English (UK) · Participles

-ed or -ing Adjectives

Many adjectives for feelings come in two forms:

-ed describes how a person feels: I'm bored. She was surprised.
-ing describes the thing, place or person that causes the feeling: The lesson is boring. The news was surprising.

So a boring film makes you bored. Be careful: I am boring means that other people find you dull. It does not mean that you have nothing to do.

Useful signals:

a person + feel, look, get or stay usually takes -ed: You look tired.
a person + -ed + by, about, in or to + verb: amazed by, excited about, interested in, surprised to see
find + a thing + -ing: I find grammar confusing.

Spelling: tire → tired / tiring, embarrass → embarrassed / embarrassing (double r, double s).

Examples

I'm (bore). Let's do something fun.Show answer

I'm bored. Let's do something fun.

This book is really (interest).Show answer

This book is really interesting.

Are you (excite) about the trip?Show answer

Are you excited about the trip?

The news was really (shock).Show answer

The news was really shocking.

I feel (relax) after a hot bath.Show answer

I feel relaxed after a hot bath.

That was the most (bore) lesson ever.Show answer

That was the most boring lesson ever.

My sister is (interest) in learning Japanese.Show answer

My sister is interested in learning Japanese.

We were (amaze) by the view.Show answer

We were amazed by the view.

I was (tire) after the long walk.Show answer

I was tired after the long walk.

Working ten hours a day is very (tire).Show answer

Working ten hours a day is very tiring.