Analyze the grammatical function of 'made' in the phrase 'The record is made' | Step-by-Step Solution

What We're Solving:

We need to determine whether 'made' functions as a past participle acting as an adjective in "The record is made," and how this compares to a simple adjective sentence like "Apple is red" versus a passive voice construction.

The Approach:

We'll analyze the grammatical structure by examining what 'made' is doing in the sentence, testing whether it behaves like an adjective or part of a passive construction, and comparing it to our clear examples.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the sentence structure "The record is made" follows the pattern: Subject + linking verb + complement

• Subject: "The record"
• Linking verb: "is"
• Complement: "made"

Step 2: Test if 'made' is functioning as an adjective Let's compare with "Apple is red":

• "Red" describes a quality/state of the apple
• Can we say "made" describes a quality/state of the record?

Try this test: Can you put "very" in front of it?

• "Apple is very red" ✓ (works - confirms adjective)
• "The record is very made" ✗ (sounds wrong - suggests not a simple adjective)

Step 3: Consider the passive voice possibility Passive voice pattern: Subject + be + past participle (+ by someone)

• Active voice equivalent: "Someone made the record"
• Passive voice: "The record is made (by someone)"

This suggests 'made' is actually part of a passive construction, not just an adjective!

Step 4: Understand the key difference

• "Apple is red" = linking verb + adjective (describes a state)
• "The record is made" = passive voice construction (describes an action done to the subject)

The Answer:

While 'made' is technically a past participle that could function adjectivally, in "The record is made," it's primarily functioning as part of a passive voice construction rather than as a simple adjective like "red" in "Apple is red." The sentence implies action (someone made the record) rather than just describing a static quality.

Memory Tip:

Try the "very" test! If you can naturally add "very" before the word (very red, very tired, very broken), it's likely functioning as an adjective. If it sounds awkward ("very made"), it's probably part of a passive voice construction describing an action rather than a state.