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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Snowbound- verb or adjective?

Is the word "snowbound" a verb or an adjective?

Would an individual be snowbound in a cafe or stranded in a snowbound cafe?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Hi, Neither of your examples sounds wrong to me in those contexts, but my dictionary lists 'snowbound' only as an adjective. 'I am snowbound' is an adjectival form, eg it's like 'I am happy'. I suppose that 'snowbound' as a verb form might be interpreted in some contexts as 'heading for snow as a destination'.

— Clive

  • Hi, Neither of your examples sounds wrong to me in those contexts, but my dictionary lists 'snowbound' only as an adjective.
  • 'I am snowbound' is an adjectival form, eg it's like 'I am happy'.
  • I suppose that 'snowbound' as a verb form might be interpreted in some contexts as 'heading for snow as a destination'.
  • There's a song that includes I'm Alabama bound I'm Alabama bound And if the train don't stop and turn around I'm Alabama bound Clive
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3 Answers
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Hi,

Neither of your examples sounds wrong to me in those contexts, but my dictionary lists 'snowbound' only as an adjective.

'I am snowbound' is an adjectival form, eg it's like 'I am happy'.

I suppose that 'snowbound' as a verb form might be interpreted in some contexts as 'heading for snow as a destination'.

There's a song that includes

I'm Alabama b
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It is clearly an adjective, at least in my grammatical thinking. If snowbound were a verb, other forms of the word could be used as verbs as well. I don't think many people say things like

It will snowbind us for a long time.
The heavy snowfall snowbound my house.

CB
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Well, according to all the dictionaries it's an adjective. I don't think either form is correct, technically. Snowbound refers to something being bound by the snow; i.e., a person or vehicle but not an immobile structure. Can't you rephrase it to a snowed-under cafe?
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