English, baby!

Adjectives ending in' ing 'and 'ed'

Date: Jul 25 2007

Lesson

A/ Somebody is bored if something (or somebody else) is boring. Or, if something is boring, it makes you bored. So: • Jane is bored because her job is boring.• Jane's job is boring, so Jane is bored, (not 'Jane is boring') If a person is boring, this means that they make other people bored: • George always talks about the same things. He's really boring. B/ Compare adjectives ending in –ing and ed a/ You can say:My job is boring, interesting/ tiring/ satisfying/ depressing, (etc.) The -ing adjective tells you about the job.Compare these examples: Interesting• Julia thinks politics is very interesting.• Did you meet anyone interesting at the party?Surprising• It was quite surprising that he passed the examination.Disappointing• The film was disappointing. I expected it to be much better.Shocking• The news was shocking. b/ You can say: • I'm bored with my job.• I'm not interested in my job any more.• I'm always tired when I finish work. • I'm not satisfied with my job.• My job makes me depressed, (etc.) The -ed adjective tells you how somebody feels (about the job). Interested• Julia is very interested in politics, (not interesting in politics') • Are you interested in buying a car? I'm trying to sell mine.Surprised• Everybody was surprised that he passed the examination.Disappointed• I was disappointed with the film. I expected it to be much better.Shocked• We were very shocked when we heard.