-Ed vs. -Ing Adjectives – English Grammar Exercises for B1
You are comforting your best friend who is stressing over a job interview result. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence in your conversation.
1 “I know that waiting for the HR department to call is a very ______ experience.”
(A) worry
(B) worried
(C) worrying
(D) worrier
2 “But please stop looking at your phone every five minutes; you look extremely ______!”
(A) worry
(B) worried
(C) worrying
(D) worrier
3 “It is totally normal to feel ______ after going through a tough job interview.”
(A) stress
(B) stressed
(C) stressful
(D) stressfully
4 “The whole application process has been incredibly ______ for you, so you need a break.”
(A) stress
(B) stressed
(C) stressful
(D) stressfully
5 “The silence from the company right now is definitely ______, I agree with you.”
(A) frustrate
(B) frustrated
(C) frustrating
(D) frustration
6 “However, getting ______ about it tonight won’t make the phone ring any faster.”
(A) frustrate
(B) frustrated
(C) frustrating
(D) frustration
7 “You said the interviewer’s facial expressions were very ______ to read.”
(A) confuse
(B) confused
(C) confusing
(D) confusion
8 “Don’t be ______ if they didn’t smile much; it is just their professional attitude.”
(A) confuse
(B) confused
(C) confusing
(D) confusion
9 “Staying up all night overthinking will just make you feel more ______ tomorrow.”
(A) exhaust
(B) exhausted
(C) exhausting
(D) exhaustion
10 “Pacing around the room for two hours is an ______ habit. Please sit down!”
(A) exhaust
(B) exhausted
(C) exhausting
(D) exhaustion
11 “Try to listen to some ______ music or drink a cup of chamomile tea.”
(A) relax
(B) relaxed
(C) relaxing
(D) relaxation
12 “You need your body to be completely ______ so you can actually get some sleep.”
(A) relax
(B) relaxed
(C) relaxing
(D) relaxation
13 “The thought of not getting this job might seem ______, but you have other options.”
(A) terrify
(B) terrified
(C) terrifying
(D) terror
14 “There is absolutely no reason to be so ______ of a rejection email.”
(A) terrify
(B) terrified
(C) terrifying
(D) terror
15 “Let’s watch a comedy movie. It will be a highly ______ distraction for you.”
(A) entertain
(B) entertained
(C) entertaining
(D) entertainment
16 “I just want you to feel ______ and forget about the company for a few hours.”
(A) entertain
(B) entertained
(C) entertaining
(D) entertainment
17 “Even if the final news is ______, we will just find another great opportunity.”
(A) disappoint
(B) disappointed
(C) disappointing
(D) disappointment
18 “You are highly qualified, so they would be the ones who end up ______ if they lose you.”
(A) disappoint
(B) disappointed
(C) disappointing
(D) disappointment
19 “Think about how ______ it will be when you finally sign an employment contract!”
(A) thrill
(B) thrilled
(C) thrilling
(D) thriller
20 “I would be absolutely ______ to celebrate your new job with you. Now, go to sleep!”
(A) thrill
(B) thrilled
(C) thrilling
(D) thriller
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) worrying
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the “experience” of waiting. The waiting situation is the cause of the anxiety. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb/Noun. (B) An experience cannot feel worried. (D) Noun (a person who worries).
2 (B) worried
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes your friend’s internal emotional state (“you look extremely…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb/Noun. (C) “You look worrying” would mean your friend’s appearance is causing you to worry, which is not the intended comforting message. (D) Noun.
3 (B) stressed
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the internal psychological state of a person (“feel…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb/Noun. (C) Used to describe the job/interview, not the person experiencing it. (D) Adverb.
4 (C) stressful
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the “application process”. The process is the source of the pressure. → -FUL adjective (Note: The word ‘stress’ takes -ful instead of -ing for the cause).
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb/Noun. (B) A process cannot feel stressed. (D) Adverb.
5 (C) frustrating
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the “silence from the company”. The silence causes the frustration. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (B) Silence cannot feel frustrated. (D) Noun.
6 (B) frustrated
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the friend’s emotional reaction (“getting…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (C) “Getting frustrating” means becoming an annoyance to others. (D) Noun.
7 (C) confusing
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the interviewer’s “facial expressions”. The expressions cause confusion. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (B) Facial expressions do not have brains to feel confused. (D) Noun.
8 (B) confused
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the friend’s internal state of mind (“Don’t be…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (C) Means causing confusion to others. (D) Noun.
9 (B) exhausted
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the friend’s physical/mental state (“make you feel…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (C) Describes the action of staying up, not the feeling received. (D) Noun.
10 (C) exhausting
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the “habit” (pacing around). The habit causes the fatigue. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (B) A habit cannot feel exhausted. (D) Noun.
11 (C) relaxing
- Why it is correct (The Key): Modifies “music”. The music provides the relaxation. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (B) Music cannot feel relaxed. (D) Noun.
12 (B) relaxed
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the desired physical state of the friend’s body (“body to be completely…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (C) Describes the tea or music. (D) Noun.
13 (C) terrifying
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the “thought” of failing. The thought causes the fear. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (B) A thought cannot feel terrified. (D) Noun.
14 (B) terrified
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the friend’s internal emotion (“reason to be so…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (C) Describes the email. (D) Noun.
15 (C) entertaining
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the “distraction” (the movie). The movie provides the entertainment. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (B) A distraction cannot feel entertained. (D) Noun.
16 (B) entertained
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the friend’s receiving state (“feel…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (C) Means the friend would perform and amuse others. (D) Noun.
17 (C) disappointing
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the “news”. The news causes the disappointment. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (B) News cannot feel disappointed. (D) Noun.
18 (B) disappointed
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the emotional reaction of the company (“they would be the ones who end up…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (C) Describes the situation, not the people. (D) Noun.
19 (C) thrilling
- Why it is correct (The Key): “It” refers to the future event (signing a contract). The event causes the thrill. → -ING adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb/Noun. (B) An event cannot feel thrilled. (D) Noun (movie genre).
20 (B) thrilled
- Why it is correct (The Key): Describes the speaker’s own emotional state (“I would be absolutely…”). → -ED adjective.
- Distractor Analysis: (A) Verb. (C) Describes the event. (D) Noun.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 The “Source vs. Receiver” Rule in Emotional Support
When giving advice or comforting someone, you must distinguish between the problem itself and your friend’s reaction to it.
- -ING Adjectives describe the CAUSE (The Source): They tell us about the characteristic of a situation, process, or object that produces a feeling.
- Example: Waiting is worrying. (The act of waiting creates anxiety).
- -ED Adjectives describe the FEELING (The Receiver): They tell us how a person feels internally. They receive the emotion.
- Example: You are worried. (You receive the anxiety from the situation).
2 The Impact of Using the Wrong Suffix
If you misuse these adjectives while trying to be a supportive friend, you might accidentally insult them!
- Incorrect Comfort: “Please don’t be worrying.” (This implies: “Please don’t be a person who causes me anxiety/trouble.”)
- Correct Comfort: “Please don’t be worried.” (This means: “Please don’t feel anxious inside.”)
3 Common Pairs for Giving Advice
To effectively calm someone down in English, memorize these natural pairings:
- Worrying / Worried: The silence is worrying; but don’t be worried.
- Exhausting / Exhausted: Pacing around is exhausting; you will feel exhausted.
- Relaxing / Relaxed: The tea is relaxing; you need to be relaxed.
- Terrifying / Terrified: The rejection is terrifying; don’t be terrified.