Would everyone agree that, when considering single-word modifiers of
nouns, we may reasonably distinguish  between adjectives and participles
on one hand and nouns and gerunds on the other?  Adjectives and
participles share with each other properties that they do not
share with nouns and gerunds modifying nouns.  Adjectives and participles
can

 -- be compounded (small and flimsy, beaten and mocked)
-- be serial or coordinate (hard, stale bread; polluted, stinking waters)
-- be placed before a noun, after a noun, and before determiners (Hungry
and thirsty, the campers devoured the meal; bleeding and limping, my
friends  returned to camp.)

In view of this, may adjectives and participles be treated together when
we are instructing students in their use?  Because participles so often
convey such a distinctively verby feeling, it might seem better to treat
them separately, including them with participle phrases, but they are so
often used together with adjectives --  angry and insulted, she left the
room; the happy, smiling students received their diplomas -- that I'm
wondering what others think.

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                Michael Kischner
                North Seattle Community College
                9600 College Way North
                Seattle, WA 98103

                (206) 528-4540    FAX (206) 527 3784
                email [log in to unmask]
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