Tense Problem 'were sold out'

[learning54]

Hi Teachers,
Could you tell me which tense is 'were sold out' in the following sentence?

When they finally arrived at the cinema, all the tickets were sold out.

Thank you

 

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

"Were" is the verb here. Think of "sold out" as a predicate adjective referring to the tickets.

 

[billmcd]

Hi Teachers,
Could you tell me which tense is 'were sold out' in the following sentence?

When they finally arrived at the cinema, all the tickets were sold out.

Thank you

Were = simple past.

 

[kahhong]

It is past tense and passive form.

 

[5jj]

It is past tense and passive form.

That's debatable. 'Were sold' is clearly passive in, "Tickets were sold during office hours only". In the sentence we are looking at, SlickVic's suggestion that 'sold out' is an adjective is possible. It is often not possible to be sure whether the past participle used after BE is functioning adjectivally or as part of a passive construction. Whatever it is in learning54's sentence, 'were' is past simple.

 

[catalian]

The tickets did not sell themselves! Somebody sold them, and there are none left.
Which makes you think that it should be past passive, but if the stocks are finished we must assume that no more selling is taking place ....... so sold out has the function of adjective.
If we sell more tickets, they will be sold (future passive) until stocks run out

 

[learning54]

Hi Teachers,
Thanks a lot for all your replies, they really have helped me. It is a passive sentence, where the doer is not important but the action is. Right?

Learning54
Regards

 

[emsr2d2]

Technically, the tickets aren't "sold out". The show is "sold out". The tickets have "all been sold".

However, you will hear "the tickets are sold out" a lot.

 

[5jj]

It is a passive sentence, where the doer is not important but the action is.

That is one possible reading.