Download this explanation as a PDF here
Download a list of common -ed and -ing adjectives as a PDF here
Download my much longer full list (no examples) as a PDF here
Some participles (like 'bored' or 'boring') can be used as adjectives. These are used in a slightly different way from normal adjectives. We usually use the past participle (ending in -ed) to talk about how someone feels:
- I was really bored during the flight (NOT: I was really boring during the flight).
- She's interested in history (NOT: She's really interesting in history).
- John's frightened of spiders (NOT: John's frightening of spiders).
- It was such a long, boring flight (so I was bored).
- I read a really interesting book about history (so I was interested).
- Many people find spiders frightening (so they're frightened when they see spiders).
- I was talking to such a boring guy at the party. He talked about himself for an hour!
- She's a really interesting woman. She's lived all over the world and speaks five languages.
- My maths teacher at school was really frightening! He was always shouting at the students.
- I was more frightened of dogs than spiders when I was a child.
- That book is more boring than this one.
- I think Dr Smith's lesson was more interesting than Dr Brown's.
- For 24 hours on the flight to Australia, I was the most bored I've ever been.
- I think this is the most interesting talk we've heard today.
- It was the most frightening film that he'd ever seen.
Participle Adjectives Exercise 2 (based on the list below)
List of common -ed and -ing adjectives
| alarming What an alarming noise! | alarmed I was alarmed by the loud bang. |
| amusing That TV programme is really amusing. | amused He was amused to hear his little son singing in the bath. |
| boring I've never seen such a boring film! | bored The students looked bored as the teacher talked and talked. |
| confusing I find these instructions very confusing! Could you come and help me? | confused I was confused, because I asked two people and they told me two different things. |
| depressing This weather is depressing! Is it ever going to stop raining? | depressed I was feeling depressed, so I stayed at home with hot chocolate and a good book. |
| embarrassing That is the most embarrassing photo! I look terrible! | embarrassed John was really embarrassed when he fell over in front of his new girlfriend. |
| exciting It's a really exciting book. I couldn't wait to find out what happened at the end. | excited I'm so excited! I'm going on holiday tomorrow! |
| exhausting I hate doing housework! It's exhausting! | exhausted Julie was so exhausted after her exams, she spent the next three days sleeping. |
| fascinating The brain is fascinating, isn't it? It's amazing how much it can do. | fascinated Joan was fascinated by her grandmother's stories of life in the 1920s. |
| frightening What a frightening film! I don't want to walk home on my own now! | frightened I was really frightened of bees when I was little, but I don't mind them now. |
| frustrating It's frustrating when you want to say something in another language, but you don't know the word. | frustrated I tried all morning to send an email, but it wouldn't work. I was so frustrated! |
| interesting That was a very interesting book. | interested She's interested in animals, so she's thinking of studying to be a vet. |
| overwhelming I find London a bit overwhelming. It's so busy and noisy. | overwhelmed Julie felt overwhelmed. She'd moved house, got a new job and was learning to drive, all at the same time. |
| relaxing A nice hot bath is so relaxing after a long day. | relaxed She was so relaxed, sitting in front of the fire, that she didn't want to move. |
| satisfying John loves his new job as a teacher. He says it's very satisfying when he makes a student understand. | satisfied I'm very satisfied that I managed to order the meal in French. |
| shocking What a shocking crime! It's terrible. | shocked I was shocked when my co-worked admitted stealing some money. |
| surprising It's surprising how many people don't want to travel to another country. | surprised She was surprised when she arrived at her class and found the other students doing an exam. She'd thought it was a normal lesson. |
| terrifying What a terrifying dog! It's huge! | terrified My little son is terrified of the dark. We always leave a light on in his room at night. |
| thrilling What thrilling music! It's some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard. | thrilled I was thrilled to win first prize in the competition. |
| tiring My job is really tiring. I don't get home until 10pm sometimes. | tired David's too tired to come to the cinema tonight. He's going to go to bed early. |
Participle Adjectives Exercise 1 (based on the list above)
Participle Adjectives Exercise 2 (based on the list above)