B2 Adjectives & Adverbs 11 min read Facile

Adjectifs: -ed vs. -ing (Sentiment vs. Cause)

Use -ed for your feelings, -ing for the cause – it's all about perspective!
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use -ed for how you feel and -ing for the thing or person that makes you feel that way.

  • Use -ed to describe an internal emotion or state, like 'I am bored' (max 20 words).
  • Use -ing to describe the characteristic of a thing, like 'The movie is boring'.
  • People can be both: 'He is bored' (feeling) vs 'He is boring' (personality).
👤 + -ed (Feeling) ↔️ 💡/🎬 + -ing (Cause)

Overview

### Overview
Au niveau B2, ta capacité à exprimer les nuances de l'expérience humaine devient primordiale. L'un des piliers de cette précision réside dans l'utilisation correcte des adjectifs participiaux se terminant en -ed et -ing. Ces adjectifs, dérivés de verbes, ne sont pas interchangeables.
Ils décrivent les deux faces d'une même pièce émotionnelle : le sentiment interne qu'une personne ressent (-ed) et la caractéristique externe de la chose, de la personne ou de la situation qui provoque ce sentiment (-ing).
Maitriser cette distinction est une étape cruciale vers un anglais sophistiqué. C'est la différence entre décrire un état passager et attribuer une qualité permanente ou intrinsèque. Prenons l'exemple classique : I am bored versus I am boring.
Le premier décrit ton état interne temporaire (tu es celui qui subit l'ennui). Le second décrit ta personnalité (tu es la source d'ennui pour les autres), ce qui n'est probablement pas ce que tu voulais dire lors d'un dîner entre amis ! Comprendre cette dynamique entre l'agent (la cause) et le récipiendaire (celui qui ressent) est essentiel pour une communication claire, précise et socialement adaptée.
En tant que francophone, tu as un avantage : nous avons des structures similaires (comme « fatiguant » vs « fatigué »), mais l'anglais applique cette règle de manière beaucoup plus systématique à toute une classe de verbes. Voyons ensemble comment affiner ton oreille et ton expression pour ne plus jamais commettre d'impair.
### How This Grammar Works
La distinction entre -ed et -ing prend racine dans le concept grammatical de la voix. Ces adjectifs sont formés à partir de participes qui conservent le sens actif ou passif du verbe d'origine. Cette règle s'applique principalement à une catégorie de verbes que l'on appelle les psychological verbs (verbes psychologiques), qui décrivent un effet émotionnel ou cognitif (to bore, to interest, to confuse, to excite).
  • Le participe présent (-ing) porte un sens actif et causatif. Le nom qu'il modifie est l'agent ou la source qui produit activement une émotion. Il exerce l'action du verbe sur quelque chose ou quelqu'un d'autre. Il répond à la question : « Quelle est la qualité de la chose/personne qui provoque ce sentiment ? »
  • Imagine une phrase active : The story amuses the children. (L'histoire amuse les enfants). L'histoire est l'agent. Par conséquent, c'est une amusing story.
  • The long meeting tires the employees. (La longue réunion fatigue les employés). La réunion est la cause. C'est donc une tiring meeting.
  • Le participe passé (-ed) porte un sens passif et réceptif. Le nom qu'il modifie (presque toujours une personne ou un animal) est le récipiendaire ou l'expérienceur de l'émotion. L'action du verbe a été exercée *sur* lui. Il répond à la question : « Comment cette personne se sent-elle ? »
  • Imagine une phrase à la voix passive : The children are amused by the story. (Les enfants sont amusés par l'histoire). Les enfants reçoivent l'émotion. Ils sont donc amused.
  • The employees are tired by the long meeting. (Les employés sont fatigués par la réunion). Ils ressentent la fatigue. Ils sont donc tired.
Ce cadre actif/passif est le moteur de la règle. Pour décider quelle forme utiliser, identifie si le nom que tu décris est la cause du sentiment (-ing) ou celui qui reçoit le sentiment (-ed). En français, nous utilisons souvent des adjectifs différents ou des tournures de phrases pour exprimer cela, ce qui peut parfois nous induire en erreur en anglais.
### Formation Pattern
La formation de ces adjectifs suit les règles d'orthographe standard de l'anglais lors de l'ajout des suffixes -ing ou -ed à la base verbale du verbe psychologique.
La formule de base :
  • Pour décrire la cause/source (actif) : Verbe + -ing
  • Pour décrire le sentiment ressenti (passif) : Verbe + -ed
Règles d'orthographe à respecter :
  • La plupart des verbes : On ajoute simplement le suffixe. Exemple : shock → shocking / shocked.
  • Verbes se terminant par un -e muet : On supprime le -e final avant d'ajouter -ing ou -d. Exemple : amuse → amusing / amused ; bore → boring / bored.
