The Difference Between Adjectives Ending in "ed" Versus Adjectives Ending in "ing"

Index

This article offers the following assistance:

• An explanation on adjectives ending in "-ed"
• An explanation on adjectives ending in "-ing"
• A list of recommended resources

The following information summarizes some of the sources that appear as recommended websites at the end of this document:

"-ed" Adjectives

Adjectives that end in -ed are used to describe a person’s feelings, emotions, or opinions.  In other words, these adjectives tell us about someone's feelings. (These people "feel or receive the feelings")

Examples of sentences containing adjectives that end in -ed used to describe a person’s feelings, emotions, or opinions:

• She is shocked to find mayonnaise in her hot dog.  (This explains why she is looking in horror at her hot dog, right now)
• I was confused by the judge.  (I didn't understand the judge)
• John is tired after a long day at work.  (John is at home, right now, and he's fatigued after 8 hours at the office)
• We were excited to play extreme sports.  (We played some extreme sports and it was cool and fun)
• My girlfriend is bored.  (She doesn't know what to do, right now)

"-ing" Adjectives

Adjectives that end in -ing are used to describe things, people, places, and activities.  In other words, these adjectives tell us what evoked the feelings in the first place by describing the characteristic of the thing. (These things are the "causes or sources of feelings")

Examples of sentences containing adjectives that end in -ing used to describe things, people, places, and activities:

• A hot dog with mayonnaise on it is shocking.  (It is strange to put mayonnaise on a hot dog)
• The judge was confusing.  (The judge caused confusion in people)
• A long day at work is tiring.  (When people work, they get tired)
• Extreme sports are exciting.  (When people play extreme sports, their adrenaline increases)
• My girlfriend is boring.  (People around her want to be somewhere else)

 Recommended Resources

The following websites offer additional information on this topic:

Website	Comments
Woodward English: Adjectives ending in ED and ING ★★★★★	This website provides a simple and clear explanation along with the opportunity to practice the concept (see the "next activity" sub-title at the bottom of the page).
Frankfurt International School: Adjectives ending in -ed and -ing [Test] ★★★★★	If you would like to test your ability at this concept, this is a great site with 24 questions.
British Council: Adjectives ending in -ed and –ing ★★★★☆	A short explanation, followed by five practice questions.
EC English Language Schools: '-ed' and '-ing' adjectives: describing feelings and things ★★★★☆	A short explanation, followed by seven practice questions.
Grammar Quizzes: Participles as Modifiers -ed / -ing -- Express the receiver vs. the source of an experience ★★★★☆	This website provides a more advanced explanation of the concept.  It may be confusing to lower-intermediate students. However, the website contains 37 practice questions.
Busy Teacher: 4 Fascinating Ways for Teaching -ED and -ING Adjectives ★★★★★	This site is more for educators than for students.  It provides suggestions on how to teach this concept.
YouTube (Jesse Black-Allen): English Vocabulary - Emotions and Adjectives with ed vs ing endings ★★★★☆	This video explanation will be especially helpful to students at low to intermediate levels.