Question- adjective or verb

[Jivey317]

I would love to get some feedback on this! I keep going back and forth on it... is "taped" an adjective or verb in this sentence?

One of them is taped up.

 

[Jivey317]

I would love to get some feedback on this! I keep going back and forth on it... is "taped" an adjective or verb in this sentence?

One of them is taped up.

(I am a teacher, and this sentence came up in discussion with my students- my first instinct was verb, but the more I looked at it, I am wondering if it is actually an adjective?)

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would call it an adjective. "Up" is an adverb modifying "taped".

 

[MikeNewYork]

For me, "taped up" describes the condition of the thing.

 

[emsr2d2]

For me, "It was taped up" on its own uses "taped up" as an adjective. "It was taped up by the boy" uses "to tape up" as a phrasal verb.

 

[Tdol]

Without more context, I would think of the original example as an adjective describing the state. This could, of course, change in a wider context.

 

[tkacka15]

I would love to get some feedback on this! I keep going back and forth on it... is "taped" an adjective or verb in this sentence?

One of them is taped up.

On the one hand taped up, whatever it means (e.g., to fasten or tie something with a tape or to tie bandages round the part of the body), could be an adjectival subject complement in the sentence "One of them is taped up" where is is a copula. On the other hand it may be a sentence expressed in the passive voice where is taped up is the predicator (a verb) of the sentence.

Anyway, in my opinion, a wider context is needed to classify it accordingly.

 

[Peedeebee]

I came across just this idea in an English national test for school children; the disappointed boy/ the boy was disappointed..... the question was- spot the adjective. But what if the candidate thought it was a verb....? I thought the question unfair. (If the word sad had been used , the verb version would have been saddened, so sometimes it's clear)

This time, try using: Which box shall I bring? The open one or the taped up box?
Now do we think it's an adjective or a verb?

But I totally agree- context is all. ( Nearly all; word order might come into play too)

 

[Tdol]

It's not a very good question.

 

[Tdol]

Litotes, old chap.