Learn English – Mute vs muted as an adjective

adjectives

When something has an option to be put into a silent mode, let's say a messaging group you receive notifications for. Once that option is turned on, what would be the correct usage to describe the object:

Messaging group is mute.

Messaging group is muted.

Does it matter?

Best Answer

Both the sentences are grammatically correct and meaningful in different ways.

The word mute can be used in several ways and in different forms (noun, adjective and verb)

I have chosen some important definitions from Google that primarily suit the examples given:

adjective

adjective: mute

characterized by an absence of sound; quiet.

"the great church was mute and dark"

verb

verb: mute; 3rd person present: mutes; past tense:muted; past participle: muted; gerund or present participle: muting

deaden, muffle, or soften the sound of.

"her footsteps were muted by the thick carpet"

Let's take the examples given:

  1. Messaging group is mute. (Here mute acts as adjective - refer to the example and definition above)

  2. Messaging group is muted. (Here mute acts as past participle - since I have 'muted'(verb), it is muted(past participle), hence it is mute (adjective) )

Since the word has same form for various tensed, it could lead to confusion, but once analyses, it makes sense a great deal.

Thanks.

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