Fun Easy English - American English Grammar Past participle adjective.

Learning objectives

In this lesson you will watch a past participle adjective video, learn the definition of a past participle adjective and study examples of past participle adjectives.

Watch the video

Definition of a past participle adjective

A past participle adjective:
indicates a past or completed action or time
is formed from a verb using the perfect aspect and the passive voice
does not take an object
is often called the -ed form
often has the same form as the simple past of the verb
Note: only transitive verbs can use their past participles as adjectives

Examples of past participle adjectives

The bored student.
The confused class. (all the students)
The chicken has eaten. (perfect aspect:)
The chicken was eaten. (passive voice)
The following words are past participle adjectives
verb - present participle - past participle
aggravate - aggravating - aggravated
alarm - alarming - alarmed
amaze - amazing - amazed
amuse - amusing - amused
annoy - annoying - annoyed
appall - appalling - appalled
astonish - astonishing - astonished
astound - astounding - astounded
bewilder - bewildering - bewildered
bore - boring - bored
calm - calming - calmed
captivate - captivating - captivated
challenge - challenging - challenged
charm - charming - charmed
comfort - comforting - comforted
compel - compelling - compelled
confuse - confusing - confused
convince - convincing - convinced
depress - depressing - depressed
devastate - devastating - devastating
disappoint - disappointing - disappointed
disgust - disgusting - disgusted
distract - distracting - distracted
distress - distressing - distressed
disturb - disturbing - disturbed
embarrass - embarrassing - embarrassed
enchant - enchanting - enchanted
encourage - encouraging - encouraged
entertain - entertaining - entertained
excite - exciting - excited
frighten - frightening - frightened
humiliate - humiliating - humiliated
infuriate - infuriating - infuriated
inspire - inspiring - inspired
insult - insulting - insulted
interest - interesting - interested
intimidate - intimidating - intimidated
intrigue - intriguing - intrigued
mislead - misleading - misled
mystify - mystifying - mystified
overwhelm - overwhelming - overwhelmed
please - pleasing - pleased
puzzle - puzzling - puzzled
refresh - refreshing - refreshed
relax - relaxing - relaxed
reward - rewarding - rewarded
satisfy - satisfying - satisfied
shock - shocking - shocked
sicken - sickening - sickened
startle - startling - startled
surprise - surprising - surprised
tempt - tempting - tempted
terrify - terrifying - terrified
threaten - threatening - threatened
tire - tiring - tired
welcome - welcoming - welcomed
worry - worrying - worried

Watch the cartoon video

Cartoon video information

The -ing form of the verb expresses the cause of the feeling.
The -ed form of the verb expresses the result.
In the case of the verb "to bore" Akira said she is BORING which means Akira is actually BORING and not the class.
Akira should say because this class is BORING, I am BORED, or simply I am BORED.
The class is the cause of her feeling, so it is described with an -ing form, in this case BORING.
Her feeling, or the result, is described with an -ed form, in this case BORED.
Basically you should remember that things can only be described with the -ing form because things cannot produce feelings.
People can be described with either the -ing or -ed forms because they can produce feelings in other people or experience feelings themselves.