Adjectives ending in -ing or -ed are often misused. Adjectives ending in -ing describe a subject, animal, or person, while those ending in -ed describe experienced emotions or feelings.
PRESENT PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVE -ING |
PAST PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVE -ED |
Cause of the feeling or emotion – The present participle serves as an adjective formed from an active verb. |
Receiver of the feeling or emotion – The past participle serves as an adjective formed from the passive form of the verb. |
The clown was entertaining the family. (active verb) |
The family was entertained by the clown. (passive verb) |
The clown was entertaining. (present participial adjective ) |
The family was entertained. (past participial adjective ) |
Other Participial Adjectives
|
CAUSE OF THE FEELING |
RECEIVER OF THE FEELING |
||
| alarming | frustrating | alarmed | frustrated |
| amusing | humiliating | amused | humiliated |
| annoying | interesting | annoyed | interested |
| boring | intriguing | bored | intrigued |
| concerning | overwhelming | concerned | overwhelmed |
| confusing | perplexing | confused | perplexed |
| embarrassing | pleasing | embarrassed | pleased |
| encouraging | relaxing | encouraged | relaxed |
| energizing | satisfying | energized | satisfied |
| entertaining | shocking | entertained | shocked |
| exciting | surprising | excited | surprised |
| exhausting | terrifying | exhausted | terrified |
| frightening | tiring | frightened | tired |