  • Verbes avec une structure CVC (Consonne-Voyelle-Consonne) accentuée : On double la consonne finale. Exemple : stun → stunning / stunned ; grip → gripping / gripped.
  • Verbes se terminant en -y : On garde le -y pour le -ing mais on le transforme en -i pour le -ed. Exemple : worry → worrying / worried ; satisfy → satisfying / satisfied.
Tableau comparatif des paires d'adjectifs courantes :
| Verb | Adjectif en -ing (La Cause) | Adjectif en -ed (Le Ressenti) | Exemple de contraste |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amaze | amazing | amazed | An amazing performance leaves the audience amazed. |
| Annoy | annoying | annoyed | An annoying noise makes people feel annoyed. |
| Bore | boring | bored | A boring film results in a bored viewer. |
| Confuse | confusing | confused | The confusing map left us completely confused. |
| Depress | depressing | depressed | Depressing news can make someone feel depressed. |
| Disappoint | disappointing | disappointed | The disappointing result made the team disappointed. |
| Excite | exciting | excited | An exciting discovery makes scientists excited. |
| Exhaust | exhausting | exhausted | An exhausting climb leaves a hiker exhausted. |
| Fascinate | fascinating | fascinated | A fascinating lecture captivates a fascinated student. |
| Frustrate | frustrating | frustrated | A frustrating problem makes the user frustrated. |
| Inspire | inspiring | inspired | An inspiring leader creates an inspired following. |
| Overwhelm | overwhelming | overwhelmed | An overwhelming workload makes a person overwhelmed. |
| Relax | relaxing | relaxed | A relaxing vacation helps one feel relaxed. |
| Satisfy | satisfying | satisfied | A satisfying conclusion leads to a satisfied reader. |
| Shock | shocking | shocked | The shocking twist left viewers shocked. |
| Terrify | terrifying | terrified | A terrifying storm makes the animals terrified. |
| Thrill | thrilling | thrilled | A thrilling ride leaves passengers thrilled. |
Préfixes négatifs : Beaucoup de ces adjectifs peuvent être rendus négatifs, généralement avec un- ou dis-. Le choix dépend du mot lui-même. Par exemple : unimpressed, uninspired, unconvinced, mais dissatisfied.
### When To Use It
Le choix entre -ed et -ing dépend entièrement du rôle du nom que tu décris dans l'événement émotionnel. Est-ce que ce nom est la cause ou celui qui subit ?
#### Utiliser les adjectifs en -ed pour décrire l'Expérienceur
Utilise le participe passé (-ed) quand le nom (ou le pronom) est celui qui ressent l'émotion. Comme les sentiments sont des états internes, le sujet est presque toujours une personne ou, parfois, un animal. Un objet inanimé comme une chaise ou un rapport financier ne peut pas se sentir interested ou disappointed.
  • Le nom est le récipiendaire passif du sentiment.
  • Il décrit un état émotionnel ou psychologique interne.
  • Il répond à la question : « Comment se sentent-ils ? »
Exemples :
  • The employees were annoyed by the constant system errors. (Décrit le sentiment d'agacement des employés).
  • I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and need to take a break. (Décrit mon état interne de submersion).
  • She looked so relieved when she saw her exam results. (Décrit l'émotion de soulagement qu'elle a vécue).
#### Utiliser les adjectifs en -ing pour décrire la Cause
Utilise le participe présent (-ing) quand le nom est la source de l'émotion. Cette forme décrit une qualité qui produit un sentiment chez les autres. Comme presque tout (une personne, un objet, une idée, une situation) peut être une cause, les adjectifs en -ing peuvent modifier des noms animés et inanimés.
  • Le nom est l'agent actif ou la source du sentiment.
  • Il décrit une caractéristique causative externe.
  • Il répond à la question : « Comment est-ce ? » ou « Quelle est sa nature ? »
Exemples :
  • The constant system errors are very annoying. (Les erreurs causent l'agacement).
  • This amount of work is overwhelming. (Le travail est la source du sentiment de submersion).
  • It was a relieving moment when she saw she had passed. (Le moment a provoqué le sentiment de soulagement).
#### La nuance critique : décrire des personnes
C'est ici que les francophones hésitent souvent. Les personnes peuvent être décrites avec les deux formes, mais le sens change radicalement. Quand une personne est décrite avec un adjectif en -ing, cela signifie que son caractère, son comportement ou son apparence provoque un sentiment chez les autres.
Quand elle est décrite avec un adjectif en -ed, elle ressent elle-même ce sentiment.
  • He is an interesting person. (Il a une qualité qui rend les autres intéressés. C'est un compliment sur sa personnalité).
