BBC Learning English

Grammar Challenge
British Broadcasting Corporation 2007

Grammar Challenge: -ed and ing adjectives

There are several adjectives in English which have 2 forms: an ed form and an ing
form. The ing form is used to describe things, and the ed form is used to
describe our feelings.
-ed form

-ing form

amazed

amazing

amused

amusing

annoyed

annoying

astonished

astonishing

bored

boring

confused

confusing

depressed

depressing

disappointed

disappointing

disgusted

disgusting

embarrassed

embarrassing

excited

exciting

exhausted

exhausting

frightened

frightening

insulted

insulting

interested

interesting

intrigued

intriguing

satisfied

satisfying

shocked

shocking

surprised

surprising

tempted

tempting

terrified

terrifying

tired

tiring

worried

worrying

Grammar Challenge
ed / ing adjectives

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BBC Learning English

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BBC Learning English

Grammar Challenge
British Broadcasting Corporation 2007

Adjectives are used to give more information about nouns. They are used with the
verb 'to be' or a copula verb like look, seem, feel, sound, appear etc.
-ed adjectives: example sentences
I'm not interested in football.
We were all surprised when they got married.
He was shocked at the news.
The lecture made me feel really bored.
She felt very disappointed with her exam results.
The children looked very tired when they got back from the trip.

-ing adjectives: example sentences

I don't think football is a very interesting game.
Their marriage was very surprising.
They thought the news was shocking.
I'm not going to that lecture: it sounds really boring.
Her exam results seemed disappointing, but the university accepted her anyway.
The trip looks very tiring. We'd better go to be early tonight.

Grammar Challenge
ed / ing adjectives

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BBC Learning English

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