Understanding Verb Tenses and Participles in Sentences

The sentence laquo;Schools will remain closed for one weekraquo; can be a bit confusing when it comes to understanding the verb tenses and the usage of participles. Let's break it down and explore why the past participle form of laquo;closeraquo; is used in this context.

Structure of the Sentence

Let's look at the sentence structure:

Schools will remain closed for one week.

Will is the auxiliary verb indicating the future tense. Remain is the main verb in its base form.

Therefore, the correct form should be:

Schools will remain closed for one week.

Other questions about verb tenses or grammar are welcome!

Confusion with Closed

Closed is often mistaken as a past tense form of the verb close, but it is actually the past participle. In English, the past participle of the verb close, along with the present participle, is also laquo;closedraquo;. This can lead to confusion, as the past tense and past participle of the verb laquo;closeraquo; are the same: laquo;closedraquo;.

The V3 (past participle) form of a verb can also be used as an adjective. For example, in the sentence laquo;The school is modofied by the adj. closedraquo;, laquo;closedraquo; functions as an adjective, describing the state or condition of the school.

Future Tense and Remain

In the sentence laquo;The school will remain closed for one weekraquo;, the word laquo;closedraquo; is not a past tense verb but a past participle form of the verb laquo;closeraquo; acting as an adjective in this sentence:

Will indicates the future tense. Remain is the main verb, and The word closed is the adjectival form, describing the state of the school.

Let's compare it with another sentence:

Anyone will knock at a closed door to get a response from the other side.

Here, the role of laquo;closedraquo; as an adjective is clearly demonstrated. The verb in the sentence is still laquo;will knockraquo;.

Closed as an Adjective

Closed in the sentence laquo;Schools will remain closed for one weekraquo; is not behaving as a verb but as an adjective, indicating a state or condition. It is similar to other adjectives such as laquo;Happyraquo; or laquo;Unhappyraquo; in sentences like:

No matter what you do, people will remain unhappy.

Therefore, the correct sentence is:

The school remains closed. In official systems, we use the present simple tense.

So, in summary:

The main verb in the sentence is will remain. Closed is a past participle acting as an adjective, indicating a state/condition.

If you have any more questions about verb tenses or grammar, feel free to ask!