Have you ever wondered why and how we use adjectives that are verb 1st form (Present participle) and verb 3rd form (Past Participle), Confused, right? I know it is confusing, however, here is all that you wanted to know about it…
Table of Contents
Present and Past Participles as Adjectives
Present Participles:
Present participles (e.g., challenging, interesting) describe an ongoing action or state. They are used to talk about the effect something has.
Past Participles:
Past participles (e.g., challenged, interested) describe a state resulting from an action. They are used to describe how someone feels as a result of something.
Explanation, Pronunciation, Prepositions, Collocations, and Usage:
1. Boring [ˈbɔːrɪŋ] – Bored [bɔːrd]
Meaning:
– Boring: Not interesting; tedious.
– Bored: Feeling weary and impatient because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one’s current activity.
Common Prepositions:
– Bored With, of, by
Collocations:
– Boring: Boring lecture, boring movie, boring task
– Bored: Bored with, bored by, bored stiff
Examples:
1. Boring: The lecture was so boring that many students fell asleep.
2. Bored: I was bored with the repetitive tasks at work.
3. Boring: She found the novel boring after the first few chapters.
4. Bored: He looked bored by the long meeting.
2. Interesting [ˈɪntrəstɪŋ] – Interested [ˈɪntrəstɪd]
Meaning:
– Interesting: Arousing curiosity or interest; holding or catching the attention.
– Interested: Showing curiosity or concern about something or someone; engaged.
Common Prepositions:
– Interested: In, to, by
Collocations:
– Interesting: Interesting book, interesting idea, interesting person
– Interested: Interested in, interested to hear, interested by
Examples:
1. Interesting: The documentary about space was very interesting.
2. Interested: She is interested in learning more about astronomy.
3. Interesting: I found his proposal interesting and worth exploring.
4. Interested: They were interested to hear about our travel experiences.
3. Exciting [ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ] – Excited [ɪkˈsaɪtɪd]
Meaning:
– Exciting: Causing great enthusiasm and eagerness.
– Excited: Very enthusiastic and eager.
Common Prepositions:
– Excited: About, for, to
Collocations:
– Exciting: Exciting adventure, exciting news, exciting event
– Excited: Excited about, excited for, excited to see
Examples:
1. Exciting: The new amusement park ride is very exciting.
2. Excited: I’m excited about our upcoming vacation.
3. Exciting: The movie’s plot was incredibly exciting.
4. Excited: She’s excited to start her new job next week.
4. Confusing [kənˈfjuːzɪŋ] – Confused [kənˈfjuːzd]
Meaning:
– Confusing: Difficult to understand; unclear.
– Confused: Unable to think clearly; bewildered.
Common Prepositions:
– Confused: About, by
Collocations:
– Confusing: Confusing instructions, confusing situations, confusing message
– Confused: Confused about, confused by, looked confused
Examples:
1. Confusing: The directions were so confusing that we got lost.
2. Confused: I was confused by the sudden change in plans.
3. Confusing: The legal documents were confusing to everyone involved.
4. Confused: She looked confused when I mentioned the new policy.
5. Annoying [əˈnɔɪɪŋ] – Annoyed [əˈnɔɪd]
Meaning:
– Annoying: Causing irritation or annoyance.
– Annoyed: Slightly angry; irritated.
Common Prepositions:
– Annoyed: With, at, by
Collocations:
– Annoying: Annoying habit, annoying noise, annoying person
– Annoyed: Annoyed with, annoyed at, annoyed by
Examples:
1. Annoying: His constant humming was very annoying.
2. Annoyed: She was annoyed with her brother for borrowing her car without asking.
3. Annoying: The buzzing sound was incredibly annoying.
4. Annoyed: He was annoyed at the delay in the project.
6. Frustrating [ˈfrʌstreɪtɪŋ] – Frustrated [ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd]
Meaning:
– Frustrating: Causing annoyance or upset because of an inability to change or achieve something.
– Frustrated: Feeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something.
Common Prepositions:
– Frustrated: With, at, by
Collocations:
– Frustrating: Frustrating experience, frustrating problem, frustrating delay
– Frustrated: Frustrated with, frustrated at, frustrated by
Examples:
1. Frustrating: The long wait times were very frustrating for the customers.
2. Frustrated: She felt frustrated with her lack of progress.
3. Frustrating: Dealing with the malfunctioning equipment was frustrating.
4. Frustrated: He was frustrated by the slow response from customer service.
7. Satisfying [ˈsætɪsfaɪɪŋ] – Satisfied [ˈsætɪsfaɪd]
Meaning:
– Satisfying: Giving fulfillment or the pleasure associated with this.
