Resultive Modifiers: verbs followed by adjectives with resultive states

Resultive Modifiers with Causative Verbs

Indicating resulting states

Resulting States

ACTION — RESULT	AN ADJECTIVE PLACED AFTER THE NOUN
The state (the adjective) results from the action indicated by the verb. A similar meaning can be expressed with an adjective complement to the noun.	With some verbs, an action and its resulting state can be combined into one sentence. In these examples, the adjective indicating the resulting state is placed after the direct object. The adjective modifies the object. (It is a post-modifier, that is, placed after the word it modifies.)
Larry washed the car. The car is clean now. (resulting state)	Larry washed the car clean. *Larry washed the clean car. (?)
Larry painted the car. The car is blue now.	Larry painted the car blue. red, white, green, etc.
Larry pushed the door. The car is open now.	Larry pushed the door open. closed, ajar *Larry pushed the open door. (?)
The tornado blew the car. The car is apart now. in parts, in pieces	The tornado blew the car apart. to pieces

tornado (n) – a violent, high-speed, spinning storm
*indicates a usage error

Adjective vs. Adverb

ADJECTIVE	ADVERB
The adjective modifies the object and tells how something resulted or ended up.	The adverb tells how the action was performed.
Larry washed the car clean. It is a clean car now.	Larry washed the car thoroughly. completely
Larry wiped the car dry. It is a dry car now.	Larry wiped the car carefully
Larry painted the car white. It is a white car now.	He painted the car expertly.
Larry pushed the door open. It is an open door now.	He pushed the door gently.
Larry got the car ready. It is a ready car now.	He got the car cleverly. (got — came to own it, took possession of)

Verbs + NP + Adjectives that follow this pattern

The thief blew the safe open. exploded	They pushed the door open / closed.	The cold weather froze the water solid.	He washed his clothes clean/ spotless.
Ted cracked the nut open. split	She cut my hair short.	I must get my house clean/ warm/ ready.	She wiped the table dry / clean.
They pulled the door open / closed.	She cropped the picture small.	Let's paint the table white / blue / red.	They shot him dead.
They jerked the door open / closed.	He boiled it hard.	She brushed the tablecloth flat.	He filled the bottle full of oil.
He frightened us silly.	They bored us stiff.	He drained the bathtub dry.	They knocked him senseless.
She rubbed the cat dry.	He hammered the nail flat/ down.	The carpenter planed the wood smooth.	He drank the glass dry.

NP (noun phrase) – a noun with determiners and modifiers: He washed the big, blue car clean.

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
*She heated the milk warm.	She heated the milk until it was warm. This verb does not follow this pattern.
*He sang the song beautiful.	He sang the song beautifully. in a manner that was beautiful He sang the song so that it was beautiful. (before it was not) This verb does not follow this pattern.

ERROR

FIX

*She heated the milk warm.

She heated the milk until it was warm.
This verb does not follow this pattern.

*He sang the song beautiful.

He sang the song beautifully. in a manner that was beautiful
He sang the song so that it was beautiful. (before it was not)
This verb does not follow this pattern.

*Yellow highlighting indicates example of incorrect usage.

Adjective Complements

Special verbs

Want vs. Find

DESIRE A RESULT	EXPERIENCE A RESULT
With the word want (also, like, would like, prefer) the state is desired (in the future). Note that the adjective is a past participle form of the verb, which indicates desiring a service to be done.	With the word found, the state is experienced or encountered by the person. (The item already exists in this state.)
She wants her car cleaned. She wants her car to be cleaned. (service) She wants her car clean. She wants her car in a clean state.	She found the car clean. She found that the car was clean. (in a clean state)
She wants her car repaired. She wants her car to be repaired. (service)	She found the car ready. She found that the car was ready, (in a ready-for-use state)
She wants the engine checked. She wants the engine to be checked. (service)	She found the engine noisy. She found that the engine was noisy.

Have/ Get/ Make

ARRANGED IT	DID IT
Verbs have and get are used for having someone else do something. have/get + obj + participial adjective	Verbs get and make are used for causing something to happen. make/get + obj + adjective
She had her car cleaned. Someone else caused it to happen. (service)	She got her carpet clean. She worked until it was done. It was difficult. (self)
She got her car repaired. Someone else causes it to happen. (service)	She made/got the kids ready for bed. She caused it to happen. (self)

Related pages Get-Passives | Make vs. Do

Slang — Do

EXPRESSION	MEANING
These expressions (and other similar ones with good, bad, wrong and right) appear to include adjective complements.	The adjective state results from the action of the verb on the direct object.
He done her wrong. informal	He did it so that it wronged her. unjustly treated
She done him good. very informal	She did it so that it pleased him. sexually, as in John Lennon's "Don't Let Me Down."
Do it right. informal	Do it so that it is right. (Do it correctly / morally.)
You did us proud. informal	You did it so that it made us proud.

