English Grammar
ADJECTIVES ENDING IN -ING and -ED
Explanation on the difference and use of adjectives ending in -ing or -ed.
An adjective that ends in -ING
describes the characteristic of a person, thing or situation.
An adjective that ends in -ED
describes how a person feels or is effected by something.
Here are some examples:
| CAUSE If something is ... |
EFFECT You feel ... |
| Amusing: The jokes were very amusing. |
Amused: We were amused by the jokes. |
| Boring: The film was extremely boring. |
Bored: Alice watched the film feeling bored. |
| Confusing: The new rules were confusing. |
Confused: We were confused by the new rules. |
| Disgusting: The toilets were disgusting. |
Disgusted: She was disgusted by the filthy toilets. |
| Exciting: A circus is exciting for children. |
Excited: The kids were all excited about the circus. |
| Hypnotizing: The speech was hypnotizing. |
Hypnotized: They were hypnotized by the speech. |
| Moving: The refugee’s story was very moving. |
Moved: I was moved by the refugee’s story. |
| Offending: Sam made some offending remarks. |
Offended: We were offended by Sam's remarks. |
| Rewarding: My job is rewarding. |
Rewarded: I was rewarded by my good results. |
| Shocking: We heard some shocking news! |
Shocked: We were shocked by the news we heard. |
| Tempting: The salesman made us a tempting offer. |
Tempted: We were very tempted by the offer. |
| Tiring: The hike was tiring. |
Tired: We all arrived home tired after the hike. |
See also: - comparative and superlative adjectives
- repeated adjectives
- descriptive adjectives
back to grammar