-ed and -ing Adjectives: Bored or Boring? (A2 Grammar)
An adjective with -ed says how a person feels: bored, excited, interested, confused.
Use -ed for how you feel
I'm bored. Let's do something.
We're interested. Tell us more.
Try it: Hiroshi: Is the meeting still going? Camila: Yes, for three hours now. I'm so ___. Choose what Camila says. (boring / bored / proud) Answer: bored — Three hours is long, and Camila is the one who feels it, so she is bored.
Use -ing for what makes you feel it
An adjective with -ing says what makes you feel that way: boring, exciting, interesting, confusing.
This book is boring.
The new parking signs are confusing.
The story is exciting.
Try it: Hiroshi: I learned how bees make honey today! Camila: Wow, that's really ___! Tell me more. Choose what Camila says. (interested / confusing / interesting) Answer: interesting — Camila wants to hear more, and the bees are the thing, so it is interesting.
I'm bored, not I'm boring
When you have nothing to do, say I'm bored. I'm boring means you make other people feel bored.
Sunday is long, and I'm bored.
Not "I'm boring. Let's go out." — say "I'm bored. Let's go out.". You feel bored. A boring person makes other people feel bored.
Try it: Hiroshi: Your favorite band is here tonight! Camila: I know! I'm so ___. Choose what Camila says. (exciting / excited / bored) Answer: excited — Camila is the one who feels it, so she is excited.
scared of, worried about, interested in
Some adjectives take a preposition after them: scared of, worried about, interested in.
I'm scared of spiders.
We're worried about the weather tomorrow.
He's interested in cars.
Try it: Camila: You have so many podcasts about space! Hiroshi: Yes. I'm ___ space. Choose what Hiroshi says. (scared of / interested in / worried about) Answer: interested in — Hiroshi listens to many podcasts about space, so he is interested in it.
Which one?
A person feels -ed. The thing that makes the feeling is -ing.
The news is exciting, so we're excited.
Try it: Camila: How was the new board game? Hiroshi: ___ I don't understand the rules. Choose Hiroshi's answer. (It was so interesting. / It was so confused. / It was so confusing.) Answer: It was so confusing. — Hiroshi does not understand the rules, and the game is the thing, so it was confusing.