English
As mentioned above, verb forms that are used attributively in English are often called verbal adjectives, or in some cases deverbal adjectives (if they no longer behave grammatically as verbs).
The truly "verbal" adjectives are non-finite verb forms: participles (present and past), and sometimes to-infinitives. These act as verbs in that they form a verb phrase, possibly taking objects and other dependents and modifiers that are typical of verbs; however that verb phrase then plays the role of an attributive adjective in the larger sentence. In the following examples, the attributive verb is bolded, and the verb phrase acting as the attributive adjective is shown in italics.
- The cat sitting on the fence is mine.
- The actor given the prize is not my favorite.
- This is a great place to eat.
Deverbal adjectives often have the same form as (and similar meaning to) the participles, but behave grammatically purely as adjectives – they do not take objects, for example, as a verb might. For example:
- It was a very exciting game.
- Interested parties should apply to the office.
Sometimes deverbal adjectives additionally take prefixes, as in hand-fed turkeys, uneaten food and meat-eating animals. Some compound adjectives are formed using the plain infinitive form of the verb, as in a no-go area or no-fly zone, and take-away food. Occasionally they are finite verb phrases: a must-see movie; their can-do attitude. Verbal and deverbal adjectives can often also be used as predicate (rather than attributive) adjectives, as in "The game was exciting"; "The cat was sitting on the fence". Deverbal adjectives may form further derivatives, such as adverbs (excitedly, interestingly).
English has analogous types of verbal nouns (truly verbal kinds – gerunds and infinitives – and deverbal nouns). Deverbal nouns may also be used attributively, as noun adjuncts, as in a swimming competition.
For more details of the usage of some of the above verb forms, see Uses of non-finite verbs in English.
Read more about this topic: Attributive Verb
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