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-ed vs. -ing adjectives

In this lesson we will study the difference between -ed and -ing adjectives. 

Vocabulary - adjectives

All of these adjectives come from a verb. For example:

bore

boring

bored

relax

relaxing

relaxed

annoy

annoying

annoyed

exhaust

exhausting

exhausted

What's the difference between -ed and -ing adjectives?

ed ing

I am excited.

​

It is exciting.

~ed = describing how the subject feels 

​

~ing = describing how the speaker feels about the subject

ed ing

I am bored.

​

The book is boring.

~ed = The girl in the picture feels bored 

​

~ing = She feels that the book is boring

ed ing

This book is _____.

​

I'm _____

Answer

This book is interesting.

​

I'm interested.

We want to say how the girl feels about the book so we'd use ~ing

​

We want to say how the girl feels so we'd use ~ed

Practice
ed ing

How he feels = 

Answer

He is amazed.

How he feels about the phone

Answer

The phone is amazing.

amaze

ed ing

How she feels = 

Answer

She is relaxed.

How she feels about the bath

Answer

The bath is relaxing.

relax

ed ing
Answer

The maths is confusing.

How she feels about the maths

How she feels = 

Answer

I'm confused.

confuse

ed ing
ed ing

tire

 

exhaust

How she feels = 

Answer

She is tired.

​

She is exhausted.

How she feels about her children = 

Answer

Her children are tiring.

​

Her children are exhausting.

How iswas...?

What dodid you think of...?
Vocabulary - Verb
ed ing

How was London?

ed ing

What did you think of Big Ben?

ed ing

It was exciting!

ed ing

I thought it was amazing but Billy was bored.

We use these to ask another persons opinion.

Past or Present Tense?

Past

Now

Future

I am eating a hamburger.

How is the hamburger?

​

What do you think of the hamburger?

Past

Now

I ate a hamburger.

Future

How was the hamburger?

​

What did you think of the hamburger?

Practice

Past

Now

Future

I am in Spain.

How - 

​

​

What -

Answer

How is Spain?

Answer

What do you think of Spain?

Past

Now

Future

I went to an English lesson

How - 

​

​

What -

Answer

How was the lesson?

Answer

What did you think the lesson?

Why has it changed from 'a lesson' to 'the lesson'?

​

The first speaker said "I went to an English lesson," meaning one of many for the speaker. 

​

The second speaker said "How was the lesson?" meaning that specific lesson (one of one).

I think... / I thought

Past

Now

Future

I went to Spain.

I thought Spain was amazing.

I think Spain is amazing.

Past

Now

Future

I read a book.

I thought the book was boring.

We use 'thought' for opinions in the past.

I think the book is boring.

We use 'think' for opinions we have now.

Practice

Big Ben was amazing

Fish and chips were delicious.

ed ing
ed ing

London is interesting.

Shopping in London is not relaxing.

ed ing
ed ing

Past

ed ing

The British Museum was busy.

ed ing

Shopping was tiring.

ed ing
ed ing

Now

Future

London's buildings are amazing.

London's trains are confusing.

ed ing

Tom thought 

Answer

Big Ben was amazing.

Tom thinks 

Answer

London is interesting.

ed ing
Answer / Jane

Jane thought the fish and chips were delicious.

Answer / Jane

Jane thinks shopping in London is not relaxing.

ed ing
Answer / Billy

Billy thought the British Museum was busy.

Answer / Billy

Billy thinks London's buildings are amazing.

ed ing
Answer / Kate

Kate thought shopping in London was tiring. 

Answer / Kate

Kate thinks London's trains are confusing.

Conversations

A: What did you think of London? 

B: It was amazing. Everything was exciting and new.

A: What did you think of the food? 

B: I liked it but Billy and Kate didn't like it. 

A: How was the British Museum?

B: Tom was interested in everything and Kate loved the Egyptians but Billy was bored. 

A: How was the film? 

B: It was confusing because it was in Japanese.

A: When did you see it? 

B: Last week. 

A: What did your friend think?

B: She liked it and thought it was interesting.  

A: What do you think of France? 

B: France is a great place. I've been three times and love going there. 

A: What do you do? 

B: I go skiing, visit wonderful restaurants and eat delicious food. 

A: How is the skiing?

B: The skiing is amazing but exhausting. You should go!  

Task

Make two sentences using:

​

  • boring / bored

  • interesting / interested

  • exciting / excited 

​

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