ADJECTIVES: -ing/ -ed

Generally said -ing adjectives have an active meaning, describing someone that is doing something (acting) or something that is causing something to us (making us feel in a certain way or giving us some kind of impression etc).

While adjectives ending with -ed have a passive meaning, describing someone 'receiving' some kind of action, made to feel in a certain way or given an impression.

To make it clearer, let's take a look at the following examples:

a talking clocka singing birda winning teama laughing child

They all 'do' something – the clock is talking, the bird is singing, the team is winning, the child is crying. The adjectives with 'ing, here, have an active meaning. So, 'talking', 'singing', winning' and laughing' are used to describe an action.

Now look at these examples with adjectives ending in -ed/ past participle:

a smashed window.a painted box.a lost childa surprised look

These adjectives are used with a passive meaning. Something has been done to them (the window, the box) or something/someone has caused them to be in a certain state (the child, the look) or feel in a certain way. That is, the person or thing we are describing here is a'passive participant' in the action. They are not doing anything, but they are “done” something. So the adjectives smashed, painted , lost , surprised describe states or feelings as a result of something done – the window has been smashed, the box has been painted, child has been lost, the person was surprised so he gave/had a surprised a look.

Here are some more examples:

She is annoyed.

I am interested in photography.Everyone was excited during the game.We all feel relaxed after the holiday we had.

The -ed ending implies a certain feeling. She is feeling annoyed, I feel interested in photography etc

Whereas the adjectives with -ing used here ...

The noise is annoying.I find photography an interesting subject.It was an exciting tennis match.We're having a relaxing holiday.

... are used to describe the thing or the person that produces those feelings (the noise is making me feel annoyed, so it is annoying, photography provokes an interest in me, so it isinteresting etc)

You can practice those with friends:

If you find an interest in art, art is interesting to you or you are interested in art.

If the news you heard has shocked you, then you were ... by the news you heard, or the news was ... .

If the story you have been told has amused you, the story must have been very .... .

If someone didn't show up for an appointment you had, and that was a surprise to you, then it was ... that they did not show up.

If you do not like football and you feel that it bores you, then you can say that you find football very ... . (which is not at all my case, as a matter of fact :-P)

Well, that was all for now. Hope it was helpful.

Adjectives ending in ED and ING

English Grammar Notes

There are many adjectives that we have in English that end in -ED or -ING. Yes, that's correct, they are not only endings that we use for verbs!

An adjective that ends in -ING is used to describe: the characteristic of a person or a thing.

An adjective that ends in -ED is used to describe: a feeling.

Compare the difference:

My girlfriend is bored. - (My girlfriend feels bored) My girlfriend is boring. - (My girlfriend is a boring person)

You can use these adjectives to describe people or situations but be careful that you are using the correct adjective. For example, there is a big difference in meaning between:

I am confused. - (I don't understand something) I am confusing. - (I will cause you to be confused)

Of course, you could also find both adjectives in the same sentence. Then you really need to concentrate on the intent / context of the sentence.

Examples:

I was shocked by how shocking the accident was last night. They were frightened by the frightening roller-coaster ride! I am annoyed by how annoying that person in front of us is. Sally was confused by the confusing street signs in the city.

Note that the sentences above are to highlight how both adjectives can appear in the same sentence though it isn't common (because it sounds repetitive).

List of Adjectives ending in -ED and -ING

There is quite a long list of adjectives ending in -ED and -ING in English, and most of them are based on a verb that can be changed into an adjective by adding either -ED or -ING.

Some of the more common ones include:

Alarmed - Alarming Aggravated - Aggravating Amused - Amusing Annoyed - Annoying Astonished - Astonishing Astounded - Astounding Bored - Boring Captivated - Captivating Challenged - Challenging Charmed - Charming Comforted - Comforting Confused - Confusing Convinced - Convincing Depressed - Depressing Disappointed - Disappointing Discouraged - Discouraging Disgusted - Disgusting Distressed - Distressing Disturbed - Disturbing Embarrassed - Embarrassing Encouraged - Encouraging Entertained - Entertaining Excited - Exciting Exhausted - Exhausting Fascinated - Fascinating Frightened - Frightening Frustrated - Frustrating Fulfilled - Fulfilling Gratified - Gratifying Inspired - Inspiring Insulted - Insulting Interested - Interesting Moved - Moving Overwhelmed - Overwhelming Perplexed - Perplexing Pleased - Pleasing Relaxed - Relaxing Relieved - Relieving

Satisfied - Satisfying Shocked - Shocking Sickened - Sickening Soothed - Soothing Surprised - Surprising Tempted - Tempting Terrified - Terrifying Threatened - Threatening Thrilled - Thrilling Tired - Tiring Touched - Touching Troubled - Troubling Unsettled - Unsettling Worried - Worrying

English Grammar – Adjectives ending in ‘-ing’ or   ‘-ed’ Posted on Desember 20, 2007 by Mr Frans

Main points Many adjectives ending in ‘-ing’ describe the effect that something has

on someone’s feelings. Some adjectives ending in ‘-ing’ describe a process or state that

continues over a period of time. Many adjectives ending in ‘-ed’ describe people’s feelings.

