Grammar:'-ed' and '-ing' Adjectives - How to Use + Example Sentence

1. What are '-ed' & '-ing' Adjectives?

The Present Participle (-ing form) & Past Participle (-ed form) are also used as Adjectives.

i. '-ed' Adjective e.g. > bored

ii. '-ing' Adjective e.g. > boring

2. When to use '-ed' , '-ing' as Adjectives in a sentence?

-ed adjective e.g. excited

i) Use (-ed adjective):

- to describe how the person feel.

e.g. The children are excited about the class party. (the children feel excited)

ii) Use (-ing adjective):

- to describe the person or thing that cause the feeling.

e.g. What an exciting day! (the day is exciting)

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>>Difference: -ed & -ing Adjectives

3. How to use use '-ed' , '-ing' as adjectives - Example Sentence

(-ed) adjective (-ing) adjective

a. Today's lesson was boring. The students were bored.

b. That's an interesting book. She's interested in the book.

c. The story plot is confusing. Poor Emma looks confused.

d. The trip was so disappointing. We were so disappointed.

e. What a tiring day! I feel so tired.

4. How to form '-ed', '-ing' Adjectives

Note the spelling changes for the following:

To make '-ed' Adjective

i. add 'd' to the 'e' ending - excite > excited

To make -ing Adjective

ii. drop 'e' for the 'e' ending - excite > excited > exciting

e.g.

amaze > amazed >amazing

thrill > thrilled > thrilling

irritate > irritated > irritating

Grammar Check!

For more -ed, -ing Adjectives grammar uses, spelling rules, etc.

Go to >> What is Present Participle (-ing form) - Uses + Example Sentence

Go to >> What is Past Participle (-ed form) - Uses + Example Sentence

5. What are adjectives in '-ed' and '-ing form' - Example Word List

-ed, -ing adjective (how to use)

'-ing' '-ed'

annoying annoyed

charming charmed

depressing depressed

disgusting disgusted

exhausting exhausted

fascinating fascinated

frightening frightened

relaxing relaxed

surprising surprised

terrifying terrified

worrying worried

6. '-ed', '-ing' Adjectives - More Example Sentence

a. Brenda is such an annoying neighbour. She gossips and talks loudly all the time. But her husband David, is charming & soft-spoken.

Many ladies in the village are charmed by his good looks and gentle manner.

b.

A: Hey, Stacey. What're you up to?

B: (sigh) Not good. It was raining so I can't go hiking. And I can't stay in as my rooms are under renovation.

A: Oh dear. That sounds depressing.

B: It is. Hey, what's up?

A: Do you want to meet for coffee? I know a nice place.

B: Well...

A: Come on. It'll be nice day out. Better than staying home and feeling depressed.

B: Haha, you're right. Ok, then...

c. The new horror movie was terrifying! Nina and I were clutching each other the whole time. You could hear screams from some girls.

They sounded absolutely terrified.

interested or interesting?

d.

Son : Hi mum, how was your day?

Mum: I had an exhausting day at work. Shall we order takeout?

Son : Again?

Mum: Sorry honey. I'm too exhausted to make dinner.

e. It's not surprising to see Amy at our local bakery. She lives in the next town but she absolutely loves the bakes here.

So we were not suprised to hear that she visits on weekends.

f. Tina and I went to the art museum yesterday. There were many fascinating paintings to look at.

Tina was so fascinated with a 1700's portrait of a beautiful lady on a swing.

g. My children had a frightening experience recently.

frightening vs frightened

They were at the playground when they saw a traffic accident.

Matt and Liam became so frightened that they couldn't stop crying.

h. My mum is worried about my brother. He lives alone in the city and he hasn't returned any of her calls.

It's quite a worrying situation because he'd always call her back.

7. Let's recap!

How to use '-ed', '-ing' adjectives correctly - Example

Interesting or interested?

-ed Adjective vs -ing Adjective

i) (-ing adjective):

- to describe the person or thing that cause the feeling.

ii) (-ed adjective):

- to describe how the person feel.

7. Time for Your Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct -ed , -ing Adjectives.

a) tired, interesting, tiring

The new mall has so many ................. shops. I bought so many things. But I had to leave after shopping for 3 hours. I was so .......... My feet were killing me! Shopping is so ............

b) boring, bored

I was .............in today's class. It was so ............. that I fell asleep during the lesson.

c) excited, exciting

What an ............... TV series! I was so ................ to watch each episode and couldn't wait for Season 2 to come out.

d) disgusting, disgusted

Tim, please empty the kitchen bin! The smell is .............. Even Johnny (pet dog) was so ................. that he refused to go near his bowl.

e) surprising, surprised

Mum: Dean did all his chores last week.

Dad : That's not ............ at all. You promised you'd get him the latest toy if he behaved, remember?

Sis : Well, I'm not .............. at all. He told me he had to clean his room as he wanted the new toy you'd promised.

Answers:

a) interesting, tired, tiring

b) bored, boring

c) exciting, excited

d) disgusting, disgusted

e) surprised, surprising

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