GV

Adjectives: -ed vs -ing

Choosing between -ed (bored) and -ing (boring) adjectives

beginner

When to Use Adjectives: -ed vs -ing

  • •-ed for how someone feels: I'm bored. She's excited.
  • •-ing for what causes the feeling: The movie is boring. The news is exciting.
  • •People usually take -ed; things usually take -ing.
  • •Both can describe people: He's boring (causes boredom). He's bored (feels boredom).
  • •Common pairs: interested/interesting, tired/tiring, amazed/amazing.

How to Form Adjectives: -ed vs -ing

Affirmative (+)

Subject + be + -ed/-ing adjective

Negative (-)

Subject + be + not + -ed/-ing adjective

Question (?)

Be + subject + -ed/-ing adjective?

💡 -ed = feeling/state; -ing = causing that feeling.

Examples of Adjectives: -ed vs -ing

✓I'm interested in history.

✗I'm interesting in history.

-ed for how you feel.

✓The book is interesting.

✗The book is interested.

-ing for what causes interest.

✓She was surprised by the news.

✗She was surprising by the news.

-ed for the person who feels surprise.

Common Mistakes with Adjectives: -ed vs -ing

💡 Practice Tips for Adjectives: -ed vs -ing

  • • -ed = how someone feels; -ing = what causes the feeling.
  • • Ask: Who/what feels? → -ed. Who/what causes? → -ing.
  • • People can be both: She's bored (feels it). She's boring (causes it).
  • • Common pairs: amazed/amazing, confused/confusing, frustrated/frustrating.
Quick Quiz
  1. 1.I'm really   in learning Japanese.
  2. 2.The movie was three hours long. It was so   that I almost fell asleep.
  3. 3.She was   by the news of her promotion.
  4. Question 4: He's very blank (excite) about the trip tomorrow.
    4.He's very (excite) about the trip tomorrow.
  5. Question 5: The long meeting was very blank (tire).
    5.The long meeting was very (tire).
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