3.10: Other Considerations for Using Past Participles Used as Adjectives
- Page ID
- 361013
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Other Considerations for Using Past Participles Used as Adjectives
| Guidelines | Examples |
|---|---|
| Past participles can work as adjectives after verbs like "be" and other linking verbs. When you want to describe something's state or condition, you can use past participles (like "finished," "broken," "excited") as adjectives. These words come after verbs like "is," "was," "seems," "looks," etc. Common past participles used this way include:
|
The concert hall is closed for renovations. The closed venue will reopen next month.
The fans looked excited about the new album. Those excited listeners bought tickets immediately.
The musicians are bored after long hours riding in busses. Bored musicians often get into trouble when they check into hotels.
Photographers are not allowed backstage during soundcheck.
|
| Past participles can also be used directly before nouns as adjectives. You can put past participles right in front of nouns to describe them. This is just like using any other adjective (like "big" or "red") before a noun. Some examples include:
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I saw a worried parent waiting outside the concert hall.
The drummer used a broken cymbal for that unique sound effect.
She found a hidden track on the album which had a stolen melody from another artist.
Even though there were several closed doors, we could still hear the heavy metal band's music.
|
| Some past participles come after "be" but are not usually used before nouns. Certain past participles work well after linking verbs but sound strange when placed directly before a noun. These include words that show location, birth, or occupation. Examples: allowed, born, done, gone, located, made, taken |
Correct: The recording studio is located downtown.
Avoid: ~~the located studio~~
Correct: The musician was born in Nashville.
Avoid: ~~the born musician~~
Correct: The seats we wanted were taken.
Avoid: ~~the taken seats~~
|
| Adverbs often come before past participles to add more meaning. You can use adverbs like "well," "badly," "recently," "beautifully," etc. before past participles to give more information about how something was done or when it happened. |
This is a well-made acoustic guitar.
The band performed their recently written songs.
It was a badly planned concert tour.
She played a beautifully written piano piece.
|