Adjectives ED/ING

Adjectives ED/ING

Function: talking about feelings

Do you know the difference between bored and boring?

Look at these examples to see how adjectives ending in -ed and -ing are used.

- I was really bored in that presentation.

- That was a really boring presentation.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Choose the correct word to complete the sentences.

Multiple Choice

You look really ___. Why don't you go to bed?

• tired

• tiring

Multiple Choice

Can I call you? I've got some very ___ news for you!

• excited

• exciting

Multiple Choice

My neighbour is always playing loud music. It's very ___.

• annoyed

• annoying

Multiple Choice

The directions were ___ and we got lost.

• confused

• confusing

Multiple Choice

I was really ___ that I won the competition.

• surprised

• surprising

Multiple Choice

She didn't call about the car. I don't think she's ___ in buying it.

• interested

• interesting

Multiple Choice

My cats get really ___ when there's a thunderstorm.

• frightened

• frightening

Multiple Choice

His exam results were really ___.

• disappointed

• disappointing

Grammar explanation

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

-ed adjectives

Adjectives that end in -ed generally describe emotions – they tell us how people feel.

- I was so bored in that lesson, I almost fell asleep.

- He was surprised to see Helen after all those years.

- She was really tired and went to bed early.

-ing adjectives

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

- Have you seen that film? It's really frightening.

- I could listen to her for hours. She's so interesting.

- I can't sleep! That noise is really annoying!

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Multiple Choice

She's a big dog but you don't need to be ___.

• frightened

• frightening

Multiple Choice

The instructions for my new coffee machine are really ___.

• confused

• confusing

Multiple Choice

I loved my maths teacher! Lessons with her were never ___.

• bored

• boring

Multiple Choice

That shop never has any customers. I'm ___ it's still there.

• surprised

• surprising

Multiple Choice

The battery on my phone only lasts about two hours. It's really ___.

• annoyed

• annoying

Multiple Choice

I was ___ that I didn't get the job.

• disappointed

• disappointing

Multiple Choice

I'm reading a really ___ book.

• interested

• interesting

Multiple Choice

The children were so ___ they couldn't sleep.

• excited

• exciting