Adjectives ending in '-ed' and '-ing'

Adjectives ending in '-ed' and '-ing'

Do you know the difference between bored and boring? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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.

Grammar test 1

Grammar test 1: Adjectives ending in '-ed' and '-ing'

Read the explanation to learn more.

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!

Here are some adjectives that can have both an -ed and an -ing form.

annoyed annoying
bored boring
confused confusing
disappointed disappointing
excited exciting
frightened frightening
interested interesting
surprised surprising
tired tiring
worried worrying

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Grammar test 2

Grammar test 2: Adjectives ending in '-ed' and '-ing'

Average: 4.4 (152 votes)

Submitted by Jeanette Eva on Wed, 29/04/2020 - 09:00

Permalink
this website is very useful. Thanks

Submitted by Khin Nyein Chan on Mon, 27/04/2020 - 14:40

Permalink
Thank you very much for all lessons.

Submitted by lima9795 on Sat, 25/04/2020 - 17:27

Permalink
Hello BBC, i can't describe how amazing i felt last night ? OR i can't describe how amazed i feel last night ?
Profile picture for user Kirk Moore

Submitted by Kirk Moore on Sat, 25/04/2020 - 18:07

In reply to by lima9795

Permalink

Hello lima9795

The first one is correct.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Charid on Sat, 18/04/2020 - 16:32

Permalink
really amazing, it's helpful and thanks for this interesting website

Submitted by Red Red on Thu, 16/04/2020 - 10:18

Permalink
This online English course is very useful for me. Thank you.

Submitted by Nazra on Sun, 05/04/2020 - 14:16

Permalink
It is very helpful. Thanks !

Submitted by ngxdien on Sat, 04/04/2020 - 04:58

Permalink
it is helpful to me. Thanks a lot
Profile picture for user zabiullah

Submitted by zabiullah on Fri, 03/04/2020 - 15:20

Permalink
i deeply thank that i have learnt so many things from your best site...the grammar section is very interesting i am surprised to learn new pionts the grammar parts... i appreciated from your efforts that team has prepared so exciting lesson...