-Ed/-ing adjectives: Adjectives from verbs
Learn when to use adjectives ending in -ed versus -ing to describe feelings and situations.
- check_circleI can use -ed adjectives to describe how someone feels.
- check_circleI can use -ing adjectives to describe the thing or person causing the feeling.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
Emma: How was your weekend, Jack?
Jack: It was really relaxing. I went to a spa and got a massage. I feel completely relaxed now. What about you?
Emma: Mine was quite exhausting, honestly. I went hiking with some friends, but the trail was much longer than we thought. I was so exhausted by the time we got back.
Jack: Oh no! Was the scenery beautiful, at least?
Emma: Yes, the views were absolutely amazing. But the hike itself was really tiring. And then, to make things worse, I saw a huge snake on the path! I was so terrified!
Jack: A snake? That is terrifying! I would be frightened too.
Emma: Yeah, it was definitely the most surprising part of the trip. But overall, it was an interesting weekend.
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
Many adjectives in English are made from verbs and end in -ed or -ing. They have different meanings, and confusing them is a very common mistake!
-ed adjectives (How you feel)
We use adjectives ending in -ed to describe an emotion or how a person (or animal) feels.
I was very tired after the long trip. (I felt tired) She is bored with her current job. (She feels bored)
You can only use -ed adjectives for people or animals, because things don’t have feelings!
-ing adjectives (The cause of the feeling)
We use adjectives ending in -ing to describe the person, thing, or situation that causes the feeling.
The long trip was very tiring. (The trip caused me to feel tired) Her current job is boring. (The job causes her to feel bored)
Think of it this way: The -ing thing makes you feel -ed. The boring movie made me feel bored.
Common Mistake
Be careful not to mix them up. If you say “I am boring”, you are saying that you make other people feel bored!
I am boring. (Usually incorrect, unless you mean you are not a fun person!)
I am bored. (Correct when you mean you have nothing fun to do)
- -ed adjectives: Describe feelings (e.g., bored, interested, surprised).
- -ing adjectives: Describe the cause of the feeling (e.g., boring, interesting, surprising).
- Rule of thumb: The -ing situation makes a person feel -ed.
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?