Adjectives ending in -ing and -ed

In English, many verbs can be used to form two related adjectives: one ending in -ing and another ending in -ed. For example, the verb interest gives us interesting and interested, while bore gives us boring and bored. Although these adjectives are related because they come from the same verb, they have different meanings.

When describing feelings and reactions, -ing adjectives describe a quality or characteristic of someone or something that causes a particular feeling, while -ed adjectives describe the feeling or reaction someone experiences in response.

The main rule to remember is that something that is -ing makes you feel -ed.

What do –ing adjectives mean?

Adjectives ending in -ing describe a quality or characteristic of a person, thing or situation that causes a particular feeling or reaction.

Adjectives ending in -ing can be used after the verb be to describe the subject:

• That movie was boring.
• My history classes are really interesting.
• My workout was really tiring.
• That rollercoaster ride was so exciting.

They can also be used directly before a noun to describe its quality or characteristic:

• He is such a boring man.
• I read an interesting book.
• Luke received some surprising news.
• He is an extremely inspiring person.

Not all adjectives describing characteristics or qualities that cause feelings end in -ing. Other adjectives, such as scary, stressful, funny, hurtful and pleasant, also describe people, things or situations that cause particular feelings or reactions in others.

What do –ed adjectives mean?

Adjectives ending in -ed describe the feelings, emotions or reactions someone experiences in response to another person, thing or situation. The person, thing or situation that causes the feeling can often be described using the corresponding -ing adjective from the same verb.

Adjectives ending in -ed can be used as the complement of the verb be or other linking verbs:

• We were bored watching that movie.
• I felt very tired after my workout.
• I’m really interested in my history classes.
• Luke was surprised to find out who his father was.

Adjectives ending in -ed can also be used before a noun to describe its feelings or emotions:

• Bored students don’t do well in their exams.
• They put the tired children to bed.
• The confused mouse approached the cat.
• The frightened man ran away.

When an -ed adjective describes a feeling or reaction, we can also use a prepositional phrase to explain what the feeling is about. Which preposition to use depends on the adjective and its meaning. These are called dependent prepositions. Here are some common combinations:

• interested in                                 I’m interested in ancient history.
• excited about                                She’s excited about her new job.
• bored with                                     We’re bored with the same routine.
• frightened/scared of                  He is frightened of dogs.
• worried about                               He’s worried about his exam results.
• disappointed with                       They were disappointed with the service.

Many adjectives ending in -ed are formed from the past participles of regular verbs. Adjectives formed from irregular past participles can also describe someone’s feelings, emotions or reactions:

• He felt broken after the devastating news.
• The children were upset because they couldn’t play outside.
• She felt hurt by his words.
• The rabbit was frozen with fear.

Not all adjectives describing feelings end in -ed or an irregular past participle. Other adjectives, such as happy, sad, angry, afraid and nervous, also describe feelings or emotions that someone experiences, often in response to another person, thing or situation.

⚠️ Not all -ed adjectives describe an emotion or feeling. Many -ed adjectives can also describe qualities or characteristics in the same way that some -ing adjectives do. For example, a sophisticated restaurant, an experienced teacher, a talented musician and a complicated procedure.

Common -ing and -ed adjective pairs

The list below gives common -ing and -ed pairs that come from the same verb. It also includes some examples of non-ing adjectives that are used in the same way as -ing adjectives:

Common mistakes with -ing and -ed adjectives

The most common mistake learners make with -ing and -ed adjectives is confusing the characteristic that causes a feeling with the feeling someone experiences.

1. Using an -ed adjective when you want to describe a characteristic or quality

When an -ed adjective describes a feeling or emotion, the person, animal or thing it describes must be capable of experiencing that feeling. If something cannot experience the feeling, it is incorrect to use the -ed adjective to describe it:

• ❌ The book was bored. (Books cannot experience boredom)
• ✅ The book was boring.

• ❌ My workout was tired. (Workouts cannot experience tiredness)
• ✅ My workout was tiring

• ❌ The exam question was confused. (Exam questions cannot experience confusion)
• ✅ The exam question was confusing.

• ❌ The film was frightened. (Films cannot experience fear)
• ✅ The film was frightening.

2. Using an -ing adjective when you want to describe a feeling or emotion

Remember that an -ing adjective describes a characteristic or quality, not somebody’s feeling or emotion. Using an -ing instead of an -ed to describe a person will make it sound like you are saying that person causes the feeling, rather than experiences it:

• ⚠️ She is boring. (This means she makes other people feel bored)
• ✅ She is bored.

• ⚠️ He is confusing. (This means he makes other people feel confused)
• ✅ He is confused.

• ❌ I am interesting in history. (This is incorrect)
• ✅ I am interested in history.

• ❌ The children are frightening by the film. (This is incorrect)
• ✅ The children are frightened by the film.

Other uses of -ing and -ed adjectives

Adjectives ending in -ing and -ed do not always describe feelings and their causes. They can also describe actions, activities, processes and the states that result from them:

• -ing adjectives can describe an ongoing action, activity or process related to a noun.
• -ed adjectives and adjectives formed from irregular past participles can describe the state of someone or something after an action or process.

For example:

Adjectives used in this way do not always form natural -ing/-ed pairs. Even when both forms exist, they may have different meanings or be used with different nouns. Some verbs also have only one commonly used adjective form.

Other common expressions using -ing adjectives include:

• breaking news
• boiling water
• running water
• a leaking pipe
• a flashing light
• rising sea levels
• a sleeping baby

Other common expressions using -ed adjectives and irregular past participles include:

• broken glass
• boiled eggs
• a stolen bicycle
• a painted wall
• frozen food
• a locked door
• a written report

Free adjectives ending in -ing and -ed worksheets