Adjectives ending in -ing and -ed (boring/bored etc.): start
In this lesson
Point A of 2
One situation, two adjectives
A great many adjectives end in -ing or -ed: boring and bored, tiring and tired, and so on.
Consider Neil. He has stamped parking permits at the council offices in Barnsley for nineteen years. Every morning brings the same forms, the same stamp and the same queue. He no longer enjoys it and would quite like to do something else.
Neil's job is boring. The job causes the feeling.
Neil is bored with his job. Neil has the feeling.
Somebody is bored, or gets bored, because something (or somebody) is boring. Neil is not boring. His job is.
If you describe a person as boring, you mean that this person makes other people bored. That is a rather heavier charge.
- Neil's bored because his job is boring.
- Neil's job is boring, so Neil's bored.
- My uncle only ever talks about his lawnmower. He's really boring.
Point A · Extra practice
Put in the -ing or the -ed adjective.
Neil's job is . (bore)
AnswerNeil's job is boring.Neil is with his job. (bore)
AnswerNeil is bored with his job.It was a long, day. I'm going to bed. (tire)
AnswerIt was a long, tiring day. I'm going to bed.
Point B of 2
Comparing -ing and -ed
The -ing adjective tells you about the thing: the job, the film, the news. The -ed adjective tells you how somebody feels about it.
| The thing (-ing) | The person (-ed) |
|---|---|
| My course is boring. | I'm bored with my course. |
| My course is interesting. | I'm interested in my course. |
| My course is tiring. | I get tired doing my course. |
| My course is satisfying. | I'm satisfied with my course. |
| My course is depressing. | My course makes me depressed. |
The same pattern holds for surprising/surprised, disappointing/disappointed, shocking/shocked, exciting/excited, confusing/confused and many others.
Note the prepositions that tend to follow the -ed form: interested in, bored with, disappointed with, surprised at/by. One is interested in politics, never interesting in it.
- Hannah thinks history is interesting.
- Hannah's interested in history.
- Are you interested in a second-hand bike? I'm selling mine.
- Was there anyone fascinating at the conference?
- It was surprising that the bus came on time.
- Everyone was surprised that the bus came on time.
- The concert was disappointing. We'd expected much more.
- We were disappointed with the concert.
- The news about the factory was shocking.
- I was shocked when I heard about the factory.
Point B · Exercise 98.1
Read each situation, then complete the sentences. Use the word in brackets with -ing or -ed.
Example
The film wasn't nearly as good as the reviews said. (disappoint...) a The film was disappointing. b Everyone felt disappointed afterwards.
AnswerThe film was disappointing. Everyone felt disappointed afterwards.Callum is a nurse on a busy ward. The shifts are long, but he loves the work. (exhaust...) a He loves his job, but it's often . b When he gets home in the morning, he's usually .
AnswerHe loves his job, but it's often exhausting. When he gets home in the morning, he's usually exhausted.It has rained every day for two weeks. (depress...) a The forecast is . b All this rain makes me . c Try not to get about it.
AnswerThe forecast is depressing. All this rain makes me depressed. Try not to get depressed about it.Ffion is flying to Japan in the spring. She has never been outside Europe. (excit...) a It'll be an trip for her. b Travelling somewhere completely new is always . c She's really about going to Japan.
AnswerIt'll be an exciting trip for her. Travelling somewhere completely new is always exciting. She's really excited about going to Japan.
Point B · Exercise 98.2 · part 1 of 3
Choose the correct word.
Example
I was disappointed (disappointing / disappointed) with the hotel. The photos had made it look much bigger.
AnswerI was disappointed with the hotel. The photos had made it look much bigger.I'm not especially (interesting / interested) in cricket.
AnswerI'm not especially interested in cricket.The new course sounds (exciting / excited). I can't wait to start.
AnswerThe new course sounds exciting. I can't wait to start.It's quite (embarrassing / embarrassed) when you forget someone's name halfway through a conversation.
