Pedants' Paradise

[vinteuil]

And if highly, why not bigly?

... and indeed, if highly, why not lowly?



.

[french frank]

largely, surely?

Truly, deeply and also madly.

[Padraig]

And if highly, why not bigly?

If 'highly' that would therefore be an adverb qualifying the verb 'strung'.

But, is that an answer to my question, ff? what do you think of 'strung' and 'tired' as verbs?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... and indeed, if highly, why not lowly?



.

Like "Not in that poor lowly stable" (v.6 of "Once in Royal...")

[french frank]

If 'highly' that would therefore be an adverb qualifying the verb 'strung'.

But, is that an answer to my question, ff? what do you think of 'strung' and 'tired' as verbs?

I would take 'to string' as in highly-strung to be verbal (I assume it refers to tightening the string of an instrument, to near breaking point). Tired is different in that it could be the pp. of 'to tire' or it could just be taken as purely adjectival. I am tired, I am sleepy, I am hungry. But not usually I am strung.

[jean]

They are indeed, as you said yourself, past participles used as adjectives - verbal adjectives.

Surely tired can only be an adjective, no?

Yes, but my argument (and I think jean's) is that it's being used as an adjective, not an adverb.

My argument was that yes, it's being used as an adjective - and an adjective is what's required in the example given, not an adverb.

[vinteuil]

Like "Not in that poor lowly stable" (v.6 of "Once in Royal...")

... where 'lowly' is an adjective. 'Low' can of course be an adverb - "Swing low, sweet chariot... "


.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

... where 'lowly' is an adjective. 'Low' can of course be an adverb - "Swing low, sweet chariot... "


.

Or could both examples be errors? Like in Elijah: "Call him louder, Lord".

[jean]

Or could both examples be errors?

No. Low can be an adverb if it chooses.

But

Like in Elijah...

As in Elijah! Please!!

[french frank]

Low can be an adverb if it chooses.

[Padraig]

Don't drive tired

I'll go another round.

As it stands 'Don't drive tired' is, I think, correct; 'tired' is an adjective.

The verb 'to tire' can be transitive or intransitive:

a) the grammar test tired me - past tense of to tire;
b) I was tired by the grammar test - past participle of to tire, and makes 'Don't drive tired' correct, I think, from another point of view.

My question - is 'used as an adjective' the same as 'an adjective'?

[jean]

Past participles are sometimes part of verb forms, as in the passive + agent I was tired by the grammar test.

But sometimes they're purely adjectival - our example isn't interested in what it was that might have tired the dirver.

All participles - present participles too - can be adjectives if they feel like it. But they don't always.

[Padraig]

Past participles are sometimes part of verb forms...but sometimes they're purely adjectival.

Thanks for that jean. I prefer the imagined verbal sound of a good past participle to one that feels like being an adjective.
I'd say, 'We're done here' Deanta!

[french frank]

My question - is 'used as an adjective' the same as 'an adjective'?

Yes.

OED tired, adj.1

Pronunciation: /tʌɪəd/ Etymology: < tire v.1 + -ed suffix1.

1. Weakened or exhausted by exertion, etc.; fatigued, wearied

&c.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Now that that's all settled - what are drivers supposed to do? Pull over into the 'bus lane and have a snooze?

Not the point of the Thread, I know - but the money wasted on these things ...