Adjectives Ending in -ing and -ed
Distinguish adjectives such as boring and bored by separating a source of feeling from the person or thing affected.
Learning Objective
Adjectives Ending in -ing and -ed
Choose -ing and -ed adjectives according to whether the noun causes or experiences a feeling.
Clear Explanation
An -ing adjective commonly describes the person or thing that produces an effect. The related -ed adjective commonly describes the person or thing that experiences the effect.
Form and Structure
cause/source + -ing adjective; experiencer + -ed adjective
“The lecture was fascinating.”
The pattern is a useful generalisation, not a claim that every adjective ending in -ing or -ed forms such a pair. Context and lexical meaning still matter.
Meaning and Use
Source of feeling
Use the -ing form for what creates the response.
“The delay was frustrating.”
Experienced state
Use the -ed form for the affected person or, sometimes, another animate participant.
“We were frustrated by the delay.”
Complements
The -ed adjective can take a preposition that introduces the cause.
“She was surprised by the result.”
Common Errors and Meaning Traps
I am boring because the film is long.
I am bored because the film is long.
The speaker experiences the feeling, so use bored.
The audience was very exciting.
The audience was very excited.
The audience experienced excitement.
The news made us shocking.
The news made us shocked.
Shocked describes the state experienced by us.
Guided Practice
Use the grammar in context
“The students were fascinated.”
“I found the instructions confusing, so I felt confused.”
Write three pairs describing a cause with an -ing adjective and a person’s response with an -ed adjective.
Quick Recap
An -ing adjective commonly describes the person or thing that produces an effect. The related -ed adjective commonly describes the person or thing that experiences the effect.
Use the -ing form for what creates the response.
The pattern is a useful generalisation, not a claim that every adjective ending in -ing or -ed forms such a pair. Context and lexical meaning still matter.
The speaker experiences the feeling, so use bored.
Independent Mastery Check
Complete these four checks before taking the quiz. If one feels difficult, return to the matching section and try again.
Explain the core rule in your own words without looking back at the lesson.
Find the target form in “The lecture was fascinating.” and explain what it communicates in this context.
Explain why “I am bored because the film is long.” is the recommended revision for “I am boring because the film is long.”.
Write three pairs describing a cause with an -ing adjective and a person’s response with an -ed adjective.
Continue at B1-B2 Level
Aim for at least 5 out of 6 in the quiz below. For every missed answer, read the explanation, return to the relevant section, and try the quiz again.
Which statement best explains Adjectives Ending in -ing and -ed?
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