– Satisfied: Contented; pleased.
Common Prepositions:
– Satisfied: With, by
Collocations:
– Satisfying: Satisfying meal, satisfying work, satisfying result
– Satisfied: Satisfied with, satisfied by, completely satisfied
Examples:
1. Satisfying: Cooking a delicious meal for my family is very satisfying.
2. Satisfied: She was satisfied with the outcome of the negotiations.
3. Satisfying: Completing the project on time was satisfying for everyone involved.
4. Satisfied: He felt satisfied by the explanation given.
8. Embarrassing [ɪmˈbærəsɪŋ] – Embarrassed [ɪmˈbærəst]
Meaning:
– Embarrassing: Causing a feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness.
– Embarrassed: Feeling or showing embarrassment.
Common Prepositions:
– Embarrassed: About, by, for
Collocations:
– Embarrassing: Embarrassing moment, embarrassing situation, embarrassing mistake
– Embarrassed: Embarrassed about, embarrassed by, deeply embarrassed
Examples:
1. Embarrassing: Tripping in front of the crowd was very embarrassing.
2. Embarrassed: She felt embarrassed by her slip of the tongue.
3. Embarrassing: His attempt to sing was embarrassing to watch.
4. Embarrassed: He was embarrassed for forgetting her birthday.
9. Surprising [səˈpraɪzɪŋ] – Surprised [səˈpraɪzd]
Meaning:
– Surprising: Causing surprise; unexpected.
– Surprised: Feeling or showing surprise.
Common Prepositions:
– Surprised: At, by, with
Collocations:
– Surprising: Surprising news, surprising result, surprising turn of events
– Surprised: Surprised at, surprised by, pleasantly surprised
Examples:
1. Surprising: The results of the experiment were surprising.
2. Surprised: I was surprised by how quickly he finished the task.
3. Surprising: Her sudden arrival was surprising to everyone.
4. Surprised: They were pleasantly surprised with the gift.
10. Astonishing [əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ] – Astonished [əˈstɒnɪʃt]
Meaning:
– Astonishing: Extremely surprising or impressive; amazing.
– Astonished: Greatly surprised or impressed; amazed.
Common Prepositions:
– Astonished: At, by
Collocations:
– Astonishing: Astonishing achievement, astonishing performance, astonishing discovery
– Astonished: Astonished at, astonished by, truly astonished
Examples:
1. Astonishing: His recovery from the illness was astonishing.
2. Astonished: We were astonished at the level of detail in the report.
3. Astonishing: The view from the top of the mountain was astonishing.
4. Astonished: She was astonished by his generosity.
11. Amusing [əˈmjuːzɪŋ] – Amused [əˈmjuːzd]
Meaning:
– Amusing: Causing laughter or providing entertainment.
– Amused: Finding something funny or entertaining.
Common Prepositions:
– Amused: By, at, with
Collocations:
– Amusing: Amusing story, amusing anecdote, amusing incident
– Amused: Amused by, amused at, mildly amused
Examples:
1. Amusing: The comedian’s jokes were very amusing.
2. Amused: I was amused by his witty remarks.
3. Amusing: The children found the puppet show amusing.
4. Amused: She was amused at the antics of the kittens.
12. Shocking [ˈʃɒkɪŋ] – Shocked [ʃɒkt]
Meaning:
– Shocking: Causing intense surprise, disgust, horror, etc.
– Shocked: Feeling surprised and upset.
Common Prepositions:
– Shocked: At, by
Collocations:
– Shocking: Shocking news, shocking behavior, shocking revelation
– Shocked: Shocked at, shocked by, visibly shocked
Examples:
1. Shocking: The documentary revealed shocking details about the incident.
2. Shocked: She was shocked by the news of his sudden death.
3. Shocking: His rude comments were shocking to everyone present.
4. Shocked: They were shocked at the poor conditions of the facility.
13. Disappointing [ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪŋ] – Disappointed [ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd]
Meaning:
– Disappointing: Failing to fulfill expectations or wishes.
– Disappointed: Sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one’s hopes or expectations.
