Is 'worth' an adjective or a preposition or what?

Question

If I say "It is worth $1,000,000", what is 'worth' in that sentence? It has a direct object, so I don't see how it can be an adjective, but it certainly doesn't look like a verb (unless you cheat and say 'to be worth' is a verb). It behaves like a preposition, but it certainly doesn't seem very 'prepositiony'. So what is it, then?

(I know it can be a noun - that's not the problem)

anna, you gave a good answer but your e-mail communication is not open. I've never heard of an 'adjectival' - what is it?

As for compound and phrasal verbs, as far as I know they exist with 'particles' - i.e. prepositions or adverbs like 'down'. I've never heard of a phrasal verb which is a 'verb + adjective' combination. Are there others? I've always referred to your other two examples as 'stative passive' forms of the verbs 'compose' and 'value'...

Answer 1

Words can be many different parts of speech, depending on the context, the job they do in a sentence.
But "worth" is almost always used as either a noun or an adjective.
A prepositions "job" is to join nouns/pronouns/gerunds to the rest of a sentence. I can't think of any context in which "worth" would do the "job."
In the context of your example:
It is worth $1,000,000
"worth" is being used as a predicate adjective to modify the subject "It."

Worth:
"ADJECTIVE: 1. Equal in value to something specified: worth its weight in gold. 2. Deserving of; meriting: a proposal not worth consideration. 3. Having wealth or riches amounting to: a person worth millions."

Adjective
worth
Equal in value to; proper to be exchanged for.
My house now is worth double what I paid for it.
Deserving of.
I think you'll find my proposal worth your attention.
Valuable, worth while.
Making a fair equivalent of, repaying or compensating
This job is hardly worth the effort.

Usage notes
The modern adjectival senses of worth compare two noun phrases, prompting some sources to classify the word as a preposition. Most, however, list it an adjective, some with notes like "governing a noun with prepositional force". Fowler's Modern English Usage says, "the adjective worth requires what is most easily described as an object

P.S. Compound verbs:
1. a main verb plus (an) auxiliary (i.e. helping) verb(s): e.g. He has been reading
2. one subject doing two verbs that are joined by a conjunction:
e.g. He finished the paper and handed it in.
In the examples:
"it is valued at...." "it is composed of..." (you're right, ed) "valued" and "composed" are past participle adjectives being used in what's called "the stative passive."

P.P.S. It can't be a "predicate noun" since predicate nouns (which come after linking verbs such as "is") have to be interchangeable with the subject:
e.g. My brother is John. = John is my brother.
And "worth" isn't interchangeable with "It."

Answer 2

It depends on usage context.

It can be,

a Verb (used without an object (Archaic)) - Woe worth the day.
a Preposition - Advice worth taking; a place worth visiting.
a Noun - Your worth to the world is inestimable.
an Adjective - Worth its weight in gold.
an Idiom - He ran for all he was worth.

Have fun but be safe.

Answer 3

In your example "worth" is an adjectival and part of a compound verb, composed of "to be" and the adjective "worth".
They exist, compound or phrasal verbs, it's not cheating.
This is like "it is valued at...."
"it is composed of..." etc.

Answer 4

It is called a predicate adjective. Following a verb of being, like "is", it is used to describe an attribute of the subject, in this case, "it".

Answer 5

My dictionary says that worth is either a noun or adjective. In your sentence it is an adjective describing $1 000 000.

Answer 6

Those tricky forms of the verb "be"

It is a predicate noun. The dollar amount is modifying the noun.

Answer 7

worth is "noun" and "adjective"



noun
Definition:

1. value in money: the value of something, especially in terms of money

2. amount equaling given value: the amount of something that can be bought for a particular sum of money or that will last for a particular length of time
get your money's worth

3. moral or social value: the goodness, usefulness, or importance of something or somebody, irrespective of financial value or wealth
A diploma from that place has little worth.

4. wealth: the wealth of a person, group, organization, or other entity
your aunt's net worth



adjective
Definition:

1. equal to particular amount: equivalent in value to a particular amount
How much is it worth?
a painting worth thousands

2. important enough to justify something: important, large, or good enough to justify something
His friendship is not worth having.

[ Old English weorþ < Indo-European, "turn"]

for all you are worth as fast, energetically, or enthusiastically as possible

for what it's worth used to suggest that what you say may not be true or of much value
Here's my opinion on the issue, for what it's worth.

Answer 8

"Worth" can be many things, but in this case it is an adjective. Read example No. 3:

ADJECTIVE: 1. Equal in value to something specified: worth its weight in gold. 2. Deserving of; meriting: a proposal not worth consideration. 3. Having wealth or riches amounting to: a person worth millions.

Thanks for your question, it made me think :-)

Answer 9

it can be either noun or adjective depending on its use.

noun
The estimated worth of the plastics and petrochemical industry is about $640 billion

adjective
Our house is worth about £200 000.

Answer 10

One of those pesty little words the English language decided to make ambiguous. I guess how it fits depends on how you use it but even then it rarely looks correct.