Adjectives Ending in -ed and -ing

Adjectives ending in -ed and -ing are a common part of English grammar, and understanding the difference between them can really boost your speaking and writing skills. While they may look similar, these adjectives have very different uses and meanings. In this lesson, we’ll explore how to use -ed and -ing adjectives correctly, look at some common examples, and practice identifying them in context—all with guidance from me, Rebecca, a TESOL-certified tutor with over four years of experience helping students around the world. Let’s get started!

💡 Understanding the Rule

Adjectives ending in -ed and -ing are closely related, but they are used in very different ways.

✅ -ed Adjectives: How Someone Feels

Adjectives that end in -ed describe emotions or feelings that a person experiences.

Think of it like this: the person is affected by something.

🔹 Example:

I am bored.

(I feel this way because something is not interesting or boring.)

Other examples:

She felt confused after the lesson.

They were excited about the trip.

He was annoyed by the noise.

✅ -ing Adjectives: What Causes the Feeling

Adjectives ending in -ing describe the thing or situation that causes a person to feel a certain way.

It’s about the effect something has on someone.

🔹 Example:

This movie is boring.

(The movie causes boredom.)

Other examples:

The instructions were confusing.

It was an exciting game!

That sound is really annoying.

🧠 Can You Spot the -ed and -ing Adjectives?

Let’s look at this short story. Try to find all the adjectives that end in -ed and -ing:

"Anna was excited about her book. The story was so interesting that she couldn't stop reading. However, after hours of reading, she felt very tired. The long day had been exhausting for her."


🕵️‍♀️ Did You Find Them? Let’s Check!

Here are the adjectives:

excited (how Anna felt)

interesting (the quality of the story)

tired (how she felt)

exhausting (the effect of the long day)

Great job if you spotted all of them!

📘 Final Tip

If you’re ever unsure which one to use, ask yourself:

Am I talking about how someone feels? Use -ed.

Am I talking about what’s causing the feeling? Use -ing.

Thanks for learning with me today! Keep practicing, and soon, choosing between -ed and -ing adjectives will feel completely natural. 😊

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