One of the standard tests for copula+predicate adjective is whether the adjective allows an adverbial modifier.  Since “closed” is not gradable, It doesn’t allow “very” or other intensifiers that would show it to be an adjective.  The present tense verb suggests a predicate adjective interpretation since “by order of the magistrate” works better than “by the magistrate.”  “By order of…” is not an agent phrase and suggests that “closed” here is an adjective.  With past tense, “The roads and ports were closed by the magistrate” works as a passive.”   We can also have parallel structures, like “During the winter, the roads on the Bruce Peninsula are closed more often than they’re open,” where the parallel between “closed” and “open” suggests that “closed” is an adjective.  Using “opened” in the same sentence sounds decidedly odd, since we have a clear morphological distinction between adjective and participle in “open/opened,” which is not the case with “closed.”

 

On your spin-off question, there is certainly a close relationship between the two.  The copular predicate construction has historically been a pathway from verb to adjective, and the example you posted about is a good illustration of the close relationship.   

 

Perhaps the most important upshot of this topic is the recognition that what we call “parts of speech” are, in fact, not discrete categories but rather represent prototypes.   The prototypical verb is a transitive, with its agentive subject and a direct object.  This type of verb, like “hit,” converts easily into the passive.  Stative verbs like “have” do not generally allow passives, hence the oddity of “A good time was had by all,” and stative adjectives, like “tall” do not allow imperatives or progressives.  You can say “She is tall,” but not “Be tall” or “She is being tall.”  With an active adjective like “kind,” those are both possible:  “Be kind!”  “She’s being kind.” 

 

I’m not sure I’d spend a lot of time in a writing class explaining prototype theory as it applies to parts of speech even though the concept is useful in answering your question.  

 

Herb

 

 

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