> Other English exercises on the same topics: Adjectives | Frequent mistakes | Passive voice [Change theme]
	> Similar tests: - Placement test beginners: Check your spelling - Past simple or present perfect - Passive form - Comparative of superiority - Adjectives and prepositions - Order of adjectives - Superlative + and adjective - Adjectives-ing and ed
	> Double-click on words you don't understand

Adjectives in -ed or in -ing

There is a frequent mistake which may have amusing consequences: it's the confusion between the two forms of adjectives ending with –ed  or with –ing.

Making such a mistake, most of the time, you end up saying the exact opposite of what you were thinking... 

1)   TO BE + verbal adjective + -ed = passive meaning: the action is endured and the sentence is in the passive form.

    - Jimmy looks bored. You should give him something to do.(= Jimmy is bored)

   - Paula was quite embarrassed when she realised the blunder she had made. (= Paula was embarrassed)

 EMBARRASSED 
 DONE  
  EXCITED

 2)   TO BE + verbal adjective + -ing= active meaning: the action is taking place at the moment of the narration. (progressive aspect).

  -  I can understand Jimmy: having nothing to do is quite boring! (doing nothing is a boring situation).

  - Paula was right! Making such a blunder was really embarrassing! (Making such a blunder is really embarrasing for Paula.)

    

   KNOCKING 
 SURPRISING

 

 

Well! This is both very short and easy... I'm sure the test will be a real success for you!  

 

Twitter Share
English exercise "Adjectives in -ed or in -ing" created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

Please log in to save your progress.

1. I think his personality is changedshockingshockedchangingI don't know a lot these days. It must be the influence of his new school.
2. Such violence against these young kids was really shockedthrilledthrillingshockingI don't know! I had to do something!
3. Don't worry, in this boarding house, the sheets are surprisedchangedsurprisingchangingI don't know every week.
4. This book is really thrillingshockingshockedthrilledI don't know. It’s a page turner.
5. The film was so frighteningfrightenedshockedshockingI don't know that I was shockingsurprisedshockedsurprisingI don't know and left the house.
6. An accident has happenedshockedtiredhappeningI don't know here and it’s not surprisingfrighteningsurprisedfrightenedI don't know! The road is so dangerous…
7. Having to repeat the same things again and again is really tiringthrilledtiredhappeningI don't know me. Will you be more careful and less annoyingtiredfrightenedthrillingI don't know, please?
8. I know that wearing this short skirt at school would be quite shockedthrillingshockingthrilledI don't know, I’ll keep it for the right occasion as I don’t want people to be embarrassingtiringembarrassedshockingI don't know.

 

---

End of the free exercise to learn English: Adjectives in -ed or in -ing
A free English exercise to learn English.
Other English exercises on the same topics : Adjectives | Frequent mistakes | Passive voice | All our lessons and exercises