-ed vs -ing Adjectives: bored or boring?

Both endings come from the same verb, so both look correct — and that's the trap. The rule is about direction: -ed describes how someone feels (the person), while -ing describes what causes that feeling (the thing or person that makes you feel it).

-ed = the feeling

Use the -ed form for the person who experiences the emotion.

-ing = the cause

Use the -ing form for the thing (or person) that produces the feeling.

Put them together

The cause makes you feel the result, so the two forms often appear side by side:

Careful: people can be both

A person can take either form — but the meaning changes completely. Choose based on whether they feel the emotion or cause it in others.

These adjectives usually follow a linking verb — be, feel, look, seem: You look tired; that sounds exciting.

Common mistakes

Saying -ing when you mean your own feeling. "I am boring" is grammatical, but it means you bore others.

Describing a thing with -ed. A movie can't feel anything, so it takes -ing.

"interesting in". You feel it, so it's interested — plus the fixed preposition in.

Quick exercise

Choose the -ed or -ing form.

1. The lesson was really ___ . (bore)
2. I was ___ by the instructions. (confuse)
3. Are you ___ in football? (interest)
4. The news is very ___ . (surprise)
5. She felt ___ after work. (tire)
6. It was an ___ game. (excite)