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
a
a
a

talking clock
singing bird
winning team
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
a
a
a

smashed window.
painted box.
lost child
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 someones feelings.
Some adjectives ending in -ing describe a process or state that

continues over a period of time.

Many adjectives ending in -ed describe peoples 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.
alarming
charming
embarrassing surprising
amazing
confusing
exciting
terrifying
annoying
convincing
frightening
tiring
astonishing depressing
interesting
welcoming
boring
disappointing shocking
worrying
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 peoples 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.
alarmed
delighted
frightened surprised
amused
depressed
interested tired
astonished disappointed satisfied
troubled
bored
excited
shocked
worried
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

Its 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 Ive 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 thatclause.
convinced interested prepared tired
delighted involved scared
touched
finished
pleased
thrilled worried
The Brazilians are pleased with the results.
He was always prepared to account for his actions.
She was scared that they would find her.

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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).
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