Adjectives ending in -ed or -ing

Adjectives ending in -ed or -ing.

-ed: excited, interested, bored, annoyed, surprised.
-ing: exciting, interesting, boring, annoying, surprising.

The words above are a few of the adjectives that end in -ed or -ing. Their meaning can sometimes be confusing.

Adjectives ending in -ed show what has happened to a person or thing.
He was surprised by the result of his test.

Adjectives ending in -ing show the effect which something has on a person or thing.
The test results were surprising to him.

If you are watching a film on television and the film is good it will be interesting. You will be interested in it. If the film is boring then you are bored.

If you meet someone who makes you laugh then he is amusing. You are always amused when you speak to him.

Lesson by Tristan, English teacher at EC Malta English school

Decide which form should go in the following:

• 1) Peter was __ when he missed the start of the film.
  
  annoying
  annoyed
  
  
• 2) Have you read the book 'Life of Pi'? It's a great book, especially if you are __ in that genre.
  
  interesting
  interested
  
  
• 3) The results of the game were __. The best team didn't win.
  
  surprising
  surprised
  
  
• 4) I just can't speak to Tom for more than five minutes. He's the most __ person I know.
  
  boring
  bored
  
  
• 5) The children were so __ when we told them we were going to Disneyland.
  
  excited
  exciting
  
  
• 6) Trying to understand English grammar can be so __.
  
  frustrating
  frustrated
  
  
• 7) John was __ when he went parachute jumping for the first time.
  
  terrified
  terrifying
  
  
• 8) When there are the sales Sarah is not __ in anything except shopping.
  
  interested
  interesting