Word Study: Adjectives with -ed and -ing

Word Study: Adjectives with -ed and -ing

In English you can use the past participle (verbs that end in “ed”) and the present participle (verbs that end in “ing”) as adjectives.

For example:

My English class bores me. (verb)

I am bored in my English class. (adjective)

The class is boring to me. (adjective)

How do you decide whether to use an “ed” or “ing” adjective? Ask yourself:

Who or what is receiving the action? 

Who?- person/animal (Adjective with “ed”)

What?-thing/things (Adjective with “ing”)

Multiple Choice

In this sentence, who or what is fascinated?

Lia was fascinated by symmetry?

• Lia (who)

• symmetry (what)

Multiple Choice

When deciding on an adjective in a sentence, you can ask who or what it is being described. When the answer is what (a thing or things) use:

• verb ending in -ed

• verb ending in -ing

Multiple Choice

In this sentence, who or what is fascinating?

Lia thought symmetry was fascinating.

• Lia (who)

• symmetry (what)

Multiple Choice

When deciding on an adjective in a sentence, you can ask who or what it is being described. When the answer is who (a person or animal) use:

• verb ending in -ed

• verb ending in -ing

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct adjective to complete the sentence. Remember that to pick the correct adjective, ask yourself who (verb-ed) or what (verb-ing).

The horror movie was very chilled/chilling. *(Hint- look at the underlined words and think who or what.)

• chilled

• chilling

Multiple Choice

I wasn't troubled/troubling at all when I heard the news.

• troubled

• troubling

Multiple Choice

He found the bad grade on his report very troubled/troubling.

• troubled

• troubling

Multiple Choice

The singer's voice was quite pierced/piercing.

• pierced

• piercing

Multiple Choice

Jessica got her ears pierced/piercing.

• pierced

• piercing

Multiple Choice

We were all intrigued/intriguing by the famous actor.

• intrigued

• intriguing

Multiple Choice

The photos my brother took on his trip were intrigued/intriguing.

• intrigued

• intriguing

Open Ended

Write two sentences using the verb trouble as an adjective (verb -ed) and (verb -ing).