Is Confused Adjective Or Adverb Or Verb? 5 Facts

The only common factor about adjectives, adverbs and verbs is that, all of them are parts of speech. This article will tell us “confused” falls under which of them.

“Confused” is an adjective and a verb. A word which modifies, interrogates, demonstrates, or quantifies a naming word is an adjective. A word which depicts action or activity that has happened, is happening or will happen is a verb. “Confused” generally means being unclear, disoriented, chaotic etc.

We shall explore in this article, the usage of the word “confused” as an adjective and as a verb with some examples and related explanations.

When is “confused” an adjective?

Since we already sure of the fact that “confused” can be an adjective, let us here analyze the instances when (places where) the word “confused” can be an adjective.

The following tabular column will explain in detail the various situations in which the word “confused” takes up the role of an adjective.

Situations When “Confused” Is An AdjectiveExamplesExplanations
1. Used to describe a state where one is not able to think or understand something clearly.The board is still confused about the actions that have to be taken.In this sentence, the adjective “confused” is modifying the noun “board” (collective noun – board of members).

“Confused” here depicts that the board is not able to think and decide about the actions that have to be taken.
2. Used to describe a person or a situation, or a thing that is unclear or not easily understandable.Vittal gave a confused picture of the entire scene.In this sentence, the adjective “confused” is qualifying the naming word “picture” (a thing).

Adjective, “confused” here shows us that the description or the picture that Vittal gave about the entire scene was quite unclear and difficult to understand.  
3. Used to indicate someone or something that has no order, sequence or patternThe confused structure of the house made it look like a maze.The adjective “confused” in the given sentenceis qualifying the naming word “structure” (a thing – of the house).

Adjective, “confused” in this sentence, indicates to us the disorderedly built pattern or structure of the house that makes the house more or like a puzzle.  
4. Used to denote the disoriented state of mind of an individual due to bewilderment, disturbance or even of old age.Our grandfather looked confused when he was not able to identify us.In this sentence, the adjective “confused” is modifying the naming word “grandfather” (a person).

“Confused” here is used to portray the disoriented state of mind of the grandfather when he was unable to remember or identify us.
Situations When “Confused” Is An Adjective

Is “confused” a descriptive adjective?

Depending upon the way in which they modify the naming words, adjectives are categorized into various types. Let us find out whether “confused” is a descriptive adjective.

The word “confused” is a descriptive adjective. Descriptive adjective are the adjectives which give us extra information on the characteristic features, state of mind, quality, nature, color, behavior, size, shape, smell, taste etc of an individual, thing, animal, or place (nouns / noun phrases).

Example: Sukanya had a confused look when she saw the photo.

In this sentence, the word “confused” is an adjective. In particular, “confused” is a descriptive adjective that modifies the noun “look”. Here, the descriptive adjective “confused” tell us about the nature of Sukanya’s look (noun) which is a portrayal of her state of mind. Here, “confused” refers to Sukanya not being able to understand something clearly.

When is “confused” a descriptive adjective?

“Confused” is a descriptive adjective when it is qualifying the unclear, disoriented, difficulty in understanding, or disorderly state of mind, behavior, or nature of a singular/ plural noun. Both as subject adjective and as predicate adjective, “confused” can function as a descriptive adjective.

Let us now peruse the list of examples in the following tabular column in order to understand the usage of “confused” as a descriptive adjective.

ExamplesUsage Of “Confused” As A Descriptive AdjectiveExplanations
1. Sundar gave a confused explanation while explaining the problem in the class. The descriptive adjective “confused” gives us extra and additional details about the naming word “explanation” (a thing).
 
Here, “confused” is used to tell us about the unclear and difficult to understand nature of the explanation that Sundar gave while explaining the problem in the class.
Since, the adjective “confused” is positioned in front of the predicate noun “explanation” that it is qualifying, in this sentence, it is a predicate adjective.
2. Her confused state of mind is due to the sudden changes that happened in her life in an overnight.In this sentence, the descriptive adjective “confused” is providing us with additional details about the naming word “state of mind”.
 
“Confused” here is used to depict to us the bewildered, chaotic or disoriented state of mind of her which is due to the sudden changes in her life.
As the descriptive adjective “confused” here, is placed before (in front of) the subject noun “state of mind”,  which it is qualifying, it can be known as a subject adjective.
3. The confused guard did not know what to tell when he was interrogated by the policemen.Here, in the given sentence, the descriptive adjective “confused” istelling us more additional details about the naming word “guard” (a person).
 
