Adjectives: -ed, -ing, Gradable and Extreme

• In sales, we use -ed adjectives to describe how we feel after a long pitch, and -ing adjectives to describe the client or the product. We also use gradable adjectives with 'very' and extreme adjectives with 'absolutely'.
• Type
• Grammar Rule
• Example in Sales
• -ed Adjectives
• Describe feelings or emotions
• I felt exhausted after the virtual demo in Boston.
• -ing Adjectives
• Describe things causing the feeling
• That video call in Chicago was exhausting.
• Gradable
• Can use 'very', 'quite', 'somewhat'
• The feedback from New York was very good.
• Extreme
• Already mean 'extremely' + adjective; use 'absolutely'
• The sales report from Austin was absolutely brilliant.
• Remember
• Use -ed adjectives to talk about your personal emotional state during sales calls.
• Use -ing adjectives to talk about persistent clients, annoying software, or inspiring presentations.
• Never use 'very' with extreme adjectives like brilliant, furious, or thrilled.
• Use 'absolutely' or 'utterly' with extreme adjectives to emphasize your point.
• Examples
• Mark was thrilled when the buyer in Denver signed the contract.
• The new CRM software in Seattle is absolutely brilliant.
• Sarah felt completely exhausted after three hours of screen sharing.
• Finding a stalled opportunity in Miami can be very frustrating.
• Common mistakes
• The client in London was very thrilled about our price.
• The client in London was absolutely thrilled about our price.
• I am so exciting to meet the procurement team in Atlanta.
• I am so excited to meet the procurement team in Atlanta.

Complete the sentences

• Our team in Chicago was very (exhaust) ____ after the long software demo.
• Working with that stubborn buyer in Dallas is truly (exhaust) ____ .
• Brian was absolutely (thrill) ____ to close the deal in Seattle.
• The new product presentation in Boston was (inspire) ____ for the junior sales reps.
• Lisa felt quite (annoy) ____ when the prospect cancelled the video call.
• That constant calling from the vendor in New York is (irritate) ____ our office manager.

Sources: photo by olia danilevich on Pexels