Grammar question: Is the word "fatiguing" an adjec

<b>Forum for the discussion of Applied Linguistics </b>

Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2

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

Grammar question: Is the word "fatiguing" an adjec

Post by hereinchina » Sun Sep 05, 2010 2:04 pm

Hello,
Is the word "fatiguing" an adjective, adverb, or verb in the following sentences?
1. My job is fatiguing.
2. I have a fatiguing job.

User avatar
ouyang
Posts: 170
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2007 3:52 am
Location: The Milky Way
Contact:

Post by ouyang » Sun Sep 05, 2010 4:49 pm

It's an adjective. In the second example, it's an attributive adjective in a noun phrase, "a fatiguing job". In the first example, it's a predicative adjective.

Many predicative (I prefer predicate) adjectives are in the form of verb participles. Part of speech classifications are related to meaning. Verbs represent dynamic and stative processes. Adverbs are properties of verbs and adjectives are properties of nouns. Substitutions sometimes make the distinction clearer.

Verbs: "My job is ending. My job is improving. My boss is sleeping."
Adjectives: "My job is difficult / painful / tiring / exhausting."

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

Post by fluffyhamster » Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:44 pm

Not really adding much to what Ouyang's written, but perhaps consider also (in relation to predicate adjectives versus verb participles) the difference between My job is tiring (=adj) and My job is tiring me (=verb, transitive), though the latter is a lot less natural a phrasing (i.e. has one word too many - the all-too-obvious 'me') than the former.

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

thanks

Post by hereinchina » Wed Sep 08, 2010 2:45 pm

Hello,
I want to thank both of you for you helpful and detailed answers.

Post Reply