  • He is interested in history. (Il ressent lui-même de l'intérêt pour l'histoire. Cela décrit sa passion).
  • My boss is very demanding. (Sa personnalité et ses attentes font que les autres se sentent sous pression).
  • My boss feels pressured by the new targets. (Elle ressent elle-même de la pression venant d'une source externe).
### Common Mistakes
Éviter ces pièges classiques est le signe d'une maîtrise avancée. Ces erreurs proviennent généralement d'une mauvaise identification de la cause par rapport au ressenti, souvent influencée par la structure du français.
1. L'inversion des rôles : confondre la cause et le sentiment
C'est l'erreur la plus fréquente et la plus lourde de conséquences, car elle peut rendre une phrase illogique ou involontairement offensante.
  • Incorrect : I was so exciting to receive the award.
  • *Pourquoi c'est faux :* En disant cela, tu affirmes que tu étais une source d'excitation pour les autres au moment où tu as reçu le prix. Le sens voulu est que tu *ressentais* de l'excitation.
  • Correct : I was so excited to receive the award.
  • Incorrect : The lecture was very bored.
  • *Pourquoi c'est faux :* Une conférence est un événement inanimé et ne peut pas ressentir d'ennui. Elle peut, en revanche, le provoquer.
  • Correct : The lecture was very boring.
2. Le piège du « Ennuyant » vs « Ennuyeux »
En français, nous utilisons parfois « ennuyant » et « ennuyeux » de manière interchangeable, ou nous utilisons le verbe « s'ennuyer ». En anglais, la distinction est stricte.
  • I am boring = Je suis une personne assommante.
  • I am bored = Je m'ennuie.
Ne confonds pas les deux, surtout lors d'un entretien d'embauche ou d'un premier rendez-vous !
3. Oublier le verbe de liaison (be/feel/seem)
Lorsqu'il est utilisé comme adjectif pour décrire un état, la forme en -ed nécessite un verbe de liaison.
  • Incorrect : I frustrated by the slow response time.
  • *Pourquoi c'est faux :* Ici, frustrated est traité comme un verbe au passé simple, comme dans The delay frustrated me. Pour décrire ton état, tu as besoin de am, feel ou seem.
  • Correct : I am frustrated by the slow response time.
4. Confondre adjectifs et adverbes
Les apprenants utilisent parfois un adverbe là où un adjectif est nécessaire pour décrire le nom.
  • Incorrect : The announcement was surprisingly.
  • *Pourquoi c'est faux :* Surprisingly est un adverbe ; il doit modifier un verbe ou un adjectif. Pour décrire l'annonce elle-même, il faut l'adjectif surprising.
  • Correct : The announcement was surprising.
### Contrast With Similar Patterns
Il est important de ne pas généraliser cette règle à tous les adjectifs. Ce pattern -ed / -ing est spécifique aux adjectifs dérivés de verbes de sentiment.
| Structure | Fonction | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| Participial Adjective | Décrit une caractéristique ou un sentiment. | A tiring day. / A tired worker. |
| Continuous Verb Tense | Décrit une action en cours. | He is tiring himself out by running. |
| Passive Voice | Décrit une action subie par le sujet. | The worker was tired by the long hours. |
Comparaison avec d'autres types d'adjectifs :
Certains adjectifs n'ont pas de paire. Par exemple, scared (effrayé) a pour équivalent de cause scary (effrayant), et non scaring (bien que scaring existe comme participe présent du verbe to scare, il est rarement utilisé comme adjectif pur).
De même, ne confonds pas ce pattern avec les adjectifs de mouvement. A running man décrit un homme qui court (action), pas un homme qui provoque la course chez les autres.
### Quick FAQ
1. Est-ce qu'une chose inanimée peut se terminer en -ed ?
Presque jamais dans ce contexte. Comme les objets n'ont pas de sentiments, ils ne peuvent pas être interested, bored ou amazed. Cependant, un objet peut être damaged (endommagé) ou fixed (réparé), mais ce sont des adjectifs de condition physique, pas d'émotion.
2. Puis-je dire The news is interested ?
Non. Les nouvelles ne ressentent pas d'intérêt. Tu dois dire The news is interesting (Les nouvelles sont intéressantes) ou I am interested in the news (Je suis intéressé par les nouvelles).
3. Pourquoi dit-on scary au lieu de scaring ?
C'est une exception courante. Bien que to scare soit le verbe, l'adjectif habituel pour la cause est scary. On dira donc The movie was scary et I was scared. L'utilisation de frightening / frightened suit quant à elle la règle standard.
4. Comment savoir si je dois utiliser un- ou dis- pour le négatif ?
Il n'y a pas de règle absolue, c'est une question d'usage et de mémorisation. On dit uninterested (indifférent) mais disinterested (impartial). On dit dissatisfied (mécontent) mais unsatisfied (pas assez rempli).
En cas de doute, vérifie dans un dictionnaire, car le sens peut varier légèrement.

