A teacher of English has sent in this query: “The participles of certain verbs function as adjectives in sentences. Many students find it difficult to distinguish between the adjectival and verbal functions of such participle forms of verbs in sentences. Please explain this type of adjective so that we can understand it easily.”
Yes, the participial forms of many verbs function as adjectives in phrases and sentences. An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. Any word, even if it is associated with a different part of speech, that modifies a noun or a pronoun serves the function of an adjective. When present participles (-ing) and past participles (-ed) of verbs function as adjectives they are called participial adjectives. Look at the examples below:
1. a) Harry Potter novels and movies interest most young students.
b) John and Mary are interested in reading Harry Potter novels.
c) Harry Potter novels are very interesting.
2. a) The movie excited him.
b) The excited fans of M S Dhoni shouted and danced while watching their hero batting.
c) What an exciting end!
3. a) The student’s behaviour annoyed the teacher.
b) The teacher was annoyed with the student.
c) It’s really annoying when your contribution is not acknowledged by authorities.
In the three sets of sentences above, in 1a, 2a and 3a interest, excite and annoy are verbs; in 1b, 2b and 3b the past participles interested, excited, and annoyed are adjectives; in 1c, 2c and 3c the present participles interesting, exciting and annoying are adjectives.
Participial adjectives can be distinguished by their endings, either –ed (excited, amazed, depressed) or –ing (fascinating, thrilling, satisfying). Exceptions to the rule include broken and written (broken heart, written apology). Is ‘talented’ a participial adjective? In the sentence John is a talented person the adjective talented does not come from a verb, so it is not a participial adjective.
Like any adjectives, participial adjectives can also be modified. We can modify participial adjectives to decrease or increase their intensity and use them to compare different nouns by using the words very, extremely, less, more, most etc. Look at the examples below, using the participial adjective thrilling
It was a very thrilling movie.
It was an extremely thrilling movie.
It is a more thrilling movie than the one we watched two weeks ago.
It is the most thrilling movie I have ever watched.
Some participial adjectives are combinations of a noun and a participle like a time-consuming activity, water-based paint, a fact-finding team
Sometimes it is difficult for learners to distinguish between adjectival and verbal functions of the participial form of the verb in sentences. Consider the following pairs of sentences:
1a) The student’s behaviour was annoying.
1b) The student’s behaviour was very annoying. (acceptable)
2a) The student was annoying the teacher.
2b) The student was very annoying the teacher. (not acceptable)
In sentence 1b we use ‘very’ to modify the word ‘annoying’ and the construction is meaningful and so acceptable. ‘Annoying’ in 1a and 1b does the function of an adjective. But in 2b it is not possible to modify the word ‘annoying’. Moreover, in sentences 2a and 2b the verb ‘annoy’ is used transitively and therefore can be changed into the passive voice. So it can be concluded that in 2a and 2b the word ‘annoying’ does the function of a verb.
A by agent (by his comments, by her negative attitude, by someone) indicates that the –ed form is verbal as in the second sentence below:
1. Mary was shocked when she heard the news about John’s divorce. (adjectival)
2. Mary was shocked by her neighbour’s behaviour. (verbal)