3.9: PARTICIPLES USED AS ADJECTIVES
- Page ID
- 361012
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| EXAMPLES | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|
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Leo had discarded radio parts in his workshop.
Musicians used the most advanced electric guitars.
|
Past participles can function as adjectives. Discarded is used to describe the radio parts, meaning the parts that had been thrown away. Advanced is used to describe the electric guitars, meaning the guitars that had been developed with new technology. |
|
Leo had an amazing ability to solve problems.
His workshop was a fascinating place.
Musicians found his approach engaging.
|
Present participles can also function as adjectives. Amazing is used to describe Leo's ability, meaning his ability that causes amazement in others. Fascinating is used to describe the workshop, meaning the workshop that causes fascination. Engaging is used to describe his approach, meaning the approach that causes engagement. These are present participles functioning as adjectives. |
|
Leo was extremely encouraging to musicians.
Players felt deeply thrilled by the sound.
|
We can use adverbs to describe the participles. Encouraging is used to describe Leo, meaning Leo who causes encouragement in others. The adverb "extremely" comes before the participle. Thrilled is used to describe how the players felt, meaning the players who experienced the feeling of being thrilled. The adverb "deeply" comes before the participle. |
|
Musicians were interested in Leo's guitars. (interest = verb)
(a) Leo's guitars were interesting. Musicians found many interesting features.
(b) Musicians were interested in learning more about Leo's process.
|
Be careful of when either the past participle or the present participle can be used. They have different meanings. The past participle describes the feeling someone/something gets. The present participle describes the feeling someone/something gives. Interesting is used to describe Leo's guitars, meaning the guitars that cause interest in people. Interested is used to describe the musicians, meaning the musicians who experience the feeling of interest. The same verb "interest" creates two different participle adjectives with opposite meanings - one for the thing causing the feeling and one for the person experiencing it. |
|
Musicians were excited about the new guitars.
Players were surprised by the innovative features.
The story about Leo is interesting.
Leo's guitars are entertaining.
|
Excited is used to describe the musicians, meaning the musicians who experience excitement. Surprised is used to describe the players, meaning the players who experience surprise. Interesting is used to describe the story, meaning the story that causes interest. Entertaining is used to describe the guitars, meaning the guitars that provide entertainment. Objects like stories and guitars cannot feel emotions, so we use present participles (interesting, entertaining) to describe them, not past participles like "interested" or "entertained." |