No keyboard (is, has been?) detected.

Marika33

Member
Joined
May 29, 2023
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Netherlands
In my computer's BIOS I came across this phrase, "No keyboard detected" (I had forgotten to plug it in).
My question is, is "detected" in that phrase(sentence?) 1) a past participle(adjective), 2) a present perfect construction with omitted "has (been?)", or 3) just a past simple sentence?

In other words, which does "No keyboard detected" mean:
1) No keyboard is detected.
2) No keyboard has (been?) detected.
3) No keyboard detected (= verb, the past simple).
?
 

Piscean

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Europe
Current Location
Czech Republic
In my computer's BIOS I came across this phrase, "No keyboard detected" (I had forgotten to plug it in).
My question is, is "detected" in that phrase(sentence?) 1) a past participle(adjective), 2) a present perfect construction with omitted "has (been?)", or 3) just a past simple sentence?

In other words, which does "No keyboard detected" mean:
1) No keyboard is detected.
2) No keyboard has (been?) detected.
3) No keyboard detected (= verb, the past simple).
?
In both #1 and 2 'detected' is a past participle, If you wish to add part of BE to make a completer passive sentence, both 'is' and 'has been' work.

#3 does not work. 'Detect' is a transitive verb; it needs a direct object.
 

Marika33

Member
Joined
May 29, 2023
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Netherlands
In both #1 and 2 'detected' is a past participle, If you wish to add part of BE to make a completer(?) passive sentence, both 'is' and 'has been' work.

#3 does not work. 'Detect' is a transitive verb; it needs a direct object.
Thanks!

So, "detected", being a past participle, works as an adjective in 1), and as a part of verb construction in 2), right?
1) No keyboard is detected.
2) No keyboard has been detected.

To be honest, I didn't understand this
If you wish to add part of BE to make a completer passive sentence, both 'is' and 'has been' work.
What do you mean? Isn't "No keyboard is detected" or "No keyboard detected" passive?
 
Last edited:

Piscean

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Europe
Current Location
Czech Republic
So, "detected", being a past participle, works as an adjective in 1), and as a part of verb construction in 2), right?
1) No keyboard is detected.
2) No keyboard has been detected.
It's part of a passive construction in both sentences.
 
Top