Is there ay test to differentiate between an adjective phrase, a participle clause and a verb phrase in the passive? I know they all function as modifiers to an NP. In the following examples I am a bit perplexed as to the nature of the parenthesized constituents:
I heard that he [was beaten] to death
I am confused in regards to the nature of "beaten" here: is it an adjective phrase or just a verb in the passive (because it accepts a -by phrase); I do not believe that it is a participle clause because it is not reduced
The protests [triggered by his death] have ceased
This is clearly a participle clause because it is reduced and it functions as a modifier to the NP [protests].If this is the case, is it correct to consider the PP (by his death) here as a verb complement to the verb "trigger" ?
I didn't know that she was [abandoned]
I know that the constituent is not a participle clause(because it is preceded by an auxiliary, and participle clauses are always reduced), meaning it is either a verb in the passive (because it accepts a -by phrase) or an adjective phrase that functions as a subject complement to (she).
