-ING ADJECTIVES and -D/-ED ADJECTIVES - FORM

A number of -ing participles (verb + ing) and -d/-ed participles (verb + -d/-ed) are used as adjectives.

Examples:

• boring, bored
• exciting, excited
• interesting, interested
• surprising, surprised

-ING ADJECTIVES (interesting) - USE

Adjectives formed from the present participle (verb + ing) of verbs are active in meaning.

Examples:

• boring
• exciting
• interesting
• surprising

Adjectives formed from the past participles (verb + -d/-ed) are passive in meaning.

Examples:

• bored
• excited
• interested
• surprised

• Peter's bored and tired because his job's boring and tiring.

This means that:

Peter's job is boring and tiring. The result of this is that Peter is bored and tired.

The adjectives bored and tired describe how Peter is affected by his job.

The adjectives boring and tiring describe the job that makes Peter feel this way - the result of how the job affects Peter.

More examples:

• It's Christmas tomorrow and the children are very excited.
• Scientists have made a very exciting discovery.

• I'm surprised you decided to come, but I everything you do is surprising.

• I enjoyed your talk. It was interesting.
• I think the audience was interested in your talk.