Practice

Preferences

Select the response from the menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
1.	Linda likes her nails .
2.	Robert likes his nails .
3.	Jennifer paints her nails .
4.	Susan prefers her nails .
5.	Tom leaves his nails after working .
6.	Jenn brushes her nails after working.
7.	I prefer my nails .
8.	James likes his nails .
9.	We found Jerry's nails .
10.	You should wipe your hands after washing.

Practice 2

Jamal – a DIY guy

A DIY Guy (do it yourself)

Intermediate – Advanced Level

Read for errors

Jamal rented a new office for his accounting business. However, the office needed some work before he could move in. First, he painted the white walls because he prefers them to be white. Next, he picked out new light fixtures and hung them secure from the ceiling. Then, he found some pictures that he liked at a garage sale. They were dusty so he wiped them cleanly with a cloth. The frames were old, so he had the pictures reframed. When he hung them on the wall, he liked them. His work made him proudly. Next, he added window treatments. Next, He ordered some new blinds and installed them carefully. He hung the blinds straightly. Jamal went to the nursery and bought two tall plants and two brass pots. He polished the pots brightly, and carefully placed a plant inside each pot.

Then, Jamal went to a flea market and found a wonderful old wood desk with a chair. He refinished them both. Then, he made a seat cushion and tied it on securely. He stood back and looked contentedly. Jamal found the floor empty looking. It needed something like a rug. He made a deal with the storekeeper next door. He agreed to do his accounting for a year in exchange for a rug. Jamal laid the rug flatly and admired its colors. Finally, Jamal washed the windows cleanly and hung up his sign proudly. He was ready for business. When the first customers arrived, Jamal pulled the door open and welcomed them warmly. He worked hard and managed his business good.

Edit the paragraph

Edit the text in the box.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK ANSWER
11.	Jamal rented a new office for his accounting business. However, the office needed some work before he could move in. First, he painted the white walls because he prefers them to be white. EDIT THIS Jamal rented a new office for his business. However, the office needed some work before he could move in. First, he painted the white walls because he prefers them to be white.
12.	Next, he picked out new light fixtures and hung them secure from the ceiling. EDIT THIS Next, he picked out new light fixtures and hung them secure from the ceiling.
13.	Then, he found some pictures that he liked at a garage sale. They were dusty so he wiped them cleanly with a cloth. EDIT THIS Then, he found some pictures that he liked at a garage sale. They were dusty so he wiped them cleanly with a cloth.
14.	The frames were old, so he had the pictures reframed. When he hung them on the wall, he liked them. His work made him proudly. EDIT THIS The frames were old, so he had the pictures reframed. When he hung them on the wall, he liked them. His work made him proudly.
15.	Next, He ordered some new blinds and installed them careful. He hung the blinds straightly. EDIT THIS Next, He ordered some new blinds and installed them careful. He hung the blinds straightly.
16.	Jamal went to the nursery and bought two tall plants and two brass pots. He polished the pots brightly, and carefully placed a plant inside each pot. EDIT THIS Jamal went to the nursery and bought two tall plants and two brass pots. He polished the pots brightly, and carefully placed a plant inside each pot.
17.	Then, Jamal went to a flea market and found a wonderful old wood desk with a chair. He refinished them both. Then, he made a seat cushion and tied it on securely. He stood back and looked contentedly. EDIT THIS Then, Jamal went to a flea market and found a wonderful old wood desk with a chair. He refinished them both. Then, he made a seat cushion and tied it on securely. He stood back and looked constentedly.
18.	Jamal found the floor empty looking. It needed a floor covering. He made a deal with the storekeeper next door. He agreed to do his accounting for a year in exchange for a rug. Jamal laid the rug flatly and admired its colors. EDIT THIS Jamal found the floor empty looking. It needed a floor covering. He made a deal with the storekeeper next door. He agreed to do his accounting for a year in exchange for a rug. Jamal laid the rug flatly and admired its colors
19.	Finally, Jamal washed the windows cleanly and hung up his sign proudly. He was ready for business. EDIT THIS Finally, Jamal washed the windows cleanly and hung up his sign proudly. He was ready for business.
20.	When the first customers arrived, Jamal pulled the door open and welcomed them warmly. He worked hard and managed his business good. When the first customers arrived, Jamal pulled the door open and welcomed them warmly. He worked hard and managed his business good .	Word Form Exceptions

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