Verb to Adjective Transformation

Base Verb -ed Adjective (Feeling) -ing Adjective (Cause)
Amaze
Amazed
Amazing
Bore
Bored
Boring
Confuse
Confused
Confusing
Disappoint
Disappointed
Disappointing
Excite
Excited
Exciting
Fascinate
Fascinated
Fascinating
Interest
Interested
Interesting
Relax
Relaxed
Relaxing
Satisfy
Satisfied
Satisfying
Tire
Tired
Tiring

Meanings

Participial adjectives are adjectives derived from verbs that describe either the person experiencing an emotion or the thing causing it.

1

Internal States (-ed)

Describes the person who is experiencing the emotion or physical state.

“She felt exhausted after the marathon.”

“Are you worried about the exam?”

2

External Characteristics (-ing)

Describes the thing, situation, or person that triggers the emotion.

“The marathon was exhausting.”

“The exam results were worrying.”

3

Personality Traits

Using -ing to describe a person's permanent character rather than a temporary feeling.

“He is a very interesting professor.”

“Don't be so annoying!”

Reference Table

Reference table for Adjectifs: -ed vs. -ing (Sentiment vs. Cause)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative (Feeling)
Subject + be + Adjective-ed
I am interested.
Affirmative (Cause)
Subject + be + Adjective-ing
The book is interesting.
Negative (Feeling)
Subject + be + not + Adjective-ed
She wasn't shocked.
Negative (Cause)
Subject + be + not + Adjective-ing
The news wasn't shocking.
Question (Feeling)
Be + Subject + Adjective-ed?
Are you tired?
Question (Cause)
Be + Subject + Adjective-ing?
Is the work tiring?
Short Answer
Yes, I am. / No, it isn't.
Yes, I'm bored.
With Nouns
Adjective + Noun
An exciting movie / A bored student

Spectre de formalité

Formel
I was utterly exhausted by the proceedings.

I was utterly exhausted by the proceedings. (Work/Energy levels)

Neutre
I was very tired after the meeting.

I was very tired after the meeting. (Work/Energy levels)

Informel
I was totally wiped out.

I was totally wiped out. (Work/Energy levels)

Argot
I'm beat / I'm knackered.

I'm beat / I'm knackered. (Work/Energy levels)

The Emotion Flow

Participial Adjectives

The Source (-ing)

  • The Movie is boring

The Receiver (-ed)

  • The Person is bored

Feeling vs. Characteristic

Internal (-ed)
I am exhausted I have no energy
External (-ing)
The run was exhausting The run took my energy

Which suffix should I use?

