Past participles ( after nouns or before nouns)

Question

Hi dear members! I hope you're all doing fine.

I'd like to ask you if both the sentences given below are possible or not. Also, do you consider the

past participles placed after the nouns, as in the first sentence, adjectives?

1) She has already met the people interested in joining the firm.

2) She has already met the interested people in joining the firm.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

LaboriousI'd like to ask you if both the sentences given below are possible or not.

No. Only 1) is correct. When you have a full participle clause which modifies a noun, the whole thing goes together after the noun. You don't split it up and put part of it before the noun and part of it after.

Laboriousdo you consider the past participles placed after the nouns, as in the first sentence, adjectives?

No. Not in your examples. They are modifying clauses. These clauses have something in common with adjectives: They modify nouns. But that doesn't mean that a clause is an adjective.

In the case of a single participle (not a whole clause), the participle can go before the noun, and usually does, and you can call it an adjective.

a loaded wagon, a broken heart, a split decision, an overheard remark

But: a wagon loaded with grain, a remark overheard in the lobby of the hotel

CJ

Past participles ( after nouns or before nouns)

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