[Grammar] was eaten and had eaten

[Oceanlike]

1) The rat was eaten by the cat.

2) Jessie had eaten her dinner.


I know that for (2), the verb form is past perfect (had + past participle)

Is there a term for the verb form in (1), 'was eaten'? I understand that it cannot be past perfect since the helping verb is not had.

Thank you! :-D

 

[SoothingDave]

When I was in school, they would call "eaten" a "predicate adjective." The past participle form of the verb is used as an adjective.

The verb in the sentence would simply be "was" the simple past form of "be."

 

[Oceanlike]

@ Piscean: May I know why is it a 'past simple passive'? I am so confused by the terms.....

Thank you.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Because 'was' is the past tense of 'be' and 'eaten' is the past participle of 'eat'.