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Adjectives ending in -ing and -ed Exercises in English language

Group improvising skits in foreign language class.

Adjectives ending in -ing and -ed are essential for conveying emotions and states in English, providing nuance and clarity to descriptions. Understanding the difference between these two forms can significantly enhance your ability to express yourself accurately. Adjectives ending in -ing typically describe the effect that something has on a person or thing, often indicating a cause of emotion or reaction, such as in the words "exciting" or "boring." On the other hand, adjectives ending in -ed describe the state or feeling of a person or thing that is experiencing the emotion, such as "excited" or "bored." Mastering the use of -ing and -ed adjectives can be tricky, but with practice, you can learn to use them correctly and effectively. This section provides a variety of exercises designed to help you distinguish between these forms and apply them in different contexts. Whether you're a beginner looking to build a solid foundation or an advanced learner aiming to refine your skills, these exercises will guide you in enhancing your understanding and usage of these important adjectives in English.

Exercise 1

1. The movie was *boring*, so I fell asleep halfway through (describes the movie). 2. She felt *embarrassed* when she tripped in front of everyone (describes her feelings). 3. The news was *shocking* to everyone in the room (describes the news). 4. The children were *excited* about the upcoming school trip (describes the children's feelings). 5. The lecture was *interesting*, and I learned a lot (describes the lecture). 6. He looked *confused* when he couldn't find his keys (describes his expression). 7. The haunted house was truly *terrifying* (describes the haunted house). 8. She was *amused* by the comedian's jokes (describes her reaction). 9. The story was *fascinating* and kept me hooked until the end (describes the story). 10. He felt *exhausted* after running the marathon (describes his state after running).

Exercise 2

1. She finds the book quite *interesting* (adjective describing the book). 2. He was *bored* during the lecture (adjective describing his feeling). 3. The movie was so *exciting* that I couldn't look away (adjective describing the movie). 4. I felt *tired* after the long hike (adjective describing my feeling). 5. The news was *shocking* to everyone (adjective describing the news). 6. She was *amused* by the comedian's jokes (adjective describing her feeling). 7. The view from the mountain was *amazing* (adjective describing the view). 8. He looked *confused* when he saw the puzzle (adjective describing his feeling). 9. The story was so *touching* that it made her cry (adjective describing the story). 10. They felt *relieved* after the exam was over (adjective describing their feeling).

Exercise 3

1. The movie was *boring* because it had no exciting scenes (emotion about a film). 2. She felt very *tired* after running the marathon (emotion after physical activity). 3. The lecture was so *interesting* that no one wanted to leave (emotion about a talk). 4. He looked *surprised* when he saw the birthday cake (emotion upon seeing something unexpected). 5. The children were *excited* about their upcoming trip to the zoo (emotion about a future event). 6. The *shocking* news spread quickly through the town (emotion about unexpected information). 7. She was *confused* by the complicated instructions (emotion due to lack of understanding). 8. The *amazing* performance left the audience in awe (emotion about something impressive). 9. He found the puzzle *challenging* but fun to solve (emotion about a difficult task). 10. They were *worried* about the approaching storm (emotion about a potential danger).