Zorg Spacebored or boring
The rule
A great many English adjectives come in pairs. The -ed form describes how a PERSON feels: I was bored, she is interested, we were surprised. The -ing form describes what CAUSES the feeling: the film was boring, it is an interesting job, the news was surprising. So I am boring does not mean you are bored — it means other people find you dull. The pattern covers tired/tiring, worried/worrying, confused/confusing, excited/exciting, frightened/frightening, relaxed/relaxing.
person + -ed (how I feel) · thing + -ing (what causes it)
Examples
I was bored during the lecture.
The lecture was boring.
She is very interested in history.
The results were surprising.
Common mistakes
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Wrong: I am very boring in this job.
Right: I am very bored in this job.
boring says what you do to others; bored says how you feel.
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Wrong: The journey was very tired.
Right: The journey was very tiring.
A journey cannot feel; it causes the feeling.
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Wrong: I am interesting in the course.
Right: I am interested in the course.
The person takes the -ed form, and interested takes in.
Practice questions
Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.
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1Choose the correct sentence.
- The children was excited about the trip.
- The children were excited about the trip.
- The children were exciting about the trip.
- The children were excited of the trip.
Show answer
Answer: B The children were excited about the trip.
People feel, so the -ed form.
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2Choose the correct sentence.
- It was a fright noise.
- It was a frightened noise.
- It was a frightening noise.
- It was a frighten noise.
Show answer
Answer: C It was a frightening noise.
The noise causes the fear, so -ing.
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3Choose the correct sentence.
- I am confusing by these instructions.
- I am confused by these instructions.
- I am confuse by these instructions.
- I am confused of these instructions.
Show answer
Answer: B I am confused by these instructions.
The person is confused; the instructions are confusing.
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4Choose the correct sentence.
- A long walk is very relaxation.
- A long walk is very relaxing.
- A long walk is very relaxed.
- A long walk is very relax.
Show answer
Answer: B A long walk is very relaxing.
The walk causes the calm, so -ing.
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5Fill in the gap.
She was _____ when she heard the news.
- shockingly
- shocking
- shocked
- shock
Show answer
Answer: C She was shocked when she heard the news.
The person feels it, so the -ed form.
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6Fill in the gap.
The film was quite _____.
- disappointed
- disappointing
- disappoint
- disappointment
Show answer
Answer: B The film was quite disappointing.
The film causes the feeling, so -ing.
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7Fill in the gap.
I find his English very _____ to understand.
- confuse
- confused
- confusing
- confusion
Show answer
Answer: C I find his English very confusing to understand.
His English causes the confusion.
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8Fill in the gap.
After a twelve-hour shift I am always _____.
- exhausting
- exhaustion
- exhausted
- exhaust
Show answer
Answer: C After a twelve-hour shift I am always exhausted.
The person feels exhausted; the shift is exhausting.
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9Put the words in the right order.
The match was really exciting
Show answer
Answer: The match was really exciting.
The match causes the excitement.
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10Put the words in the right order.
I was surprised by her answer
Show answer
Answer: I was surprised by her answer.
The person feels surprised, and by names the cause.
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