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Topic: Present and Past Participles as Adjectives |
23 July 2002 |
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If you are a regular Nanny reader, you are well aware that the present and
past participle forms of the verb can be used as adjectives modifying a noun.
Some adjectives have both forms-such as 'bored' and 'boring'. However, they have
different meanings and we get them mixed up all the time. Some of these adjectives are
Frightening
Tiring
Exciting
Interesting
Disappointing
Satisfying
Annoying
Upsetting
Terrifying
Embarrassing
Amazing
Amusing
Astonishing |
Frightened
tired
excited
interested
disappointed
satisfied
annoyed
upset
terrified
embarrassed
amazed
amused
astonished |
The present participle form (v-ing) as adjectives describes the state of something.
If something frightens you, it's frightening. On the other hand, the past participle form (v-3)
as adjectives describes feelings. Only nouns that are people or living things can be used
with these adjectives.
For example:
John is frightened by the lightening. He finds the lightening frightening.
I had a tiring day. I was very tired.
Traveling to another country can be exciting. I am excited every time I go abroad.
The seminar was not very interesting. We were not interested in the topics of the seminar.
George was disappointed with the results of his interview. The results were disappointing.
Maggie was satisfied with her new hair cut. The hairdresser did a satisfying job.
That noise is annoying. I'm annoyed with this barking dog.
Francis was upset with the news. The news was upsetting.
Being in a car accident is a terrifying experience. He is so terrified that he can't sit behind the wheel again.
It's sometimes embarrassing when you have to ask people for money. Do you easily get embarrassed?
I had never expected to get the job. I was amazed when I was offered this amazing job.
After the voice training course, she made an astonishing progress in singing. Everyone is astonished by her performance.
I was not amused with my own mistakes even though others found them amusing.
The verb form of these -ing and -ed adjectives means to make someone feel
something. For example to interest means to make someone interested. Therefore,
when you try to express yourselves in this sense, just use the verb form. Do not say
'You make me bored', but 'You are boring me'
It is better to say that "Horror movies are frightening.
" or that "I am frightened when I see a horror movies" than to say that "Horror movies make me frightened."
To frighten
To excite
To interest
To disappoint
To satisfy
To annoy
To upset
To terrify
To embarrass
To amaze
To amuse
To astonish |
= make someone frightened
= make someone excited
= make someone interested
= make someone disappointed
= make someone satisfied
= make someone annoyed
= make someone upset
= make someone terrified
= make someone embarrassed
= make someone amazed
= make someone amused
= make someone astonished |
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Exercise: Amaze, Aamazing or Amazed |
| Directions: Choose the correcrt form of the verb to complete the sentences. |
 1. Nobody told me what to do. I am so _________ (confuse). |
| 2. Do not _________ (scare) your sister with those ghost stories. |
| 3. Can you stop pacing up and down? That's very _________ (annoy). |
| 4. We were _________ (surprise) to hear that George and Marcha are getting a divorce. |
| 5. Babysitting is a _________ (tire) job. |
| 6. We were so _________ (bore) in class today. |
| 7. Linda was _________ (satify) with her new hair cut. |
| 8. He was so _________ (tire) that he couldn't keep his eyes open. |
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Answers |
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