11/26/23, 5:41 PM Participle Adjectives

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METHOD EXERCISES EXPLANATIONS

PARTICIPLE ADJECTIVES
PERFECT ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Download this explanation as a PDF here

Download a list of common -ed and -ing adjectives as a PDF here

Download my much longer full list (no examples) as a PDF here

Some participles (like 'bored' or 'boring') can be used as adjectives. These are used in
a slightly different way from normal adjectives. We usually use the past participle

(ending in -ed) to talk about how someone feels:

I was really bored during the flight (NOT: I was really boring during the flight).
She's interested in history (NOT: She's really interesting in history).
John's frightened of spiders (NOT: John's frightening of spiders).

We usually use the present participle (ending in -ing) to talk about the person, thing,
or situation which has caused the feeling:

It was such a long, boring flight (so I was bored).

I read a really interesting book about history (so I was interested).
Many people find spiders frightening (so they're frightened when they see
spiders).

Be careful! 'I'm boring' is very different from 'I'm bored'! 'I'm boring' means I cause
other people to be bored. This is not good! Here are some examples of when one
person causes a feeling in another person:

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11/26/23, 5:41 PM Participle Adjectives

I was talking to such a boring guy at the party. He talked about himself for an
hour!
She's a really interesting woman. She's lived all over the world and speaks five
languages.
My maths teacher at school was really frightening! He was always shouting at
the students.

These participle adjectives make their comparative by using 'more' (not -er) and
their superlative by using 'most' (not -est):

I was more frightened of dogs than spiders when I was a child.

That book is more boring than this one.
I think Dr Smith's lesson was more interesting than Dr Brown's.

For 24 hours on the flight to Australia, I was the most bored I've ever been.
I think this is the most interesting talk we've heard today.
It was the most frightening film that he'd ever seen.

Participle Adjectives Exercise 1 (based on the list below)

Participle Adjectives Exercise 2 (based on the list below)

List of common -ed and -ing adjectives

Download this list in PDF here
Download my much longer full list (no examples) in PDF here

alarming alarmed
What an alarming noise! I was alarmed by the loud bang.
amusing amused
That TV programme is really amusing. He was amused to hear his little son singing
in the bath.
boring bored
I've never seen such a boring film! The students looked bored as the teacher
talked and talked.
confusing confused
I find these instructions very I was confused, because I asked two people
confusing! Could you come and help and they told me two different things.
me?
depressing depressed
This weather is depressing! Is it ever I was feeling depressed, so I stayed at home
going to stop raining? with hot chocolate and a good book.
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11/26/23, 5:41 PM Participle Adjectives

embarrassing embarrassed
That is the most embarrassing photo! John was really embarrassed when he fell
I look terrible! over in front of his new girlfriend.
exciting excited
It's a really exciting book. I couldn't I'm so excited! I'm going on holiday tomorrow!
wait to find out what happened at
the end.
exhausting exhausted
I hate doing housework! It's Julie was so exhausted after her exams, she
exhausting! spent the next three days sleeping.
fascinating fascinated
The brain is fascinating, isn't it? It's Joan was fascinated by her grandmother's
amazing how much it can do. stories of life in the 1920s.
frightening frightened
What a frightening film! I don't want to I was really frightened of bees when I was
walk home on my own now! little, but I don't mind them now.
frustrating frustrated
It's frustrating when you want to say I tried all morning to send an email, but it
something in another language, but wouldn't work. I was so frustrated!
you don't know the word.
interesting interested
That was a very interesting book. She's interested in animals, so she's thinking of
studying to be a vet.
overwhelming overwhelmed
I find London a bit overwhelming. It's Julie felt overwhelmed. She'd moved house,
so busy and noisy. got a new job and was learning to drive, all at
the same time.
relaxing relaxed
A nice hot bath is so relaxing after a She was so relaxed, sitting in front of the fire,
long day. that she didn't want to move.
satisfying satisfied
John loves his new job as a teacher. I'm very satisfied that I managed to order the
He says it's very satisfying when he meal in French.
makes a student understand.
shocking shocked
What a shocking crime! It's terrible. I was shocked when my co-worked admitted
stealing some money.
surprising surprised
It's surprising how many
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want to travel to another country. class and found the other students doing an
exam. She'd thought it was a normal lesson.
terrifying terrified
What a terrifying dog! It's huge! My little son is terrified of the dark. We always
leave a light on in his room at night.
thrilling thrilled
What thrilling music! It's some of the I was thrilled to win first prize in the
most beautiful music I've ever heard. competition.
tiring tired
My job is really tiring. I don't get home David's too tired to come to the cinema
until 10pm sometimes. tonight. He's going to go to bed early.

Participle Adjectives Exercise 1 (based on the list above)

Participle Adjectives Exercise 2 (based on the list above)

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