Vocabulary: Word Forms
B2 Lesson 5: Participle Adjectives (-ed vs. -ing)
Why It Matters: A Common & Important Mistake
Choosing the wrong ending for these adjectives can completely change your meaning. "I am bored" and "I am boring" are very different!
I am bored. 😑
Meaning: I feel bored. Something is causing me to feel this way.
I am boring. 😴
Meaning: I am a boring person. I cause other people to feel bored.
The Two Rules for Participle Adjectives
Rule 1: Use -ED for Feelings
Adjectives that end in -ed are used to describe a feeling or an emotion. They tell us how a person feels.
- After walking all day, I felt very tired.
- She was surprised to see her friend.
- I am interested in learning about Cambodian art.
Rule 2: Use -ING for the Cause of the Feeling
Adjectives that end in -ing are used to describe the thing, person, or situation that causes the feeling.
- Walking all day was very tiring. (The walk caused the feeling.)
- Seeing her friend was a surprising event. (The event caused the feeling.)
- I think Cambodian art is very interesting. (The art causes the feeling.)
Vocabulary Toolkit 🛠️
The Golden Rule: Direct Comparison
Remember: The -ed ending describes the person's feeling. The -ing ending describes the thing that causes the feeling.
| Feeling (-ED) | Cause (-ING) |
|---|---|
| I am bored. | This movie is boring. |
| The students are confused. | The grammar is confusing. |
| He was annoyed. | The loud noise was annoying. |
Practice Your Adjectives 🎯
Quiz: Choose the Correct Adjective
Choose the correct adjective to complete each sentence.
- The movie was so _______. I almost fell asleep. (bored / boring)
→ boring - I was so _______ when my friends threw a surprise party for me! (excited / exciting)
→ excited - The map was very _______. We got lost for an hour. (confused / confusing)
→ confusing - Are you _______ in politics? (interested / interesting)
→ interested - The sound of mosquitoes at night is very _______. (annoyed / annoying)
→ annoying
Your Vocabulary Mission ⭐
Use Both Forms
Write two related sentences for each word pair, one using the '-ed' form and one using the '-ing' form.
- (tired / tiring)
Example: The long journey was very tiring. I felt very tired when I arrived. - (relaxed / relaxing)
Example: Sitting by the river is very relaxing. I always feel relaxed when I am there.
Key Vocabulary
- Participle Adjective An adjective formed from a verb, usually ending in -ed or -ing.
- Feeling An emotional state or reaction.
- Cause A person or thing that makes something happen.
- Confused / ConfusingFeeling unable to understand / Causing a feeling of being unable to understand.
- Annoyed / AnnoyingFeeling slightly angry / Causing a feeling of slight anger.