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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Two word adjectives.
What is the rule when it comes to using either the present or past participle in two word adjectives?
adjective\adverb + past participle:
well-built
hard-boiled
badly-desinged
adjective\adverb + present participle:
good-looking
foul-smelling
easy-going
When do we use which?
adjective\adverb + past participle:
well-built
hard-boiled
badly-desinged
adjective\adverb + present participle:
good-looking
foul-smelling
easy-going
When do we use which?
Top answer
It depends on the time of the verb action: well-built- - the building happened before, and this is the result. hard-boiled- - the boiling happened before, and this is the result. badly-designed- - the designing happened before, and this is the result.
- It depends on the time of the verb action: well-built- - the building happened before, and this is the result.
- hard-boiled- - the boiling happened before, and this is the result.
- badly-designed- - the designing happened before, and this is the result.
- good-looking-- the present look foul-smelling-- the present smell easy-going-- the present going
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5 Answers
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It depends on the time of the verb action:
well-built-- the building happened before, and this is the result.
hard-boiled-- the boiling happened before, and this is the result.
badly-designed-- the designing happened before, and this is the result.
good-looking-- the present look
foul-smelling--the present smell
well-built-- the building happened before, and this is the result.
hard-boiled-- the boiling happened before, and this is the result.
badly-designed-- the designing happened before, and this is the result.
good-looking-- the present look
foul-smelling--the present smell
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Anonymous What is the rule when it comes to using either the present or past participle in two word adjectives?adjective\adverb + past participle:well-builthard-boiledbadly-desingedadjective\adverb + present participle:good-lookingfoul-smellingeasy-goingWhen do we use which?number noun modifier noun
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AnonymousWhat is the rule when it comes to using either the present or past participle in two word adjectives?There is no rule. Those are fixed forms. If you pick them apart by reversing the word order, they may make more sense to you.
well-built - it is built well
hard-boiled - it is boiled (until it is) hard [This one may be used metaphorical
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CalifJimThe words 'present' and 'past' as applied to participles have often been spoken of as misnomers, by the way, and justly so. They are actually active and passive participles. Note that the first three of your examples are related to passive constructions and the last three are related to active constructions.Excellent point!
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