In the phrase 「褒められたものではない」, why is 「褒められた」 in past tense (as opposed to present tense 「褒められる」)?


For reference, there's an entry in 実用日本語表現辞典:
[褒められたものではない](http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E8%A4%92%E3%82%81%E3%82%89%E3%82%8C%E3%81%9F%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A7%E3%81%AF%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84)




As is mentioned in the related post linked in the comments above by @broken
headphones, this「た」isn't being used to imply past tense.

Past tense is a common reason for using 「た」, but in this case I think the
following definition from デジタル大辞泉 applies:

[３] 実現していない動作・状態を仮に実現したと考えていう意を表す。

So,

  * 「褒められ **た** ものではない」 

is establishing the hypothetical circumstance of something being
praiseworthy,「褒められたもの」, and then negating that with ではない.

This た might be the same as the た in「～したら」and seems similar to the way the
English Subjunctive Tense often ends up looking like the past tense, like "If
he _was_ taller", etc.

Here are some other ways of using the same construct:

  * その値段では **払えた** ものではない - There's no way (anyone) **would pay** that price
  * 歩いていたら **帰れた** ものではない - There's no way (you) **could walk** back

This grammar is used in giving a very strong and unquestionable opinion in a
_matter-of-fact_ way that whatever it is _could not possibly_ be done.

In both cases the form of the verb used is

> 可能（払{はら} **え** ）+ 完了・仮定（ **た** ）+ ものではない

This is a strong phrase indicating something like 払{はら}うことは到底{とうてい}できない,
emphasizing that there is " _no way_ " that payment is possible.

Using 褒められ **る** ・払え **る** ・帰れ **る** instead of「た」would break the structure
above and the meaning would be difficult to understand.