1

Are you describing a feeling?

YES
Use -ed (e.g., I am excited)
NO
Go to next step
2

Are you describing a thing or a personality?

YES
Use -ing (e.g., The trip was exciting)
NO
Check if it's a different grammar rule

Common Pairs

😊

Positive

  • • Excited/Exciting
  • • Relaxed/Relaxing
  • • Interested/Interesting
😩

Negative

  • • Tired/Tiring
  • • Annoyed/Annoying
  • • Disappointed/Disappointing
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Exemples par niveau

1

I am tired.

2

The book is boring.

3

Are you happy or bored?

4

This game is exciting!

1

She was surprised by the gift.

2

The news was very surprising.

3

I don't like this movie; it's frightening.

4

The frightened cat hid under the bed.

1

I'm interested in learning more about history.

2

History is an interesting subject.

3

We were exhausted after the long flight.

4

The 12-hour flight was exhausting.

1

The results of the study were quite disappointing.

2

The disappointed fans left the stadium early.

3

It's an annoying habit, but he's a good person.

4

I get so annoyed when people talk during movies.

1

The sheer scale of the project was overwhelming.

2

I felt overwhelmed by the amount of work.

3

His performance was nothing short of captivating.

4

The audience sat captivated throughout the play.

1

The witness gave a harrowing account of the accident.

2

She was visibly harrowed by the experience.

3

The intricate plot was incredibly involving.

4

The reader becomes deeply involved in the characters' lives.

Facile à confondre

Adjectives: -ed vs. -ing (Feeling vs. Cause) vs Present Continuous vs. Adjectives

Learners think 'I am boring' is always the verb 'to bore'.

Adjectives: -ed vs. -ing (Feeling vs. Cause) vs Passive Voice vs. Adjectives

Both use the past participle (-ed).

Adjectives: -ed vs. -ing (Feeling vs. Cause) vs Base Adjectives vs. Participles

Some words like 'scary' exist alongside 'scaring'.

Erreurs courantes

✗

I am very boring.

✓

I am very bored.

You are describing your feeling, not your personality.
✗

The movie is bored.

✓

The movie is boring.

Movies don't have feelings.
✗

I am exciting!

✓

I am excited!

Unless you are a thrill-seeker telling others you are fun, use -ed.
✗

It was a tired day.

✓

It was a tiring day.

The day causes the tiredness.
✗

Are you interesting in music?

✓

Are you interested in music?

Asking about a state of interest.
✗

The news was shocked.

✓

The news was shocking.

News is the source of the shock.
✗

I am confusing.

✓

I am confused.

You don't understand; you aren't the one making things difficult.
✗

I was disappointing with the service.

✓

I was disappointed with the service.

You are the receiver of the disappointment.
✗

The lesson was so bored.

✓

The lesson was so boring.

Lessons cannot feel boredom.
✗

He is an interested person.

✓

He is an interesting person.

You likely mean he is fascinating to talk to.
✗

The situation was quite embarrassed.

✓

The situation was quite embarrassing.

Situations cause embarrassment.
✗

I felt very satisfying after the meal.

✓

I felt very satisfied after the meal.

The meal was satisfying; you are satisfied.
✗

The results were amazed.

✓

The results were amazing.

Results cause amazement.

Structures de phrases

I am ___ (-ed) because the ___ is ___ (-ing).

The most ___ (-ing) thing about my job is ___.

I was ___ (-ed) to hear that the situation was so ___ (-ing).

Never have I been so ___ (-ed) by such a ___ (-ing) performance.

Real World Usage

Movie Reviews constant

The plot was confusing, but the acting was amazing.

Job Interviews very common

I am very interested in your company's mission.

Customer Service common

I am very disappointed with the quality of this product.

Social Media constant

This sunset is so inspiring! #blessed

Medical/Health common

I've been feeling very tired and exhausted lately.

Academic Writing occasional

The findings were surprising, given the initial hypothesis.

Travel/Tourism very common

The view from the top was breathtaking and exciting.

Dating common

I had a really interesting time tonight; you're a fascinating person.

