Adjectives ending in -ing and -ed

UNIT 90  Adjectives ending in -ing and -ed (boring/bored, etc.)

A.  There are many pairs of adjectives ending in -ing and -ed. For example: boring and bored. Study this example situation:

Jane has been doing the same job for a very long time. Every day she does exactly the same thing over and over. She doesn't enjoy it any more and would like to do something different.

Jane's job is boring.

Jane is bored (with her job)

Someone is -ed if something (or someone) is -ing. Or, if something is ing, it makes you -ed. So:

• Jane is bored because her job is boring.

• Jane's job is boring, so Jane is bored. (not Jane is boring)

Now study these examples:                       

Someone is interested because something (or someone) is interesting:

• Tom is interested in politics. (not interesting in politics)

• Tom finds politics interesting.

• Are you interested in buying a car.

• Did you meet anyone interesting at the party?

Someone is surprised because something is surprising.

• Everyone was surprised that she passed the exam.

• It was surprising that she passed the exam.

Someone is disappointed because something is disappointing:

• I was disappointed with the movie. I expected it to be much better.

• The movie was disappointing I expected it to be much better.

Someone is tired because something is tiring

• He is always very tired when he gets home from work

• He has a very tiring job

B.   Other pairs of adjectives ending in -ing and -ed are:

fascinating   fascinated

horrifying   horrified

terrifying   terrified

excited   exciting

frightening   frightened

amused   amusing

amazed   amazing

depressing   depressed

astonished   astonishing

worried   worrying

shocked   shocking

annoyed   annoying

disgusted   disgusting

exhausting   exhausted

embarrassed   embarrassing

satisfying   satisfied 

confusing   confused