Common Prepositions:
– Disappointed: In, with, by
Collocations:
– Disappointing: Disappointing result, disappointing performance, disappointing news
– Disappointed: Disappointed in, disappointed with, deeply disappointed
Examples:
1. Disappointing: The team’s performance was disappointing.
2. Disappointed: He was disappointed in his son’s behavior.
3. Disappointing: The movie’s ending was quite disappointing.
4. Disappointed: She was disappointed with the service at the restaurant.
14. Fascinating [ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ] – Fascinated [ˈfæsɪneɪtɪd]
Meaning:
– Fascinating: Extremely interesting.
– Fascinated: Strongly attracted and interested.
Common Prepositions:
– Fascinated: By, with
Collocations:
– Fascinating: Fascinating story, fascinating subject, fascinating person
– Fascinated: Fascinated by, fascinated with, absolutely fascinated
Examples:
1. Fascinating: The documentary on wildlife was fascinating.
2. Fascinated: He is fascinated by ancient history.
3. Fascinating: Her life story is truly fascinating.
4. Fascinated: They were fascinated with the magician’s tricks.
15. Frightening [ˈfraɪtnɪŋ] – Frightened [ˈfraɪtnd]
Meaning:
– Frightening: Making someone afraid or anxious; terrifying.
– Frightened: Afraid or anxious.
Common Prepositions:
– Frightened: Of, by
Collocations:
– Frightening: Frightening experience, frightening situation, frightening movie
– Frightened: Frightened of, frightened by, looked frightened
Examples:
1. Frightening: The storm was a frightening experience for the children.
2. Frightened: She was frightened of the dark.
3. Frightening: The movie was so frightening that I couldn’t watch it alone.
4. Frightened: He was frightened by the loud noise.
16. Disturbing [dɪˈstɜːrbɪŋ] – Disturbed [dɪˈstɜːrbd]
Meaning:
– Disturbing: Causing anxiety or worry.
– Disturbed: Having had the normal pattern or functioning disrupted.
Common Prepositions:
– Disturbed: By, about
Collocations:
– Disturbing: Disturbing news, disturbing image, disturbing trend
– Disturbed: Disturbed by, deeply disturbed
Examples:
1. Disturbing: The news report was disturbing to watch.
2. Disturbed: She was deeply disturbed by the events.
3. Disturbing: The painting had a disturbing quality to it.
4. Disturbed: He felt disturbed by the lack of progress.
17. Convincing [kənˈvɪnsɪŋ] – Convinced [kənˈvɪnst]
Meaning:
– Convincing: Capable of causing someone to believe that something is true or real.
– Convinced: Completely certain about something.
Common Prepositions:
– Convinced: Of, by, that
Collocations:
– Convincing: Convincing argument, convincing evidence, convincing victory
– Convinced: Convinced of, convinced by, firmly convinced
Examples:
1. Convincing: Her argument was very convincing.
2. Convinced: He was convinced of her innocence.
3. Convincing: The evidence presented was convincing enough to win the case.
4. Convinced: She is firmly convinced that he is the right person for the job.
18. Relaxing [rɪˈlæksɪŋ] – Relaxed [rɪˈlækst]
Meaning:
– Relaxing: Making you feel relaxed.
– Relaxed: Free from tension and anxiety.
Common Prepositions:
– Relaxed: About, with
Collocations:
– Relaxing: Relaxing atmosphere, relaxing activity, relaxing music
– Relaxed: Feel relaxed, look relaxed, relaxed about
Examples:
1. Relaxing: The spa offered a very relaxing experience.
2. Relaxed: She felt relaxed after the massage.
3. Relaxing: Listening to the ocean waves is very relaxing.
4. Relaxed: He looked relaxed sitting by the pool.
19. Comforting [ˈkʌmfərtɪŋ] – Comforted [ˈkʌmfərtɪd]
Meaning:
– Comforting: Providing comfort or consolation.
– Comforted: Feeling reassured and less worried.
Common Prepositions:
– Comforted: By, with
Collocations:
– Comforting: Comforting words, comforting thoughts, comforting presence
– Comforted: Comforted by, felt comforted
Examples:
1. Comforting: Her kind words were very comforting.
2. Comforted: He was comforted by the presence of his family.
3. Comforting: The warm soup was comforting on a cold day.
4. Comforted: She felt comforted by her friend’s support.
20. Inspiring [ɪnˈspaɪərɪŋ] – Inspired [ɪnˈspaɪərd]
Meaning:
– Inspiring: Having the effect of inspiring someone.
– Inspired: Of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse.
