Problem with past participle in Structure TOEFL Test

Past participles can cause confusion in the Structure section of the TOEFL test because a past participle can be either an adjective or a part of the verb. The past participle is the form of the verb that appears with have or be. It often ends in -ed, but there are also many irregular past participles in English.

The mailman    has     left           a letter        in        the mailbox.
                               VERB

The classes    were        taught           by Professor Smith.
                                    VERB

Analysis:

In the first sentence, the past participle left is part of the verb because it is accompanied by has. In the second sentence, the past participle taught is part of the verb because it is accompanied by were.

A past participle is an adjective when it is not accompanied by some form of be or have.

The letter      left        in the mailbox was for me.
              ADJECTIVE

The classes             taught            by Professor Smith were very interesting.
                         ADJECTIVE

In the first sentence, left is an adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or have (and there is a verb, was, later in the sentence). In the second sentence, taught is an adjective rather than a verb because it is not accompanied by a form of be or have (and there is a verb, were, later in the sentence).



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