Participial adjectives are formed from verbs and are used to describe nouns. They usually end in -ing or -ed (or -en in some cases). They often convey emotions or states.

1. Present Participial Adjectives (-ing)

Present participial adjectives describe the characteristics of something and answer the question, “What is it like?” They often have an active meaning.

• Examples: interesting, boring, confusing, exciting
• In Sentences:
  • The movie was interesting.
  • She has a charming personality.

2. Past Participial Adjectives (-ed)

Past participial adjectives often describe how someone feels and answer the question, “How does it make you feel?” They typically have a passive meaning.

• Examples: interested, bored, confused, excited
• In Sentences:
  • I am interested in learning more about history.
  • He felt bored during the lecture.

Important Note: Be careful not to confuse the two. The -ing form describes the cause of the feeling (something that makes others feel), while the -ed form describes the person experiencing the feeling.

• Example:
  • The class was boring. (The class caused the feeling of boredom.)
  • I was bored in the class. (I experienced the feeling of boredom.)