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Pjs Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
verbs or adjectives?
My 6th grade text has this sentence:
"Before long they found the path; it was hidden in the underbrush." The key says that "was hidden" in the second clause is a helping verb and a main verb. It seems to me that "was" is a linking verb, and in this context "hidden" is an adjective describing "it."
In another place the text says that "was able" is a helping verb and a main verb. Isn't "able" an adjective?
"Before long they found the path; it was hidden in the underbrush." The key says that "was hidden" in the second clause is a helping verb and a main verb. It seems to me that "was" is a linking verb, and in this context "hidden" is an adjective describing "it."
In another place the text says that "was able" is a helping verb and a main verb. Isn't "able" an adjective?
Top answer
" The key says that "was hidden" in the second clause is a helping verb and a main verb. " Well, I understand your thinking. However, I see it as a past passive construction.
- " The key says that "was hidden" in the second clause is a helping verb and a main verb.
- " Well, I understand your thinking.
- However, I see it as a past passive construction.
- I think this would be more apparent if the sentence explicitly included an agent.
- it was hidden in the underbrush by branches.
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1 Answers
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Hi,
"Before long they found the path; it was hidden in the underbrush." The key says that "was hidden" in the second clause is a helping verb and a main verb. It seems to me that "was" is a linking verb, and in this context "hidden" is an adjective describing "it." Well, I understand your thinking. However, I see it as a past passive construction. I think this
"Before long they found the path; it was hidden in the underbrush." The key says that "was hidden" in the second clause is a helping verb and a main verb. It seems to me that "was" is a linking verb, and in this context "hidden" is an adjective describing "it." Well, I understand your thinking. However, I see it as a past passive construction. I think this
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