1. You use many ‘-ing’ adjectives to describe the effect that something has on your

feelings, or on the feelings of people in general. For example, if you talk about ‘a

surprising number’, you mean that the number surprises you.

alarmingamazingannoyingastonishingboring

charmingconfusingconvincingdepressingdisappointing

embarrassingexcitingfrighteninginterestingshocking

surprisingterrifyingtiringwelcomingworrying

He lives in a charming house just outside the town.

She always has a warm welcoming smile.

Most ‘-ing’ adjectives have a related transitive verb. See Unit 72 for

information on transitive verbs.

2. You use some ‘-ing’ adjectives to describe something that continues over a period

of time.

ageing decreasing existing living

booming dying increasing remaining

Britain is an ageing society.

Increasing prices are making food very expensive.

These adjectives have related intransitive verbs. See Unit 72 for information

on intransitive verbs.

3. Many ‘-ed’ adjectives describe people’s feelings. They have the same form as the

past participle of a transitive verb and have a passive meaning. For example, ‘a

frightened person’ is a person who has been frightened by something.

alarmedamusedastonishedbored

delighteddepresseddisappointedexcited

frightenedinterestedsatisfiedshocked

surprisedtiredtroubledworried

She looks alarmed about something.

A bored student complained to his teacher.

She had big blue frightened eyes.

Note that the past participles of irregular verbs do not end in ‘-ed’, but can be

used as adjectives. See the Appendix for a list of irregular past participles.

The bird had a broken wing.

His coat was dirty and torn.

4. Like other adjectives, ‘-ing’ and ‘-ed’ adjectives can be: used in front of a noun

They still show amazing loyalty to their parents.

This is the most terrifying tale ever written.

I was thanked by the satisfied customer.

The worried authorities cancelled the match. used after link verbs

It’s amazing what they can do.

The present situation is terrifying.

He felt satisfied with all the work he had done.

My husband was worried. modified by adverbials such as ‘quite‘, ‘really‘, and ‘very’

The film was quite boring.

There is nothing very surprising in this.

She was quite astonished at his behaviour.

He was a very disappointed young man. used in the comparative and superlative

His argument was more convincing than mine.

He became even more depressed after she died.

This is one of the most boring books I’ve ever read.

She was the most interested in going to the cinema.

5. A small number of ‘-ed‘ adjectives are normally only used after link verbs such as

‘be‘, ‘become‘, or ‘feel‘. They are related to transitive verbs, and are often followed

by a prepositional phrase, a ‘to‘-infinitive clause, or a ‘that‘-clause.

convinceddelightedfinished

interestedinvolvedpleased

preparedscaredthrilled

tiredtouchedworried

The Brazilians are pleased with the results.

He was always prepared to account for his actions.

She was scared that they would find her.

Share this: StumbleUpon Digg Reddit

Filed under: Grammar

« English Grammar – adjectives ending in -ing and   -ed  Download Soal Ujian

Nasional (gratis   )  »

Adjectives Ending with -ed and -ing

Click the answer button to see the answer.Sue: Hi, Jane. Have you had an (interest) day?

Jane: I've had a very (excite) day. It's my birthday today.

Sue: I'm a little (confuse). I thought your birthday was next month.

Jane No, that's my brother's birthday. Mine is today.Sue: Oh! Now I'm (embarrass). I didn't get you a present.

Jane: That's (disappoint). But it's OK.

Sue: Now I'm (depress), too.

Hey, I've just had a (fascinate) idea.

Why don't we go shopping and get you a present right now? That way we can get you something really (please).

Jane: What an (enchant) idea. Where shall we start?

Sue: What about right here?

Bill: Hi, Mark. You look (tire).

.Mark: I am. I'm totally (exhaust)

.Bill: Why? What have you been doing?Mark: I've been getting my house ready for the painters to come tomorrow. Now they ring me to tell me, yet again, that they can't come till next week. I'm getting very (annoy) with them..

Bill: That's (disappoint).

I'll bet that you'll be (please) when it's finished.

Mark: You're not wrong! I'm starting to get very (bore) with all the delays.

It's (distress).

.Bill: You must be so (frustrate). When do they think they will finish painting you house.

Mark: They say that it will take about two weeks to finish. But when they will start I don't know.Bill: Don't be too (depress).

Just think of how (relieve) you'll be when it's finished.

Mark: That's the (frighten) thing. I'm starting to believe that it will never be finished.

Bill: What a (shock) thought.

Never mind. One day soon you'll wake up with the (relax) thought that it's finished and you don't have to worry about it anymore.

Mark: I hope you're right.

Amy: Have you heard the (suprise) news about Alice and Ted?

Cathy: You mean about their getting married. Yes, I have. I was absolutely (astonish) when I heard about it.

I thought it was the most (astound) thing I'd heard in a long time. They're always fighting like cats and dogs.

Amy: I agree with you. I was pretty (shock) when I heard about it myself.

Cathy: Actually, I'm (relieve).

I was always (worry) that they would break up. Now I can relax.

Amy: What a (depress) idea.

But you're right. That would be an (upset) thing to happen.

Cathy: Now we can all relax knowing that they will live a life of (content), (wed) bliss.

 Amy: You're so right. I just love weddings. They're so (fascinate).

Copyright (C) 1998 D