ADJECTIVES ENDING IN -ED AND –ING

Read the grammar explanation and do the exercise.

-ed and –ing adjectives

Adjectives that end ‘-ed’ (e.g. ‘bored’, ‘interested’) and adjectives that end ‘-ing’ (e.g. ‘boring’,
‘interesting’) are often confused.

-ed adjectives

Adjectives that end ‘-ed’ describe emotions – they tell us how people feel about something.

 I was very bored in the maths lesson. I almost fell asleep.

 He was surprised to see Helen. She’d told him she was going to Australia.

 Feeling tired and depressed, he went to bed.

-ing adjectives

Adjectives that end ‘-ing’ describe the thing that causes the emotion – a boring lesson makes
you feel bored.

 Have you seen that film? It’s absolutely terrifying.

 I could listen to him for hours. He’s one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met.
 I can’t eat this! It’s disgusting! What is it?

Remember that people can be boring but only if they make other people feel bored.

 He talks about the weather for hours. He’s so boring.

 NOT I was very boring at the party so I went home.
 What are –ed or –ing adjectives?
Adjectives which end in –ed or –ing are regular adjectives which have derived from a
verb. Therefore, adjectives that end in –ed or –ing are normally written the same as the
past participle or the present participle of a verb. For example:

He has surprised everyone with the news. (past participle)

Everyone felt surprised by the news. (adjective)

He is surprising everyone with the news. (past participle)

The news is very surprising. (adjective)

 When to use –ed or –ing

– -ed: when it expresses how someone or something feels. For instance:

I was absolutely amazed! The show had been awesome.

 – -ing: when it expresses the feeling that someone causes. For example:

The show was amazing. I really enjoyed it.

 Useful tip
To learn when to use –ed or –ing, try memorising a sentence like this one:

I am bored because this book is boring.

EXERCISE 1

Here are some more adjectives that can have both an ‘-ed’ and an ‘-ing’ form

.WHAT DO THEY MEAN INTO SPANISH_?

 exhausted
 amused
 exhausting
 amusing
 frightened
 annoyed
 frightening
 annoying
 satisfied
 confused
 satisfying
 confusing
 shocked
 disappointed
 shocking
 disappointing
 excited
 exciting

WRITE SOME SENTENCES USING THEM

EXERCISE 2

-ed and -ing adjectives

Choose the correct adjective in each sentence.

You look really (tired/tiring). Why don't you go to bed?

Sit down - I've got some very (excited/exciting) news for you.

He's got a very (annoyed/annoying) habit of always interrupting people.

I'm very (disappointed/disappointing) by your behaviour.

Kids! You're (disgusted/disgusting)! Don't talk with your mouths full!