Talk:unprovoked

RFV discussion: September–November 2020

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unprovoked

The adverb - the usex is unconvincing. DonnanZ (talk) 18:29, 17 September 2020 (UTC)

These are always problematic. The issue is whether "unprovoked" describes manner of attacking or state while attacking, and probably both could be argued. On balance I vote weak delete, taking into account that allowing these kinds of cases as adverbs could open up the possibility of large numbers of arguably rather unnecessary adverb listings. Mihia (talk) 22:19, 19 September 2020 (UTC)

cited Kiwima (talk) 00:05, 31 October 2020 (UTC)

This is tricky, because while citations like the usex (and now, the ones added) are numerous, I see Mihia's concern that it's far from obvious that these are adverbs rather than the adjective. Other words which can be used in the same constructions: "attack me unassisted" (which I notice we do have as an adverb...), "unaided", "unprotected"; "coming out unprompted", etc. Is this an RFD matter or are there constructions in which only an adverb and not an adjective could be used, which we could look for citations of (which would be an RFV matter)? - -sche (discuss) 01:54, 31 October 2020 (UTC)

In the first cite, the verb is a phrasal verb synonymous with the copula emerge. If there are such things as phrasal copulas (Why shouldn't there be?), then unprovoked wouldn't be an adverb in the sentence. The usage example seems to be of the adjective. I agree that the other cites could be considered ambiguous as to the PoS of unprovoked. DCDuring (talk) 02:58, 31 October 2020 (UTC)

I disagree that it is ambiguous. To be ambiguous between adverb and adjective, there needs to be a noun with which it could function as an adjective. Kiwima (talk) 23:23, 5 November 2020 (UTC)

RFV-passed Kiwima (talk) 20:16, 6 November 2020 (UTC)