[General] I was tired last night

[suniljain]

I was tired last night.

You were late yesterday.

Are "tired" and "late" are verbs in the above sentences? If so, then why "ing" form if verbs has not been used above with was and were. (like in past continuous tense)

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Tired" and "were" are verbs. I see no place for -ing forms in either sentence.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Why is 'tired' not an adjective?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Oops! It is an adjective.

 

[suniljain]

I late also an adjective in the 2nd sentence? My doubt is that if was/were is used as a main verb then there can't be another verbs.

 

[emsr2d2]

To clarify, "tired" and "late" are adjectives in those sentences.

I (subject) was (verb) tired (adjective) ...
You (subject) were (verb) late (adjective) ...

Both sentences use the simple past of the verb "to be" followed by an adjective.

 

[Matthew Wai]

was/were is used as a main verb

I think they are used as a linking verb in your sentences, but I am not a teacher.

 

[suniljain]

To clarify, "tired" and "late" are adjectives in those sentences.

I (subject) was (verb) tired (adjective) ...
You (subject) were (verb) late (adjective) ...

Both sentences use the simple past of the verb "to be" followed by an adjective.

t

To understand bit better:

May I say that whenever the sentence is with "to be" (was/were, is/ am/ are as main verb) then it will never be followed by a verb.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think you can't say so because the verb 'to be' can be followed by a past participle to form the passive voice, but I am not a teacher.
For more details, see http://www.didatticademm.it/old2/didattica/appunti_dispense/paolucci/passive_verb.pdf

 

[MikeNewYork]

That all depends on how you define "verb". Technically, a participle is not a verb. It is a verbal or a verb form. It cannot be the main verb in a clause or sentence.

 

[suniljain]

I think you can't say so because the verb 'to be' can be followed by a past participle to form the passive voice, but I am not a teacher.
For more details, see http://www.didatticademm.it/old2/didattica/appunti_dispense/paolucci/passive_verb.pdf

Can we conclude that the above rule is correct except in passive voice?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think the verb 'to be' can also be followed by a present participle to form the continuous tense in the active voice, as in 'I was sleeping', but I am not a teacher.