's point of view, I'd be thankful.

Thank you in advance.
  

Top answer

Hi Marold; You will find the past participle of verbs in most dictionaries under the main entry for the verb. Learner's dictionaries might have separate entries for past participles of irregular verbs where the main verb might not be obvious. CalifJim has a very good post on the subject of past participles as adjectives.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Hi Marold; You will find the past participle of verbs in most dictionaries under the main entry for the verb.
  • Learner's dictionaries might have separate entries for past participles of irregular verbs where the main verb might not be obvious.
  • CalifJim has a very good post on the subject of past participles as adjectives.
  • I assume that you are familiar with the passive voice and verb tenses.
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3 Answers
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Hi Marold;

You will find the past participle of verbs in most dictionaries under the main entry for the verb.
Learner's dictionaries might have separate entries for past participles of irregular verbs where the main verb might not be obvious.

CalifJim has a very good post on the subject of past participles as adjectives. I assume that you are familiar with the passive voice
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Wow, indeed. CJ's post is very apt and now, I finally think I am clear about that.Emotion: wink Thank you for posting me the explanation.
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AlpheccaStars.CalifJim has a very good post on the subject of past participles as adjectives.
I also thank you, Alphecca Stars, for linking to CalifJim's great post.
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