Collins Cobuild English Grammar (40 page)

…her big blue
frightened
eyes.
She could hear his
agitated
voice.
Barry gave him a
worried
look.

2.82
    Here is a list of qualitative
-ed
adjectives that have a similar meaning to the most common meaning of the related verb:

agitated

alarmed

amused

appalled

astonished

bored

confused

contented

delighted

depressed

deprived

disappointed

disgusted

disillusioned

distressed

embarrassed

excited

frightened

inhibited

interested

pleased

preoccupied

puzzled

satisfied

shocked

surprised

tired

troubled

worried

Here is a list of qualitative
-ed
adjectives that do not have a similar meaning to the usual meaning of the related verb:

animated

attached

concerned

determined

disposed

disturbed

guarded

hurt

inclined

mixed

strained

classifying
-ed
adjectives

2.83
    Many other
-ed
adjectives are used for classifying, and so cannot be used with words like
very
and
rather
. For example,
a furnished apartment
is one type of apartment, contrasting with
an apartment without furniture
.

…a
furnished
apartment.
…a
painted
wooden bowl.
…the
closed
bedroom door.

Most adjectives that refer to physical distinctions are classifying adjectives.

2.84
    Here is a list of classifying
-ed
adjectives that have a similar meaning to the most common meaning of the related verb:

abandoned

armed

blocked

boiled

broken

canned

classified

closed

concentrated

condemned

cooked

divided

drawn

dried

established

fixed

furnished

haunted

hidden

improved

infected

integrated

known

licensed

loaded

paid

painted

processed

reduced

required

torn

trained

united

wasted

Here is list of
-ed
classifying adjectives that have a different meaning from the most common meaning of the related verb:

advanced

marked

noted

pointed

spotted

veiled

modifying
-ed
adjectives

2.85
    Classifying
-ed
adjectives cannot normally be modified with words like
quite
and
very
. However, an
adverb of manner
, (see paragraphs
6.36
to
6.44
) or an
adverb of degree
, (see paragraphs
6.45
to
6.52
) is often used before an
-ed
adjective.

For example,
a pleasantly furnished room
is a room that has been furnished with pleasant furniture.

…
pleasantly furnished
rooms.
…a
well-known
novelist.

2.86
    Some
-ed
adjectives are not often used on their own, and an adverb is necessary to complete the sense. You do not usually talk about
dressed people
, but you can say that they are
well dressed
or
smartly dressed
for example. The
-ed
adjectives in the following examples nearly always have an adverb in front of them.

…a
cautiously worded
statement.
…
impeccably dressed
men.
It was a
richly deserved
honour.
…
superbly cut
clothes.
…the existence of a
highly developed
national press.
…a
well organized
campaign.
…a tall,
powerfully built
man.
She gazed down at his
perfectly formed
little face.

Note that combinations like this are sometimes hyphenated, making them
compound adjectives
.

…a
well-equipped
army.

-ed
adjectives with an active meaning

2.87
    A few
-ed
adjectives are related to the
-ed
participle of intransitive verbs and have an active meaning, not a passive meaning. For example,
a fallen tree
is a tree that has fallen.

…a
capsized
ship.
She is the daughter of a
retired
army officer.
…an
escaped
prisoner.

Here is a list of
-ed
adjectives with an active meaning:

accumulated

dated

escaped

faded

fallen

retired

swollen

wilted

-ed
adjectives after linking verbs

2.88
    Most
-ed
adjectives can be used both in front of a noun and after a linking verb.

The
worried
authorities decided to play safe. My husband was
worried
.

A small number of
-ed
adjectives are normally only used after a linking verb. Often, they are followed by a preposition, a
to
-infinitive, or a
that
-clause.

I was
thrilled
by the exhibition.
The Brazilians are
pleased
with the results.
…food
destined
for areas of south Sudan.
He was always
prepared
to account for his actions.

Here is a list of
-ed
adjectives often used after a linking verb, with or without a phrase or clause after them:

convinced

delighted

interested

intimidated

intrigued

involved

pleased

prepared

scared

thrilled

tired

touched

Here is a list of
-ed
adjectives normally used after a linking verb with a phrase or clause after them:

agreed

destined

dressed

finished

lost

prepared

shut

stuck

BE CREATIVE

2.89
    The
-ed
participle of almost any transitive verb can be used as an adjective, though some are more commonly used than others.

…she said, with a
forced
smile.
There was one
paid
tutor and three volunteer tutors.
The
recovered
animals will be released.
…the final
corrected
version.