What's the difference between ( using Past participle verbs as adjectives and passive forms )

Question

What's the difference between ( using Past participle verbs as adjectives and passive forms )
When should I use each ?
For example. I can't fine any difference between these sentences " The message is sent " and " The message has been sent "... Can you explain it ?

THANKS A LOT

Miriam Mozrui · Accepted Answer

Both of the examples you have given are in passive forms. You change an active sentence into passive form by using the verb “be” with a past participle. So to make your examples active you would write - I/they sent the message.

However saying ‘the message has been sent’ indicates that, though the action is complete, it is of recent past. ‘The message is sent’ on the other hand indicates that you are relaying the information as the action (transmission) is taking place. Otherwise it should be ‘the message has been sent’ or ‘the message was sent’.

GPY · Answer

Miriam MozruiBoth of the examples you have given are in passive forms.

I don't necessarily agree with this. While it is possible for "The message is sent" to be a passive verb construction, it needs a particular context. In the sense that I believe Rami meant it, "sent" seems adjectival to me.

Laborious · Answer

GPYMiriam MozruiBoth of the examples you have given are in passive forms.I don't necessarily agree with this.

.. I don't either. The sentence "The msg is sent" by itself doesn't give a strong impression that 'sent' is used passively in the sentence. If the sentence, for example, were "The msg is sent to them by me every day", then it would definitely be a passive voice. "The msg is sent", at first glance, tells me that 'seen' is used adjectively in the sentence.

Grammarfreak · Answer

GPYWhile it is possible for "The message is sent" to be a passive verb construction, it needs a particular context.

I see it the same. Syntactically " ...is sent " seems hard to digest. If it were "The message WAS SENT to you yesterday (at noon)" that would be a correct passive construction. The past participle "sent " (in "The message is sent " ) to me is indeed adjectival with a passive connotation. Just my take.

Miriam Mozrui · Answer

An adjective is a word used to describe a noun by adding, or specifying a feature (or quality) to it. In other words it modifies a noun.

Therefore, a verb that takes the role of an adjective modifies a noun, to form a noun phrase (e.g. a grown man, a tethered goat, a fastening belt, a helping hand). Such verbs are attributive because they are expressing an attribute of the noun.

Attributive verbs are participles – present participle ending with 'ing', and past participles.

To add on to my earlier reply, in verbs that are active the subject performs the action where-as in verb that are passive the subject undergoes the action.
For example:
Everybody loves Raymond – active.
Raymond is loved by everybody – passive.
Mary helped her - active.
She was helped by Mary - passive.

Grammarfreak · Answer

Miriam Mozrui An adjective is a word used to describe a noun by adding, or specifying a feature (or quality) to it. In other words it modifies a noun.Therefore, a verb that takes the role of an adjective modifies a noun, to form a noun phrase (e.g. a grown man, a tethered goat, a fastening belt, a helping hand). Such verbs are attributive because they are expressing an attribute of the noun.Attributive verbs are participles – present participle ending with 'ing', and past participles.To add on to my earlier reply, in verbs that are active the subject performs the action where-as in verb that are passive the subject undergoes the action.For example: Everybody loves Raymond – active.Raymond is loved by everybody – passive.Mary helped her - active.She was helped by Mary - passive.

What you discribed in my opinion is fundamental grammar. I am 100% in agreement with your posts. If I am not mistaken, the discussion was about the linguistic property of past participles used in various context and construction in general. The fine line between a past participle being viewed as an attributive adjective and being used in passive context can be agrued. For instance: A beautifully polished car. A tastefully decorated home.
Let me be clear, I am not a grammarian, nor am I a linguist. I just happened to be someone who loves studying the language.

What's the difference between ( using Past participle verbs as adjectives and passive forms )

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