Confused about when to use “bored” or “boring”? You’re not alone. Understanding the difference between adjectives ending in -ed and -ing is a cornerstone of accurate English expression. This guide cuts through the confusion, offering a clear rule, a comprehensive list of examples, and strategic tips to help you use these words with confidence, whether in daily communication or in competitive examinations.

Introduction: Why These Tiny Endings Matter

Adjectives ending in -ed and -ing are more than just vocabulary; they are essential tools for precise communication. Using the wrong form can completely change your intended meaning. Saying “I am bored” describes your feeling, while “I am boring” describes your personality—a significant difference. These participial adjectives are frequently tested in exams like SSC, Banking, and IELTS, where grammar precision is key to a high score. This article will provide the foundational rule, a vast list of examples, and targeted strategies for exam success.

The Core Rule: Feeling vs. Causing the Feeling

The fundamental distinction is straightforward and applies to most adjectives ending in -ed and -ing.

• -ED Adjectives (The Receiver): Describe a feeling or emotion. They tell us how a person (or animal) feels as a result of an external cause. They have a passive sense.
  • Example: “She was frustrated by the difficult puzzle.” (She felt frustration).
  • Example: “The interested students asked many questions.” (The students felt interest).
• -ING Adjectives (The Source): Describe the characteristic, thing, or situation that causes the feeling. They have an active sense.
  • Example: “The frustrating puzzle took hours to solve.” (The puzzle caused frustration).
  • Example: “It was an interesting lecture.” (The lecture caused interest).

Quick Tip: Ask yourself: Am I describing how someone feels (-ed), or am I describing the thing that creates that feeling (-ing)?

100 Common Examples of Adjectives Ending in -ED and -ING

Here is a practical list of common adjective pairs to expand your vocabulary. The first column shows the -ed (feeling) form, and the second shows the -ing (causing) form.

Here are 100 examples of adjectives ending in -ed and -ing.

Adjectives Ending in -ed (Describes a Feeling or State)

1. Amazed
2. Amused
3. Annoyed
4. Astonished
5. Bored
6. Confused
7. Depressed
8. Disappointed
9. Disgusted
10. Disturbed
11. Embarrassed
12. Excited
13. Exhausted
14. Fascinated
15. Frightened
16. Frustrated
17. Fulfilled
18. Horrified
19. Inspired
20. Insulted
21. Interested
22. Irritated
23. Moved
24. Overwhelmed
25. Perplexed
26. Pleased
27. Relaxed
28. Relieved
29. Satisfied
30. Shocked
31. Surprised
32. Terrified
33. Threatened
34. Thrilled
35. Tired
36. Touched
37. Troubled
38. Worried
39. Alarmed
40. Aggravated
41. Captivated
42. Charmed
43. Comforted
44. Convinced
45. Discouraged
46. Distressed
47. Encouraged
48. Entertained
49. Humiliated
50. Mystified

Adjectives Ending in -ing (Describes the Thing Causing the Feeling)

51. Amazing
52. Amusing
53. Annoying
54. Astonishing
55. Boring
56. Confusing
57. Depressing
58. Disappointing
59. Disgusting
60. Disturbing
61. Embarrassing
62. Exciting
63. Exhausting
64. Fascinating
65. Frightening
66. Frustrating
67. Fulfilling
68. Horrifying
69. Inspiring
70. Insulting
71. Interesting
72. Irritating
73. Moving
74. Overwhelming
75. Perplexing
76. Pleasing
77. Relaxing
78. Relieving
79. Satisfying
80. Shocking
81. Surprising
82. Terrifying
83. Threatening
84. Thrilling
85. Tiring
86. Touching
87. Troubling
88. Worrying
89. Alarming
90. Aggravating
91. Captivating
92. Charming
93. Comforting
94. Convincing
95. Discouraging
96. Distressing
97. Encouraging
98. Entertaining
99. Humiliating
100. Mystifying

Key Information and Exam Tips for Success

For students and candidates preparing for competitive exams (SSC, Banking, RRB, IELTS, etc.), here are critical points:

• Position in a Sentence: Both types can be used before a noun (an exciting match) or after linking verbs (The match was exciting). Common linking verbs include be, feel, seem, look, become.
• Not Just Emotions: While most pairs describe emotions, some -ed forms can indicate a completed state (e.g., a painted wall, a retired officer).
• Common Exam Traps:
  1. Misusing with Objects: Remember, -ed adjectives typically describe beings that can feel. Don’t say, “The book was very interested.” Say, “The book was very interesting“.
  2. Confusing with Adverbs: Don’t confuse -ing/-ed adjectives with adverbs. “He spoke amusingly” (adverb modifying ‘spoke’) vs. “He told an amusing story” (adjective modifying ‘story’).
  3. Error Spotting: Look for sentences where the -ed or -ing adjective is incorrectly paired with an inanimate object as the subject of a feeling.

Strategic Tips for Competitive Exams:

• Identify the Subject: Is the subject experiencing a feeling (-ed) or causing it (-ing)?
• Link Verb Clue: If the adjective comes after a linking verb (is, was, feels, seems), check what the subject is.
• Practice with Pairs: Actively learn the common pairs (bored/boring, interested/interesting) as they are frequent exam fodder.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Adjectives Ending in ED and ING

Q1: What is the simplest rule to remember the difference between -ed and -ing adjectives?
The simplest rule is: -ed describes how you feel, -ing describes the thing that makes you feel that way. For example, if a movie makes you feel bored, it is a boring movie, and you leave the cinema feeling bored.

Q2: Can I use -ing adjectives to describe people?
Yes, but it describes their characteristic or the effect they have on others, not their temporary feeling. “He is boring” means he has a boring personality. “He is bored” means he feels bored at this moment.

Q3: Are there any irregular forms I should know for exams?
While most follow the standard -ed/-ing pattern, pay attention to verbs that change spelling (e.g., tired/tiring, fascinated/fascinating). The main challenge is not irregularity, but applying the correct meaning. Also, be aware that some adjectives ending in -ed (like talented) are not paired with an -ing form in the emotional sense.

Conclusion: Adjectives Ending in ED and ING

Mastering adjectives ending in -ed and -ing is a small but powerful step toward English proficiency. By internalizing the core “feeling vs. causing” rule, expanding your vocabulary with common pairs, and applying the strategic exam tips, you can communicate with greater precision and approach grammar questions with confidence. Consistent practice in identifying the subject and intended meaning in sentences will solidify this essential grammatical concept.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes to explain common grammatical rules. Language usage can have exceptions and evolve. For high-stakes exam preparation, always refer to the latest official study materials and guidelines.

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