# Rule 3.3 — Use the past participle form as an adjective.

> **Source:** Adapted from ASD-STE100 Issue 9, Rule 3.3

> Source: master.md#sec3-rule3.3

## Original Rule

When you use the past participle form as an adjective, it shows the condition of something. This is not passive voice. Use the past participle form of a verb as an adjective as follows:

- Before a noun
- After a verb form of the verbs "to be," "to become," or "to stay."

Do not use the past participle form if it is not in the dictionary.

> **STE:** Examine all parts of the disassembled unit for damage.
>
> ("Disassembled" is an adjective before the noun "unit." It shows the condition of the unit.)

> **STE:** When the unit is fully disassembled, clean all the parts.
>
> ("Disassembled" is an adjective after the verb "to be" that shows the condition of the unit.)

There are also approved adjectives in the dictionary that are the past participle form of verbs that are not approved. For example, "permitted," and "damaged." Their approved part of speech in the dictionary is "(adj)" and thus you can use them.

> **STE:** Do not put more than the permitted weight on the trolley.
>
> **STE:** Make sure that the mating surfaces are not damaged.

## STE-Code Adaptation

When you use the past participle form as an adjective, it shows the condition of something. This is not passive voice. Use the past participle form of an approved verb as an adjective as follows:

- Before a noun
- After a verb form of the verbs "to be," "to become," or "to stay."

Do not use the past participle form if it is not in the dictionary.

There are also approved adjectives in the STE-Code dictionary that are the past participle form of verbs that are not approved. Their approved part of speech in the dictionary is "(adj)" and thus you can use them.

## Examples

> **STE:** Inspect all fields of the deserialized object for corruption.
>
> ("Deserialized" is an adjective before the noun "object." It shows the condition of the object.)

> **STE:** When the cache is fully initialized, start the worker threads.
>
> ("Initialized" is an adjective after the verb "to be." It shows the condition of the cache.)

> **STE:** Do not exceed the allowed memory for the buffer.
>
> *Adapted from spec pair: "Do not put more than the permitted weight on the trolley." ("permitted" is an approved adjective with part of speech "(adj)".)*

> **STE:** Make sure that the input values are not corrupted.
>
> *Adapted from spec pair: "Make sure that the mating surfaces are not damaged." ("damaged" is an approved adjective with part of speech "(adj)".)*

> **Non-STE:** The parsed file was processed by the loader.
> **STE:** The parsed file is ready for the loader.
>
> *Adapted from spec principle: "parsed" is the past participle used as an adjective before the noun "file." It shows the condition of the file, not passive voice.*
