Page 414 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

411
S
With amused, very and (very) much are both possible.
I was very amused / much amused / very much amused by Miranda's
performance.
frightened by I frightened of
By is used after passive verbs to introduce the agent (the person or thing that does the action - see 413).
Most ofthe damage was caused by your sister.
After past participles that are used like adjectives, we prefer other prepositions. Compare:
6
Other examples:
His whereabouts are known to the police. The hills are covered in snow.
The room was jilled with thick smoke.
special past participle forms
A few older forms of past participles are still used as adjectives before nouns in certain expressions.
drunken laughter/singing etc a sunken wreck/ship etc a shrunken head rotten fruit/vegetables etc
-
- - - -
She was frightened by a mouse that ran into the room. (Frightened is part of a passive verb referring to an action.)
She's always been terriblyfrightened ofdying.
(Frightened is an adjective referring to a state of mind.)
The kids were so excited by the music that they kept screaming. Joe's excited about the possibility ofgoing to the States.
I was annoyed by the way she spoke to me.
I'm annoyed with you.
The burglar was surprised by the family coming home unexpectedly. I'm surprised atlby your attitude.
He was badly shocked by his fall.
We were shocked at/by the prices in London.
participles (4): clauses 1 structures
Participles can combine with other words into participle clauses.
There's a woman crying her eyes out over there.
Most of the people invited to the reception were old friends. Not knowing what to do, I telephoned the police.
Served with milk and sugar, it makes a delicious breakfast.
2 after nouns: the people invited to the party
Participle clauses can be used after nouns and pronouns.
We can offer you a job cleaning cars.
There's Neville, eating as usual.
In came the jirst runner, closely followed by the second. I found him sitting at a table covered with papers.
participles (4): clauses 411
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