Is "dressed up" an adjective?

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hereinchina
Posts: 119
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 1:47 pm

Is "dressed up" an adjective?

Post by hereinchina » Sun Mar 18, 2012 3:31 pm

Hello,
I know the expression "dress up" is a phrasal verb and means the following: to
wear clothes that are more formal than the ones you would usually wear. Is the
expression "dressed up" an adjective in following sentences?
1. I was dressed up for the party.
2. I got dressed up for the party.

fluffyhamster
Posts: 3031
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again

Post by fluffyhamster » Sun Mar 18, 2012 6:56 pm

The 'be' version could be passive (i.e. "actional"/dynamic/not stative, yet "done-to"), or on the other hand have a stative meaning (in which case the 'be' would be more like a copular than an auxiliary, and the 'dressed [up]' be yes, more adjective-like. The technical term for this latter is 'pseudo-passive'). The 'get' version meanwhile is named the "get-passive", but surely in this instance more something we've done to ourselves (and thus more adjectival than verbal, compare 'I got very drunk at the party') than had done to us (which would be verby).
Last edited by fluffyhamster on Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:14 am, edited 5 times in total.

hereinchina
Posts: 119
Joined: Fri May 29, 2009 1:47 pm

thank you very much

Post by hereinchina » Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:56 pm

Hello,
I truly appreciate your taking the time to answer my question in such a detailed way.
Best wishes

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