the car (which is/was) parked in front of the gate

[sitifan]

Kelly owns the car parked in front of the gate.
(my bold, quoted from an English test paper published in Taiwan)
Which is the correct paraphrase of the quoted sentence?
1. Kelly owns the car which is parked in front of the gate.
2. Kelly owns the car which was parked in front of the gate.

 

[5jj]

Probably #1. but we can't be sure without more context.

 

[tedmc]

It could be either. The writer probably didn't think it was necessary to make the distinction when writing the sentence.

 

[sitifan]

Probably #1. but we can't be sure without more context.

Are the sentences below grammatically correct?
3. The car is parked in front of the gate.
4. Someone parks the car in front of the gate.
5. The car is parked in front of the gate by Peter.
6. Peter parks the car in front of the gate.

 

[5jj]

They are, though I doubt if I would ever have any reason to use #4, 5 or 6.

 

[sitifan]

They are, though I doubt if I would ever have any reason to use #4, 5 or 6.

Do #3 and #4 have the same meaning? Do #5 and #6 have the same meaning?
3. The car is parked in front of the gate.
4. Someone parks the car in front of the gate.
5. The car is parked in front of the gate by Peter.
6. Peter parks the car in front of the gate.

 

[jutfrank]

I can't imagine it meaning #2.

 

[jutfrank]

Do #3 and #4 have the same meaning?

If you read #3 in the passive voice, yes. If parked is stative (an adjective rather than a verb), then no.

Do #5 and #6 have the same meaning?

Yes. The verb parked must be read as a verb. You can't read it as an adjective.

 

[Tarheel]

Abe: You need to move your car. It's parked in front of the gate. We can't open the gate with your car sitting there.
Bob: OK.

That's the way I see that one.