-ed/-ing adjectives Exercises – Adjectives from verbs

-ed/-ing adjectives – Exercises

These exercises focus on -ed/-ing adjectives

What Are -ed and -ing Adjectives?

-ed and -ing adjectives come from verbs and are used to describe people, things, or situations.

-ed adjectives describe how a person feels.

Example: I’m interested in art.

-ing adjectives describe the thing or situation that causes the feeling.

Example: The art exhibition is interesting.

Differences Between -ed and -ing Adjectives

-ed Adjectives	-ing Adjectives
Describe feelings/emotions of a person	Describe characteristics of something or someone
Answer the question “How do you feel?”	Answer the question “What is it like?”
Example: I’m excited.	Example: The game is exciting.

Illustration of -ed/-ing adjectives – Adjectives from verbs

Rules for Using -ed and -ing Adjectives

-ed Adjectives Describe Feelings:
Use -ed adjectives to show someone’s emotional state.

She is tired.
They are surprised.

-ing Adjectives Describe Causes:
Use -ing adjectives to talk about what causes the feeling.

The job is tiring.
The movie is surprising.

Adjective Pairs Work Together:
Many verbs form both -ed and -ing adjectives. Here are some common examples:

Verb	-ed Adjective	-ing Adjective
bore	bored	boring
interest	interested	interesting
tire	tired	tiring
excite	excited	exciting
amaze	amazed	amazing
annoy	annoyed	annoying

Common Errors

1. Mixing Up -ed and -ing Adjectives

❌ I’m boring in the class.
✅ I’m bored in the class.
(The person feels bored; the class is boring.)
❌ The dog is excited to play, it’s an exciting dog.
✅ The dog is excited to play, it’s an energetic dog.
(The dog is not always exciting; its personality is energetic.)

2. Using -ed Adjectives for Non-People Subjects

❌ The book is bored.
✅ The book is boring.
*(The book cannot feel bored.)

3. Forgetting Context

❌ I feel amazing about the problem.
✅ I feel amazed about the solution.
*(“Amazing” describes the thing, not the feeling.)

Everyday Use of -ed and -ing Adjectives

Here are some sentences to show how to use these adjectives in daily life:

Describing your feelings:

I’m confused by the instructions.
He was embarrassed during the meeting.

Talking about causes:

The instructions are confusing.
The meeting was embarrassing.

Combining both:

I was amazed by the amazing fireworks show.
She is annoyed by the annoying noise.

FAQ About -ed/-ing Adjectives

What’s the easiest way to remember the difference?

Use this trick: -ed = emotions (feelings), -ing = information (causes).

Can we use -ed adjectives for objects?

No, -ed adjectives describe feelings, which only people (or animals) experience.

Can one verb have both -ed and -ing adjectives?

Yes, many verbs form both types, like excited/exciting or tired/tiring.

Why do some -ing adjectives seem permanent?

Some -ing adjectives describe characteristics, e.g., "an amazing person," instead of temporary feelings.

What are common -ed/-ing adjective mistakes?

The most common mistake is mixing up feelings with causes, like saying "I’m boring" instead of "I’m bored."

-ed/-ing adjectives – Adjectives from verbs