Introduction:
I have seen my students getting confused between past
participles and adjectives, and the reason is obvious! They both appears to be
same in the sentence but function entirely different. Understanding this
concept is essential for a student to improve his/her writing skills as well as
spoken clarity.
In this blog post I have covered following points:
· What a past participle is
· What an adjective is
· How to tell the difference?
· Common examples and exceptions
What Is a Past Participle?
A past participle is a verb form used in:
- Perfect tenses (has/have/had + past participle)
- Passive voice (be + past participle)
Examples of Past Participles in Sentences
✅ Perfect Tense:
- She has written a novel. (Present perfect)
- They had finished dinner before the movie. (Past perfect)
✅ Passive Voice:
- The vase was broken during the move. (Broken = past participle)
- The report was submitted on time.
Key Features of Past Participles
✔ Always derived from verbs (e.g., eaten, spoken, taken).
✔ Used with helping verbs (has, have, had, was, were).
✔ Indicates an action rather than a state.
What Is an Adjective?
An adjective describes a noun’s state, quality, or characteristic. Some past participles can function as adjectives when they lose their verbal meaning.
Examples of Adjectives (Derived from Past Participles)
✅ Descriptive Use:
- The broken window needs repair. (Broken describes the window’s condition.)
- He looked excited about the trip. (Excited describes his emotion.)
Key Features of Adjectives
✔ Modify nouns directly.
✔ Can be modified by adverbs (very, extremely, really).
✔ Can have comparative forms (more interesting, the most surprising).
How to Tell the Difference? (With Tests)
Since past participles and adjectives look similar, use these tests to distinguish them:
1. The “Very” Test
- ✔ Adjective: “She is very excited.” ✅ (Excited is an adjective here.)
- ❌ Past Participle: “The glass was very broken.” ❌ (Wrong because broken is a verb form.)
2. The “By” Test (Passive Voice Check)
- ✔ Past Participle: “The cake was eaten by the kids.” (Passive voice)
- ✔ Adjective: “The eaten cake was stale.” (Describes the cake’s state)
3. The “Helping Verb” Test
- ✔ Past Participle: “The door was locked at night.” (Passive)
- ✔ Adjective: “The locked door wouldn’t open.” (Describes the door)
Common Words That Function as Both
Many past participles double as adjectives. Here’s a comparison:
| Past Participle (Verb Form) | Adjective (Descriptive Use) |
|---|---|
| The car was stolen. (Passive) | The stolen car was recovered. |
| The cookies were burned. (Passive) | The burned cookies tasted awful. |
| She has retired. (Perfect) | She is a retired teacher. |
Exceptions and Tricky Cases
Some words are almost always adjectives, while others rarely function as adjectives:
Usually Adjectives:
- Bored / Interesting / Excited / Surprised
- “The movie was boring.” (Adjective)
- “I am interested in history.” (Adjective)
Rarely Adjectives:
- Gone / Written / Spoken
- “He has gone home.” (Past participle)
- “The book was written in 2020.” (Past participle)
Why Does This Matter?
Mixing up past participles and adjectives can lead to unclear or incorrect sentences. For example:
❌ Incorrect: “The glass was very broken by the child.”
✅ Correct: “The glass was broken by the child.” (Passive)
✅ Correct: “The broken glass was sharp.” (Adjective)
Knowing the difference improves:
✔ Writing clarity
✔ Grammar accuracy
✔ Sentence structure
Final Summary (Quick Comparison)
| Feature | Past Participle | Adjective |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Part of a verb tense/passive | Describes a noun |
| Example | “The door was locked.” | “The locked door.” |
| Modified by “very”? | No | Yes |
| Comparative forms? | No | Yes (more excited) |
FAQs
1. Can a past participle be an adjective?
Yes, many past participles (like broken, excited, stolen) can function as adjectives when describing a noun’s state.
2. How do I know if a word is an adjective or a past participle?
Use the “very” test or check if it’s part of a passive/perfect construction.
3. Are all past participles adjectives?
No, some (like gone, written) rarely act as adjectives.
