Participial Adjectives
Choose the correct answer.
Participial Adjectives: -ed vs -ing
Example 1
CORRECT: My friend is interested in traditional Syrian music.
INCORRECT: My friend is interesting in traditional Syrian music.
Example 2
CORRECT: Traditional Syrian music is interesting.
INCORRECT: Traditional Syrian music is interested.
Example 3
Your behavior surprised me.
I was surprised.
Your behavior was surprising.
The past participle (-ed) and the present participle (-ing) can be used as adjectives.
In the first example, the past participle (interested) tells how "my friend" feels.
In the second example, the present participle (interesting) describes the cause of the feeling. The cause of the interest is Korean traditional music.
In the third example, "surprised" describes how I felt and the cause of the surprise was your behavior.
Parents don't want to be __________ to their children.
- confused
- confusing
Many parents have become __________ about the best way to raise their children.
- confusing
- confused
It is __________ for children to realize they are in charge.
- frightening
- frightened
Many new parents feel that they are not __________ to be good parents.
- preparing
- prepared
Parents' behavior is often __________ to their children.
- confused
- confusing
Being in charge of their lives is __________ for many children.
- frightening
- frightened
Becoming a parent can be a __________ experience.
- frightening
- frightened
Parents' behavior toward their children is quite __________.
- interesting
- interested
Sociologists who study families are __________ in the interactions of parents and their children.
- interested
- interesting
Parents are sometimes __________ when their children act badly in public.
- embarrassed
- embarrassing