Feeling vs source: I'm bored (feeling) because the film is boring (cause); the full interested/exciting family
I can split feelings (-ed) from their causes (-ing) across the emotion adjectives.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
The instructions were so confusing that even the engineer looked confused.
The instructions were so confusing that even the engineer looked confused.
I'm not boring, I'm bored - there's a whole grammar topic about the difference.
I'm not boring, I'm bored - there's a whole grammar topic about the difference.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Who feels vs what causes:
| -ed = the feeler | -ing = the cause |
|---|---|
| I'm bored. | The lecture is boring. |
| She's interested in art. | The exhibition is interesting. |
| We were surprised. | The result was surprising. |
| He's tired. | The trip was tiring. |
Test: people usually -ed (they feel), things usually -ing (they cause) - but a person CAN be boring: he makes others yawn. I'm boring vs I'm bored are very different confessions.
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice Exercisesbored/boring swapped
Feeler → -ed; cause → -ing
-ing impossible for people assumed
People can be boring/exciting too
The instructions were so confusing that even the engineer looked confused.
The instructions were so confusing that even the engineer looked confused.
confusing (cause) → confused (feeler) in one sentence.
I'm not boring, I'm bored - there's a whole grammar topic about the difference.
I'm not boring, I'm bored - there's a whole grammar topic about the difference.
The classic self-defence: boring vs bored.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises