Question

If you added -ed to the noun scent, what part of speech is the resulting word?

Answer 1

The word scented can be used either as a `color(blue)(verb)` or an `color(red)(adjective)`.

Explanation:

Here's an example of how it can be used a verb:

"All was still and Sundayfied; the lilacs in full flower `color(blue)(scented)` the air."

In this case, the word scented is the action the lilacs are taking on the air, and thus functions as a verb.

Here's a slightly different example:

"James `color(blue)(scented)` something suspicious in this courtesy."

In this one, the word scented is the action taken by James, used in a similar way as "James smelled something ...".

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Here's an example of how it can be used as an adjective:

"Did someone light a `color(red)(scented)` candle? This room suddenly smells like jasmine!"

the word scented describes the noun candle, acting as an adjective.

In this second example:

"The flower is sweet-`color(red)(scented)` at night and has curiously fringed petals."

sweet-scented describes the flower, acting as a compound adjective.