The usage of descriptive adjective “courageous” denotes to us the unclear or not able to think state of mind of the guard at the time when he was interrogated by the policemen.
Since, the descriptive adjective “courageous” here is describing the nature of the noun “guard” which is a part of the subject of the sentence; it can be more specifically regarded as a subject adjective. It
4. We are confused about what topic we should choose for our project.“Confused”, the descriptive adjective in this sentence, describes the naming word (noun) “we” (people), by giving us additional and extra information regarding them.
“Confused” here, is utilized to indicate to us that “we” are still not clear or still not decided or come to a conclusion on what should be their topic for project. 
Here, in this sentence, the descriptive adjective “confused” is acting as the subject complement of the subject noun (noun) “we”, thereby positioned in the predicate and thus making it a predicate adjective.
5. I am still confused by whatever Ruhi told me this morning.Here, the descriptive adjective “confused” is providing us additional supplementary details about the naming word “I” (a person).
 
The descriptive adjective “courageous” is utilized in this sentence to denote to us the unclear nature or state of mind of “I” that is caused by listening to what Ruhi told him / her.  
Here, in the given sentence, the descriptive adjective “confused” is utilized in the predicate of the sentence, thus making it a predicate adjective. It is also functioning as the subject complement of the noun in the subject (subject compliment) “I”.
Usage Of “Confused” As A Descriptive Adjective

Is “confused” an adverb?

Sometimes one word can belong to more than one part of speech based on its functionalities and usages. We shall here find out, if the word “confused” can be an adverb.

“Confused” is not an adverb. An adverb aids to modify or qualify an action, a describing word or other adverbs. While, the word “confusedly” is an adverb as it qualifies an action that is unclear, difficult to understand, the word “confused” is not an adverb as it is the adjective and verb form.

Example 1: Subhatra appeared confused when I saw her this morning.

Example 2: The discussion ended confusedly.

In example 1, “confused” is not an adverb as it is not modifying any action or describing word. However, “confused” is an adjective as it is used to modify the naming word “Subhatra” (a person), by providing us extra details about the disoriented, unclear nature of Subhatra. In example 2, “confusedly” is an adverb, as it is modifying the verb “ended” by telling how (in an unclear way) the discussion ended.

Is “confused” a verb?

Earlier we saw that the word “confused” can be an adjective while modifying the naming words. Here we will get to know, if it can be a verb.

The word “confused” can be a verb. Any word which represents an action or an activity that had already taken place, is taking place or will take place in the future is called a verb. The verb “confused” is the past tense and the past participle form of the base verb “confuse”.

Example: Rama confused all of us yesterday.

In the above sentence, the word “confused” is acting as a verb in the past tense, since it is representing an action or activity of making something unclear and hard to comprehend and understand.

When is “confused” a verb?

The word “confused” is a verb in the past tense or in the past participle form when it is used along with an object (receiver of the action). It is used to make something hard, complicated, and difficult to comprehend or to make someone not understand something by making them unclear about it.

To have a better and clear understanding about how and when “confused” is used as a verb, let us go through the following tabular column that consists of examples.

ExamplesUsage Of “Confused” As A VerbExplanations
1. He has confused himself and also us.In this sentence, the verb “confused” is used in the past participle form along with the object “himself”.The verb “confused” in this sentence portrays that “he” had done the action of complicating something to both himself and us.
2. They confused me by showing the old entries along with the new entries.Here, in this sentence, the verb “confused” is used in the simple past tense along with the object “me”.In the given sentence, the verb “confused” is representing “they” doing the action of making “me” unclear about something by showing the old entries along with the new entries.
3. The presentation confused us so much as the data was all wrong.The verb “confused” is utilized in the simple past tense followed by the object “us” in this sentence.In this sentence, the verb “confused” is utilized to tell that the presentation has caused us to not understand or make it difficult for us to understand since the data in the presentation was all wrong.
4. The continuous questions Rupali asked had confused the teacher.The verb “confused” in this sentence, is utilized in the past perfect tense followed by the object “teacher” in this sentence.The verb “confused” in this sentence represents that “Rupali” with her continuous questions had done the action of complicating or making it unclear for the teacher. 
5. Sonam’s nature, behavior, and sudden change in mood always confused Rama to a great extent.Here, the verb “confused” is utilized in the simple past tense succeeded by the object “Rama” who is the receiver of the action.In this given sentence, the verb “confused” is showcasing us the action of Sonam bewildering Rama with her nature, behavior, and sudden change in mood
Usage Of “Confused” As A Verb

Conclusion

This article, thus explains in detail the usage of the word “confused” both as an adjective and a verb and also tells us why it is cannot be considered as an adverb.