Common Prepositions:
– Inspired: By, to
Collocations:
– Inspiring: Inspiring speech, inspiring leader, inspiring story
– Inspired: Inspired by, inspired to, felt inspired
Examples:
1. Inspiring: The teacher gave an inspiring speech at the graduation.
2. Inspired: She was inspired by the artist’s dedication.
3. Inspiring: The movie is an inspiring story of resilience.
4. Inspired: He felt inspired to write a novel after his travels.
21. Exhausting [ɪɡˈzɔːstɪŋ] – Exhausted [ɪɡˈzɔːstɪd]
Meaning:
– Exhausting: Making one feel very tired; very tiring.
– Exhausted: Very tired.
Common Prepositions:
– Exhausted: By, from, after
Collocations:
– Exhausting: Exhausting day, exhausting work, exhausting schedule
– Exhausted: Feel exhausted, look exhausted, exhausted from
Examples:
1. Exhausting: It was an exhausting day at the office.
2. Exhausted: She felt exhausted after the marathon.
3. Exhausting: The hike was exhausting but worth it.
4. Exhausted: He looked exhausted from the long journey.
22. Pleasing [ˈpliːzɪŋ] – Pleased [pliːzd]
Meaning:
– Pleasing: Satisfying or appealing.
– Pleased: Feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction.
Common Prepositions:
– Pleased: With, about, by
Collocations:
– Pleasing: Pleasing result, pleasing sight, pleasing experience
– Pleased: Pleased with, pleased about, pleased by
Examples:
1. Pleasing: The final design was very pleasing to the client.
2. Pleased: She was pleased with the gift.
3. Pleasing: The garden was a pleasing sight in the spring.
4. Pleased: He was pleased by the positive feedback.
23. Terrifying [ˈtɛrɪfaɪɪŋ] – Terrified [ˈtɛrɪfaɪd]
Meaning:
– Terrifying: Causing great fear.
– Terrified: Very frightened.
Common Prepositions:
– Terrified: Of, by
Collocations:
– Terrifying: Terrifying experience, terrifying nightmare, terrifying ordeal
– Terrified: Terrified of, terrified by, looked terrified
Examples:
1. Terrifying: The haunted house was a terrifying experience.
2. Terrified: She is terrified of spiders.
3. Terrifying: The thunderstorm was terrifying for the little boy.
4. Terrified: He was terrified by the sudden appearance of the snake.
24. Entertaining [ˌɛntərˈteɪnɪŋ] – Entertained [ˌɛntərˈteɪnd]
Meaning:
– Entertaining: Providing amusement or enjoyment.
– Entertained: Providing someone with amusement or enjoyment.
Common Prepositions:
– Entertained: By, with
Collocations:
– Entertaining: Entertaining show, entertaining evening, entertaining performance
– Entertained: Entertained by, felt entertained, kept entertained
Examples:
1. Entertaining: The concert was very entertaining.
2. Entertained: We were entertained by the magician’s tricks.
3. Entertaining: The comedian gave an entertaining performance.
4. Entertained: She felt entertained with the variety of activities offered.
25. Challenging [ˈʧælɪndʒɪŋ] – Challenged [ˈʧælɪndʒd]
Meaning:
– Challenging: Testing one’s abilities; demanding.
– Challenged: Having difficulties or being at a disadvantage.
Common Prepositions:
– Challenged: By, with
Collocations:
– Challenging: Challenging task, challenging problem, challenging situation
– Challenged: Challenged by, feel challenged, mentally challenged
Examples:
1. Challenging: The project was very challenging and required a lot of effort.
2. Challenged: She felt challenged by the complex puzzle.
3. Challenging: The challenging hike took all day to complete.
4. Challenged: He was challenged with the new responsibilities at work.
Short Story Using All the Words
One boring afternoon, an interesting book caught Sara’s eye. It was about an exciting adventure that soon became confusing. Despite the annoying start, she pushed through the frustrating parts. By the end, she found it satisfying. The embarrassing moments of the characters led to surprising turns, leaving her astonished and amused.
Some scenes were shocking and disappointing, but the overall story was fascinating. She felt frightened at times, disturbed by the vivid imagery, yet convinced by the plot’s logic. Relaxing with a comforting cup of tea, Sara felt inspired. The exhausting read was pleasing and terrifying in equal measure. She remained entertained throughout, always eager for the next chapter.
The challenging narrative made her feel mentally challenged, but she welcomed the intellectual stimulation.
Here is another good post on the same topic, Adjectives related to Present Participle Vs Past Participle.
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