English Time - The use of adjectives ended with -ing & -ed

Like other adjectives, ‘-ing’ and ‘-ed’ adjectives can be:

• used in front of a noun

They still show amazing loyalty to their parents.

This is the most terrifying tale ever written.

I was thanked by the satisfied customer.

The worried authorities cancelled the match.

• used after link verbs / tobe

It’s amazing what they can do.

The present situation is terrifying.

He felt satisfied with all the work he had done.

My husband was worried.

• modified by adverbials such as ‘quite‘, ‘really‘, and ‘very’

The film was quite boring.

There is nothing very surprising in this.

She was quite astonished at his behaviour.

He was a very disappointed young man.

• used in the comparative and superlative

His argument was more convincing than mine.

He became even more depressed after she died.

This is one of the most boring books I’ve ever read.

She was the most interested in going to the cinema.

A small number of ‘-ed‘ adjectives are normally only used after link verbs such as ‘be‘, ‘become‘, or ‘feel‘. They are related to transitive verbs, and are often followed by a prepositional phrase, a ‘to‘-infinitive clause, or a ‘that‘-clause.

convinced delighted finished interested involved pleased prepared scared thrilled tired touched worried