Adjectives: -ed and -ing; Gradable and Extreme Adjectives

• We use -ed adjectives to describe how someone feels, and -ing adjectives to describe the thing or person that causes the feeling. Gradable adjectives like good can take very, while extreme adjectives like brilliant already mean 'very good' and use absolutely.
• Type
• Usage
• Example
• -ed adjective
• Describes a feeling
• I was bored by the film.
• -ing adjective
• Describes the cause
• The film was boring.
• Gradable
• Can use 'very'
• The plot was very bad.
• Extreme
• Can use 'absolutely'
• The twist was absolutely awful.
• Remember
• Use -ed for human emotions and feelings.
• Use -ing for situations, films, series, and things.
• Do not use 'very' with extreme adjectives; use 'absolutely'.
• Examples
• Ethan was frightened by the horror film in Chicago.
• The new streaming service in Boston has thrilling shows.
• The latest episode was very disappointing, but the ending was absolutely terrifying.
• Common mistakes
• The series was very amazing.
• The series was absolutely amazing.
• Chloe was boring during the thriller.
• Chloe was bored during the thriller.

Complete the sentences

• Nathan felt very (tire) ____ after watching the long streaming service marathon in New York.
• The romantic comedy in Seattle was quite (amuse) ____ .
• We were (shock) ____ by the sudden death of the main character in Chicago.
• That horror film from Los Angeles was (terrify) ____ .
• Lucas was completely (confuse) ____ by the complicated plot.
• The script of the drama in London was truly (fascinate) ____ .

Sources: photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels