-ed vs -ing adjectives
bored or boring? interested or interesting?
The rules
- The thing causing the feeling takes -ing: "a boring lecture".
- The person feeling it takes -ed: "I'm interested".
- You FEEL excited; the trip IS exciting.
- Results cause the feeling → "surprising results".
- The film causes disappointment → -ing.
- -ing = causes the feeling in others; -ed = experiences the feeling.
Examples
- The lecture was so boring that half the room fell asleep.
- I'm interested in astronomy.
- I am excited about the trip.
- The results were surprising, nobody expected them.
- The film was really disappointing.
- The first: she confuses others; the second: she doesn't understand.
Quick check
Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1.The lecture was so _____ that half the room fell asleep.
2.I'm _____ in astronomy.
3.Which sentence is correct?
4.The results were _____, nobody expected them.
5."She is confusing" vs "She is confused", what is the difference?