'-ed' and '-ing' adjectives: describing feelings and things

 '-ed' and '-ing' adjectives: describing feelings and things

'My holiday was relaxing. I felt really relaxed.'

Few, but common, adjectives end in either -ed or -ing:

worried/worrying, interested/interesting, excited/exciting

'-ed' adjectives

Adjectives that end in -ed are used to describe how people feel:

'He was surprised to find that he had been upgraded to first class.'

'I was confused by the findings of the report.'

'She felt tired after working hard all day.'

 '-ing' adjectives

Adjectives that end in -ing are used to describe things and situations. Compare these example sentences to the ones above:

'Being upgraded to first class is surprising.'

The findings of this report are confusing.'

'Working hard all day is tiring.'

example table:     

-ed and -ing adjectives tables

Feel '-ed'         describe '-ing'

annoyed          annoying

bored               boring

Confused        Confusing

Challenged     challenging

depressed        depressing

excited                        exciting

frustrated        frustrating

frightened       frightening

satisfied          satisfying

Shocked          Shocking

Scared             scary

Now complete the sentences below using the correct adjective:

•             Dogs often feel ___ during fireworks.

 frightening /frightened

•             The CTA  can be ___ the first time you use it.

 Confused/ confusing

•             Satoru was ___ to hear about the earthquake.

 Shocked/ shocking

•             I think that rainy days in winter are ___.

 depressing /depressed

•             She's ___ of doing the same thing every day.

 boring /bored

•             I was so___________ to go on vacation.

 exciting /excited

•             The meals at Cheesecake Factory  are ___.

 Satisfied/ satisfying