Are You Using '-ed' and '-ing' Adjectives Correctly? (e.g., I'm bored vs. I'm boring)

Imagine telling a new colleague: "At my last job, I was very boring."

audio english version

3:30

You wanted to say that you felt bored, but what your colleague heard was that you were a dull, uninteresting person. It's a small mistake with a big impact, and it’s one of the most common errors I see as an English coach.

The good news? The rule for using adjectives ending in -ed and -ing is surprisingly simple. Once you understand the core difference, you will use them correctly every time.

Let's break it down.

Spanish Version

The Golden Rule: Cause vs. Feeling

The entire concept comes down to one simple question: are you talking about the cause of a feeling, or the feeling itself?

1. Adjectives ending in -ING describe the CAUSE.An -ing adjective describes the person, thing, or situation that causes an emotion.

• A boring movie causes you to feel bored.

• A confusing explanation causes you to feel confused.

• A tiring day at work causes you to feel tired.

2. Adjectives ending in -ED describe the FEELING.An -ed adjective describes the emotion that a person (or animal) feels. It is the result or the effect.

• You feel bored because the movie is boring.

• You feel confused because the explanation is confusing.

• You feel tired because you had a tiring day.

Let's See It in Action: Side-by-Side

Comparing these adjectives directly makes the rule perfectly clear.

The CAUSE (-ing)	The FEELING (-ed)
The lesson was boring.	I was bored during the lesson.
The news was surprising.	We were surprised by the news.
His speech was inspiring.	We felt inspired after his speech.
The horror movie was frightening.	I was frightened while watching it.
Learning a new language is interesting.	I am interested in learning a new language.
The long walk was tiring.	The dog was tired after the long walk.

A Quick Warning: People Can Be "-ing" Too!

A common mistake is to think that -ed is only for people and -ing is only for things. This is not true. A person can be the cause of a feeling in someone else.

• "My boss is very interesting." (He causes others to feel interested).

• "My English teacher is not boring." (She does not cause her students to feel bored).

• "He is such a tiring person to be around." (He causes other people to feel tired).

So remember to always ask yourself: am I describing the feeling someone has, or the cause of that feeling?

Your Coaching Challenge

The best way to master this is to practice. Pick one of the pairs from the table above (like confusing/confused or surprising/surprised) and write two sentences in the comments below—one using the -ing form and one using the -ed form.

This simple rule will make your English sound much more precise and natural.