1. Participial Adjectives
Fireworks
are amazing!
Participial Adjectives
Learn how to use -ed and
–ing adjectives in English.

2. Let’s think about some Examples
Participial Adjectives look like verbs, but they are really adjectives. Their function is to describe nouns.
English uses many pairs of –ed and
–ing adjectives. You probably know some of these adjectives already.
Let’s think about some Examples

3. Miguel didn’t sleep very well last night
Miguel didn’t sleep very well last night. To make things worse, he had to get up early this morning because his boss asked him to come to work early. When he got up, he realized that he had run out of coffee. Poor Miguel. Today he feels . . .
tired
exhausted
These are adjectives, even though they end with –ed. They describe how Miguel feels.

4. School is difficult, but Melissa enjoys it because she loves to learn
School is difficult, but Melissa enjoys it because she loves to learn. She especially loves her Science class because the teacher is very good. The teacher’s class is never boring; on the contrary it’s . . .
interesting
exciting
These are adjectives, even though they end with –ing. They describe the class.

5. –ed and –ing adjectives:
More examples of
–ed and –ing adjectives:

6. Are any of these words new for you?
-ed -ing
thrilled thrilling
fascinated fascinating
amazed amazing
shocked shocking
embarrassed embarrassing
confused confusing
frightened frightening
depressed depressing
amused amusing
annoyed annoying
distracted distracting
Are any of these words new for you?

7. What’s the difference between the –ed and –ing form of adjectives?
-ed adjectives describe the way a person feels.
-ing adjectives describe someone’s personality, a place, an event, an experience, etc.
*If something is __________ing, it
will make you feel ________ed.

8. More examples . . .
1. Tom’s job is boring. He feels bored when he’s at work. Tom is bored because his job is boring.
2. Jane thinks that computers are interesting. She is interested in studying computers in the future.

9. My friend was feeling depressed, so I invited him to come out with us to see an amusing movie. I thought it might make him laugh a little.
4. Tripping in front of other people can be really embarrassing. I always feel embarrassed when this happens!

10. Now it’s your turn! confusing confused fascinated fascinating
English grammar can be extremely ________________. It makes me feel ________________.
fascinat-
Millions of tourists are __________________ with Balboa Park. This place is absolutely __________________.
confusing
confused
fascinated
fascinating

11. Practice …

12. surprise

13. Was the little girl surprised or surprising?
Was the party surprised or surprising?
surprising

14. exhaust

15. How does the man feel: exhausted or exhausting?
Was the marathon exhausted or exhausting?
exhausting

16. bore

17. Was the speech bored or boring?
The people in the audience felt bored or boring?
bored

18. annoy

19. It’s annoyed or annoying when people talk loudly on their cell phones?
I was annoyed or annoying when that guy was talking loudly on his cell phone?
annoyed

20. satisfy

21. Was the woman satisfied or satisfying when she got her favorite meal?
Was the meal satisfied or satisfying?
satisfying

22. frustrate

23. The man feels frustrated or frustrating?
His job can be frustrated or frustrating?
frustrating

24. shock

25. The news was shocked or shocking?
The woman was shocked or shocking when she read the news?
shocked

26. embarrass

27. How does the boy feel? embarrassed or embarrassing?
Is being scolded embarrassed or embarrassing?
embarrassing

28. interest

29. Is the student interested or interesting in learning?
Is the class interested or interesting?
interesting

30. excite

31. Riding roller coasters is excited or exciting?
Do the people on the roller coaster feel excited or exciting?
excited

32. disappoint

33. It’s disappointed or disappointing to lose a race?
The runners who didn’t win felt disappointed or disappointing?
disappointed

34. Questions? Need more practice?

35. For more practice: Go to our class website: Good Luck!
Good
Luck!