"The students may be affected by the recent bus crash." What is the part of speech of "affected"?

Question

"The students may be affected by the recent bus crash."   What is the part of speech of "affected"?

SraJMcGin · Answer

What if this said "are affected?" Would you know then how this is used? Sra

Lee · Answer

My contention is that "affected" is a participle (a verb functioning as an adjective),describing the subject "students", and "be" is a linking verb.