When do you use an “ing” adjective (like “interesting”) and when do you use an “ed” adjective (like “interested”)?

Many people confuse ing and ed adjectives, but when you confuse them, you’ll completely change the meaning of what you say.

In this video I’ll show you an easy way to remember which type to use!

If you’d like more help understanding the video, you can read the transcript underneath.

Video Transcript

Hi there! I’m Clare from english-at-home.com

In today’s grammar lesson, I’m going to look at ing / ed adjectives. So if you always mix up ing / ed this video is for you!

But before we get started I’ve got a quick favour to ask you. If you’re new here, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. You get a new video every week to help you with English speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. You can subscribe by clicking the button there.

So ing / ed adjevtives. You know the ones I mean:

interesting / interested
boring / bored
amazing / amazed

Often, people mix these up. But the problem is when you mix up these adjectives, you completely change the meaning of what you say.

For example, if you say “I’m amazing”, it means that you’re wonderful, you’re fabulous. You could be amazing, but normally it’s something other people say about you. You don’t normally say “I’m amazing!”

If what you mean to say is “I’m amazed”, it means you’re very surprised.

You see that the difference really changes the meaning of what you say.

Actually, ing / ed adjectives are easy to remember. There are just a couple of things that you need to know.

Ing adjectives describe themselves

People and things are “ing”.

“My friend is amazing.” So my friend is wonderful.

“This book is interesting.” I want to read it, it’s a good book

“School is boring”. So you hate going to school

Ed adjectives describe how you feel

So “This book is boring”. So when you read it, you feel bored: “I’m bored”.

That film is a very frightening – a terrifying film. So hen you watch it, you feel terrified.

“Ing” – describes the thing, the person. “Ed” – describes how you feel.

So lets do a very, very quick exercise:

You go to a restaurant and the meal is horrible. The food is disgusting / disgusted?

… disgusting

You want to catch the train, but you miss it by one minute. You feel annoying / annoyed?

… annoyed

You want to sign up for this great new exercise class. You are interesting / interested

… interested

OK, don’t forget, for more free English, just click the link and you can join my email group. Each week you get tips to improve your English speaking, vocabulary and grammar. Thanks for watching!