-ED and –ING adjectives
There are many adjectives that we have in English that end in -ED or -ING.
Yes, that's correct, they are not only endings that we use for verbs!
An adjective that ends in -ING is used to describe: the characteristic of a person or a thing.
An adjective that ends in -ED is used to describe: a feeling.
Compare the difference:
My girlfriend is bored. - (My girlfriend feels bored)
My girlfriend is boring. - (My girlfriend is a boring person)
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 and feelings – they tell us how people feel about something. They can also be used to describe the emotions of (domestic) animals as well,
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.
Of course, you could also find both adjectives in the same sentence. Then you really need to concentrate on the intent / context of the sentence.
Examples:
I was shocked by how shocking the accident was last night.
They were frightened by the frightening roller-coaster ride!
I am annoyed by how annoying that person in front of us is.
Sally was confused by the confusing street signs in the city.
Note that the sentences above are to highlight how both adjectives can appear in the same sentence though it isn't common (because it sounds repetitive).
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.
Of course, you could also find both adjectives in the same sentence. Then you really need to concentrate on the intent / context of the sentence.
Examples:
I was shocked by how shocking the accident was last night.
They were frightened by the frightening roller-coaster ride!
I am annoyed by how annoying that person in front of us is.
Sally was confused by the confusing street signs in the city.
Note that the sentences above are to highlight how both adjectives can appear in the same sentence though it isn't common (because it sounds repetitive).
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