BBC Learning English Grammar Challenge

British Broadcasting Corporation 2007

Catherine's Grammar Explanation: -ed & -ing adjectives

Catherine: Hi Deniz! Mark didnt like the film. He used the words 'boring' and 'bored'. We use -ing or 'ing' adjectives to give more information about things. So if we go to see a really dull film, and nothing much happens, and the film even makes me feel quite sleepy, I can say that the film was boring. I use an ing adjective boring to describe the film. Let's listen to Mark: Mark: I watched that film on television last night. It was really boring. I was just bored by it. He uses the ing adjective to describe the film. Mark: It was really boring.

But if I want to talk about my feelings about the film how the film affected me, I use an ed or 'ed' adjective I was bored. Here's Mark again: Mark: I was just bored by it.

He uses the ed adjective to describe his feelings about the film. Mark: I was just bored by it.

So it's ing adjectives for other things, and ed adjectives for my feelings. The film was boring, and I was bored. Now there are only a certain number of adjectives that work like this. The most common ones are: Bored / boring Excited / exciting Grammar Challenge BBC Learning English Page 1 of 2 http://www.bbclearningenglish.com/

BBC Learning English Grammar Challenge

Interested / interesting Embarrassed / embarrassing Tired / tiring Shocked / shocking Annoyed / annoying Frightened / frightening And finally, worried / worrying
British Broadcasting Corporation 2007

Ok Deniz, good luck with your grammar challenge!

Grammar Challenge

BBC Learning English Page 2 of 2 http://www.bbclearningenglish.com/