Original verbs

Many verbs that we can use to express feelings or emotion can be turned into adjectives.

• Walking up the stairs tires me too much. I’ll take the elevator. (from tire ⇒ tired / tiring)

• You are boring me. Please stop talking. (from bore ⇒ bored / boring)

• The announcement surprised everyone. (from surprise ⇒ surprised / surprising)​

-ed adjectives

-ed adjectives are used to describe how people feel. They cannot be used with things, because things have no emotions.

• We’re tired. Can we stop running?

• I’m bored. Let’s play cards.

• I was surprised to see her.

-ing adjectives

-ing adjectives are used to talk about the things or people that produce those feelings in people.

• Running is very tiring. We don’t want to run.

• This film is very boring. Let’s play cards.

• Her visit was very surprising. We weren’t expecting her.