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💡

The Person Test

If you can say 'I feel...', use the -ed form. You can't 'feel' interesting (usually), but you can 'feel' interested.
⚠️

The 'I am boring' Trap

Never say 'I am boring' in a social situation unless you are making a joke about how dull you are. Always use 'I am bored'.
🎯

Objects are -ing

Objects (books, movies, weather) almost never end in -ed because they don't have feelings. If it's an object, choose -ing.
💬

Softening Feedback

Use 'I was a bit disappointed' instead of 'The work was disappointing' to sound more polite and less aggressive in professional settings.

Smart Tips

Default to -ed. It is much more common to talk about your feelings than to describe yourself as a 'source' of something.

I am so exciting to see you! → I am so excited to see you!

Always use -ing. These things don't have brains, so they can't have -ed feelings.

The trip was so tired. → The trip was so tiring.

Replace 'good' or 'bad' with specific participial adjectives like 'captivating', 'harrowing', or 'stunning'.

The movie was good. → The movie was captivating.

Remember the preposition 'in'. It's almost always 'interested in [something]'.

I am interested for art. → I am interested in art.

Prononciation

/rɪˈlækst/, /ˈtaɪərd/, /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/

-ed endings

The -ed can be pronounced as /t/, /d/, or /ɪd/. For example, 'relaxed' ends in /t/, 'tired' in /d/, and 'excited' in /ɪd/.

/ˈbɔːrɪŋ/

-ing nasal

The 'g' in -ing is usually not a hard 'g'. It's a soft nasal sound /ŋ/.

Emphasis on the adjective

That was SO boring! (Arrow up on SO)

Conveys strong emotion or exaggeration.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

ED is for the End-user of the feeling. ING is for the Initiator of the feeling.

Association visuelle

Imagine a battery. The -ING is the charger (the thing giving the energy/feeling), and the -ED is the phone (the thing receiving the energy/feeling).

Rhyme

If it's how you feel, -ED is the deal. If it's what you see, -ING it must be!

Story

Ed was a very tired man. He had a very tiring job at the 'Ing' factory. Every day, the 'Ing' machines made an annoying sound, which made Ed feel very annoyed. By the end of the day, Ed was exhausted because the work was exhausting.

Word Web

BoredBoringInterestedInterestingExcitedExcitingTiredTiring

Défi

Look around the room. Find one thing that is 'interesting' and explain why you are 'interested' in it out loud.

Notes culturelles

Brits often use 'knackered' (slang for exhausted) or 'gutted' (slang for very disappointed).

Americans frequently use 'bummed' or 'bummed out' for disappointed.

In international business, using 'challenging' instead of 'difficult' or 'annoying' is seen as more positive and professional.

These forms derive from the Old English present participle (-ende) and past participle (-ed/-en).

Amorces de conversation

“

What is the most exciting place you have ever visited?

“

Tell me about a time you were very embarrassed.

“

What kind of books do you find most interesting?

“

Have you ever been disappointed by a movie you expected to be great?

Sujets d'écriture

Describe your last vacation. Use at least five -ed and five -ing adjectives.
Write a review of a recent book or movie. Explain why it was interesting/boring and how it made you feel.
Discuss a challenging moment in your career. How did you feel, and why was the situation so demanding?
Compare two hobbies. Which is more relaxing? Which is more frustrating? Why?

Erreurs courantes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct adjective form. Choix multiple

I was so ___ when I heard the news.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: surprised
You are describing your internal feeling, so use -ed.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'bore'.

This lesson is so ___; I'm almost asleep.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: boring
The lesson is the cause of the feeling.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Are you interesting in going to the museum?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: interesting
It should be 'interested' because it describes a person's feeling.
Rewrite the sentence using an -ed adjective. Sentence Transformation

The marathon exhausted the runners. -> The runners were ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: exhausted
The runners are the ones feeling the exhaustion.
Match the cause to the feeling. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Scared, 2-Confused, 3-Excited
The -ing cause leads to the -ed feeling.
Select the best adjective for a job interview. Choix multiple

I am a very ___ worker and I'm always ___ to learn new things.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: motivated / excited
Both describe the speaker's internal state.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Did you see the documentary? B: Yes, it was ___. I was ___ by the photography.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fascinating / fascinated
The documentary is the cause (fascinating); the person is the receiver (fascinated).
Is this sentence grammatically correct? True False Rule

'The news was very disappointed.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
News cannot feel disappointment. It should be 'disappointing'.