AnswerIt's quite embarrassing when you forget someone's name halfway through a conversation.Does your brother get (embarrassing / embarrassed) when people sing to him on his birthday?
AnswerDoes your brother get embarrassed when people sing to him on his birthday?
Point B · Exercise 98.2 · part 2 of 3
Choose the correct word.
I never thought I'd win the raffle. I was (amazing / amazed) when they called my number.
AnswerI never thought I'd win the raffle. I was amazed when they called my number.He only started playing the piano last year. He's made (amazing / amazed) progress.
AnswerHe only started playing the piano last year. He's made amazing progress.Everyone else laughed at his joke, but I wasn't (amusing / amused).
AnswerEveryone else laughed at his joke, but I wasn't amused.I'm (interesting / interested) in joining the choir. When do you rehearse?
AnswerI'm interested in joining the choir. When do you rehearse?
Point B · Exercise 98.2 · part 3 of 3
Choose the correct word.
The storm last night was really (frightening / frightened). Everyone in the street was (shocking / shocked) by the damage.
AnswerThe storm last night was really frightening. Everyone in the street was shocked by the damage.You look really (boring / bored) in this lecture. Is the subject that (boring / bored)?
AnswerYou look really bored in this lecture. Is the subject that boring?He's the most (boring / bored) speaker I've ever heard. In an hour he didn't say a single (interesting / interested) thing.
AnswerHe's the most boring speaker I've ever heard. In an hour he didn't say a single interesting thing.
Point B · Exercise 98.3 · part 1 of 3
Complete each sentence using a word from the box.
Use these
amusing/amusedannoying/annoyedboring/boredconfusing/confuseddisgusting/disgustedexciting/excitedexhausting/exhaustedinteresting/interestedsurprising/surprised
Example
You never go to bed before two. It's not surprising that you can't get up in the morning.
AnswerYou never go to bed before two. It's not surprising that you can't get up in the morning.Some children get very quickly. They need a new game every ten minutes.
AnswerSome children get bored very quickly. They need a new game every ten minutes.The instructions for the bookcase were really . Nobody could work out which screw went where.
AnswerThe instructions for the bookcase were really confusing. Nobody could work out which screw went where.Nobody had emptied the bin in the staff room for a fortnight. The smell was .
AnswerNobody had emptied the bin in the staff room for a fortnight. The smell was disgusting.I don't watch much sport. I'm not very in it.
AnswerI don't watch much sport. I'm not very interested in it.
Point B · Exercise 98.3 · part 2 of 3
Complete each sentence using a word from the box.
Use these
amusing/amusedannoying/annoyedboring/boredconfusing/confuseddisgusting/disgustedexciting/excitedexhausting/exhaustedinteresting/interestedsurprising/surprised
There's no need to get just because the train's ten minutes late.
AnswerThere's no need to get annoyed just because the train's ten minutes late.The talk on tax law was very . Half the audience fell asleep.
AnswerThe talk on tax law was very boring. Half the audience fell asleep.I've been moving furniture since eight o'clock this morning, and now I'm .
AnswerI've been moving furniture since eight o'clock this morning, and now I'm exhausted.We're moving to Edinburgh next month. The children are very about it.
AnswerWe're moving to Edinburgh next month. The children are very excited about it.
Point B · Exercise 98.3 · part 3 of 3
Complete each sentence using a word from the box.
Use these
amusing/amusedannoying/annoyedboring/boredconfusing/confuseddisgusting/disgustedexciting/excitedexhausting/exhaustedinteresting/interestedsurprising/surprised
My grandad tells brilliant stories about his time on the buses. He can be very .
AnswerMy grandad tells brilliant stories about his time on the buses. He can be very amusing.Rhian is a very person. She's lived in four countries and she's done all sorts of jobs.
AnswerRhian is a very interesting person. She's lived in four countries and she's done all sorts of jobs.
Lesson 98 · Result
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