English Grammar: Adjectives -ed vs -ing First CAE IELTS Cambridge

Summary

In this lesson, Rob explains the difference between -ed and -ing adjectives in English. -Ed adjectives describe a person's feelings, such as 'bored' or 'excited', while -ing adjectives describe the effect that something or someone has on us, like 'boring' or 'exciting'. Rob emphasizes that -ed adjectives can only be used for people, as objects don't have feelings. Through examples, he clarifies how these adjectives are used in different contexts and offers tips for understanding their distinctions, making it easier for learners to grasp.

Takeaways

• 😀 -ed adjectives describe the feeling that a person has, not objects.
• 😀 -ing adjectives describe the effect that something or someone has on us.
• 😀 -ed adjectives are used only for people because they describe emotions or feelings.
• 😀 -ing adjectives can be used to describe both people and things, as they refer to how others affect us.
• 😀 Example: 'I'm so bored' uses 'bored' to show the speaker's feeling, not the object.
• 😀 Example: 'This movie is so boring' uses 'boring' to describe the movie’s effect on the viewer.
• 😀 It’s incorrect to say that an object like a book has feelings, e.g., 'My book is excited'.
• 😀 -ing adjectives are helpful in expressing how a person, place, or thing impacts us emotionally.
• 😀 Remember: -ed adjectives are for describing internal feelings, and -ing adjectives describe external effects.
• 😀 Learning the distinction between -ed and -ing adjectives is essential for clear and accurate English communication.

Q & A

What is the primary difference between -ed and -ing adjectives?

The main difference is that -ed adjectives describe a person's feelings, while -ing adjectives describe the effect something or someone has on the person.

Can -ed adjectives be used for objects?

No, -ed adjectives are only used to describe how a person feels. Objects do not have feelings, so we cannot use -ed adjectives for them.

What type of feeling does the adjective 'bored' describe in the sentence 'I'm so bored, there's nothing to do in this town'?

'Bored' describes the speaker's personal feeling of frustration or tiredness due to the lack of activities.

What do -ing adjectives describe?

-ing adjectives describe the effect that someone or something has on a person, not the person's own feelings.

Give an example of an -ing adjective used to describe a movie.

In the sentence 'This movie is so boring', 'boring' is the -ing adjective describing the effect the movie has on the person watching it.

Can -ing adjectives be used to describe people?

Yes, -ing adjectives can describe people when focusing on the effect they have on others. For example, 'The teacher is annoying'.

Why can't we say 'My book is excited' or 'My book is bored'?

Because books or other objects don't have feelings, so we cannot use -ed adjectives to describe them.

What are the three key points to remember about -ed and -ing adjectives?

1. -ed adjectives describe feelings, 2. -ing adjectives describe the effect of someone or something, and 3. -ed adjectives can only describe people, not things.

What is the role of the speaker in the lesson?

The speaker is teaching viewers the difference between -ed and -ing adjectives and explaining how they are used in English.

How can viewers engage with the content after the lesson?

Viewers are encouraged to write example sentences in the comments section and subscribe for more lessons.