Bored/Boring (adjectives that end in -ed or -ing)
Just here for the exercises? Click here.How to decide between -ed and -ing?
Confusing the adjectives bored and boring and other adjectives that end in -ed or -ing can lead to funny or even embarrassing mistakes.
The difference is as follows: use -ing to describe the effect of a person, thing or situation, and use -ed to describe feelings.
Mastering this difference can take some practice, so keep reading for clear examples and free interactive exercises, and you’ll be using these adjectives like a native speaker in no time!
Example
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Adam ist bored. He thinks the history teacher is boring.
Natasha is interested. She likes history and thinks history is very interesting.
Adjectives that end in -ed
Adjectives that end in -ed describe a person’s feelings or emotions.
- Examples:
- Adam is bored.
- Natasha is interested in history.
Adjectives that end with -ing
Adjectives that end in -ing describe an effect or characteristic; i.e., they describe the thing or person that causes a feeling or emotion.
- Examples:
- Adam thinks the history teacher is boring.
- = the history teacher causes boredom
- Natasha likes history. She thinks it is very interesting.
Confusing the -ed and -ing endings can completely change the meaning of a sentence, and can often lead to embarrassing mistakes! Compare the sentences below:
- Compare:
- My wife was bored at dinner.
- = my wife felt boredom
- My wife was boring at dinner.
- = my wife was dull, she caused everyone else to feel bored
For more information see adjectives.