Score: /8

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Choose the correct adjective form. Choix multiple

I was so ___ when I heard the news.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: surprised
You are describing your internal feeling, so use -ed.
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'bore'.

This lesson is so ___; I'm almost asleep.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: boring
The lesson is the cause of the feeling.
Find the mistake in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Are you interesting in going to the museum?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: interesting
It should be 'interested' because it describes a person's feeling.
Rewrite the sentence using an -ed adjective. Sentence Transformation

The marathon exhausted the runners. -> The runners were ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: exhausted
The runners are the ones feeling the exhaustion.
Match the cause to the feeling. Match Pairs

1. A frightening dog / 2. A confusing map / 3. An exciting trip

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Scared, 2-Confused, 3-Excited
The -ing cause leads to the -ed feeling.
Select the best adjective for a job interview. Choix multiple

I am a very ___ worker and I'm always ___ to learn new things.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: motivated / excited
Both describe the speaker's internal state.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Did you see the documentary? B: Yes, it was ___. I was ___ by the photography.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fascinating / fascinated
The documentary is the cause (fascinating); the person is the receiver (fascinated).
Is this sentence grammatically correct? True False Rule

'The news was very disappointed.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
News cannot feel disappointment. It should be 'disappointing'.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

13 exercises
Choose the correct form Texte trous

She was really ___ after the long flight.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tired
Choose the correct form Texte trous

This horror movie is genuinely ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: frightening
Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

The news about the exam results was worried.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The news about the exam results was worrying.
Find and fix the mistake Error Correction

I find his constant complaining very frustrated.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I find his constant complaining very frustrating.
Which sentence is correct? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Learning a new language is satisfying.
Which sentence is correct? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We were annoyed by the long queue.
Type the correct English sentence Traduction

Translate into English: 'Me siento avergonzado por mi error embarazoso.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["I feel embarrassed by my embarrassing mistake."]
Type the correct English sentence Traduction

Translate into English: 'Su entusiasmo fue contagioso, y pronto nos sentimos entusiasmados.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["His enthusiasm was contagious, and soon we felt enthusiastic."]
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The book was very boring.
Put the words in order Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: You are excited for the weekend.
Match each adjective with its correct usage context Match Pairs

Match the adjectives with what they describe:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Choose the correct form Texte trous

The documentary about ancient civilizations was truly ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fascinating
Which sentence is correct? Choix multiple

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Both are correct.

Score: /13

FAQ (8)

Yes! If you say `He is boring`, you are describing his personality—he makes other people feel bored. If you say `He is bored`, you are describing his current feeling.

Yes, you can use `very`, `quite`, `extremely`, or `really` with participial adjectives (e.g., `very interested`). This is a good way to tell them apart from verbs.

Some do not. For example, we use `scary` more often than `scaring`, though `scared` is common for the feeling.

Because `tired` is your feeling. `Tiring` would mean you are the one making other people sleepy!

No, `fun` is a regular adjective. We don't say `funned` or `funning` in this way.

Both are -ed adjectives, but `exhausted` is much stronger. It means `extremely tired`.

No. In English, -ing adjectives describe the source. If you want to use a verb for a feeling, you'd use the continuous tense: `I am hurting` (not a participial adjective).

It can be a verb (`This is interesting me`), but it is much more commonly used as an adjective.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

ser/estar + aburrido

English changes the adjective ending; Spanish changes the 'to be' verb.

French high

intéressant / intéressé

The logic is almost identical, making it easy for French speakers.

German high

Partizip I / Partizip II

German adjectives also require case endings (e.g., ein langweilig-er Film).

Japanese low

~te iru / specific adjectives

Japanese doesn't use a simple suffix change on a single root word.

Arabic moderate

Ism al-Fa'il / Ism al-Maful

The words are formed through complex root patterns rather than simple suffixes.

Chinese none

Modifier + Noun / Feeling verbs

No morphological change (no suffixes) in Chinese.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Intensifier avec 'so' et 'such a'

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