Verbs as adjectives: improved, aggravated, etc

Question

HiIs it possible to use common verbs as adjectives in colloquial English like this?With his improved health, he decided to...[instead of: Once his health improved...]With his aggravated asthma, John felt that... [instead of: When his asthma aggravated...]Thanks,Tom

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Mr. TomIs it possible to use common verbs as adjectives in colloquial English like this?

Yes, but there is no fixed rule. Most often, the past participle is a pre-modifier but it can be a post-modifier.
Some participles are natural as modifiers, others are not. And some collocations are more natural than others.

With his health restored, he decided to take up his exercise program again. (post-modifier)
This new, improved detergent removes more stains that its older formula. (pre-modifier)
Because his asthma was in an extremely aggravated condition, he went to the hospital. (pre-modifier)

CalifJim · Answer

Mr. TomIs it possible to use common verbs as adjectives in colloquial English like this?

I assume you don't necessarily mean the pattern must include a with-phrase even though both of your examples have one.

Yes, you can use participles like that by the thousands, provided they are idiomatic and make sense. Not every such construction will be idiomatic or necessarily make sense.

a biased report, interested parties, singing nuns, a divided court, the blazing fire, a known criminal, detached homes, intriguing developments, an improvised response, an embattled nation, legalized drugs, a frozen dessert, ...

But not

a bothered paragraph, the amazed idea, a reported table, a fished lake, a slept bed, the laughed jokes, a smelling flower, ...

CJ

Verbs as adjectives: improved, aggravated, etc

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