Can verbs become adjectives in sentences like "A _considered_ weakness for job A might actually be a strength for job B"?

Question

This question is very important to me and I really want an answer. I am wondering whether verbs like the ones in the following examples can be adjectives and placed before nouns. Please tell me whether the ones with As are correct and if not, please mention the reason.

1. A weakness might be considered a weakness for job A, but considered a strength for job B.

1A. A considered weakness for job A might actually be a strength for job B.

2. A topic that has been explained might still be in want of further explanation to a layman.

2A. An explained topic might still be in want of further explanation to a layman.

3. An area that has been explored extensively might still have unrevealed spots.

3A. An extensively explored area might still have unrevealed spots.

Answer 1

In general, yes, you may employ both past and present participles as ordinary adjectives, and if they are not accompanied by their own following complements or modifiers they may be placed before the nouns they modify. Your #3/3a is an excellent example.

But I'm afraid your #1/1a won't work. It only seems to work because in #1 you have used the same word, weakness, for what are actually two different things: both the term modified and the complement of consider. Look at what happens if you change the first use:

1B. A trait might be considered a weakness for job A, but considered a strength for job B.
1C. A considered trait for job A might actually be a strength for job B.

Here #1C has obviously lost a key term. When an adjective or participle takes a following complement it must be placed after the noun it modifies:

1D. A trait considered a weakness for job A might actually be a strength for job B.

But if the adjective or participle takes a preceding modifier it may stand before the noun it modifies.

2B. A topic that has already been explained might still be in want of further explanation to a layman.
2C. An already explained topic might still be in want of further explanation to a layman.