PASSIVE VOICE:  Adjectives derived from past participles

Introduction

We'd like to welcome you to the ESL HELP! Desk, where all activities and exercises are authentic English, from learners of English.

In the following sentence, is the word excited a verb or an adjective?

  • I was excited about going.

Many adjectives derive from passive voice constructions.  We discuss adjectives derived from passive voice constructions.

If you'd like to begin with Part 1 of our series, please click here: What Is Passive Voice?
If you'd like to review our lesson, "What Is an Adjective?" please click here.

Adjectives and Passive Voice Verbs

How do we use the past participle to become an adjective?

Did you know that many adjectives derive from passive voice constructions?

Common words such as satisfied, tired, excited, interested, bored, embarrassed and others can be verbs.  However, in many sentences they now function as adjectives.

Notice that the -ed adjective is the same as the past participle form of the passive voice sentence. The sentences look like passive voice sentences - the object of the active voice sentence is the subject of the transformed sentence - but they are active voice sentences that use past participles as adjectives.

Look below to see how an -ed adjective derives from an active voice sentence.
In each sentence, the verb is underlined.  

Original Active Voice Sentence Active Voice with an -ed Adjective
   
Simple Present Tense  
His marriage satisfies him. He is satisfied with his marriage.
   
We should help those who have lost someone whom they love.  (...they love someone) We should help those who have lost a loved one.
   
Simple Past Tense  
Their marriage satisfied them, until they moved to the U.S. They were satisfied with their marriage until they moved to the U.S.
It embarrassed him to think they might see him in the unemployment office. He was embarrassed to think they might see him in the unemployment office.
The situation shamed him. He felt shamed.
   
Present Perfect Tense  
Religion has interested me for a long time. I have been interested in religion for a long time.
   
Present Perfect Progressive Tense  
This new job has been tiring me out. I have been feeling tired since I began this new job.
   
Modals  
Their lifestyles might bore them. They might be bored.
   

 

Noun Phrases with -ed Adjectives

-ed Adjectives in Noun Phrases


Thus, you might find noun phrases such as:

  • the satisfied man

  • loved ones

  • interested members

  • tired children

  • bored workers

  • new and improved products

  • the United Nations

 

Next...  Test Your Skill with of Passive Voice

 

Test Your Knowledge

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