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5 Minute English

 

 

Confused about confusing language?

 

How do you know when something is confused or confusing?  When the movie wasn't so great, was I bored or boring?  Does it make a difference if I tell my friend he's annoyed or annoying

It does.  And there's an easy way to know which one to choose.

 

Words that end with -ed talk about a person's feelings.

Examples- 

  1. John was so bored on his date.  He really wanted to leave.

  2. Karen was annoyed with her employee.  This employee was always late.

  3. Curt was confused about the new rules.  They were very complicated.

  4. The children were excited about the school trip.

  5. Melanie was surprised to get a gift.

  6. The class was interested in the game.
     

*****

Words that end with -ing, however, talk about the situation or thing that cause a person's feelings.

Examples-

  1. The date was really boring.  John wanted to leave.

  2. The employee was annoying.  He was always late.

  3. The rules were confusing.  They were complicated.

  4. The school trip was exciting.

  5. The gift was surprising.

  6. The game was interesting.

 

So ...

bullet

John was bored/ the date was boring

bullet

Karen was annoyed/ the employee was annoying

bullet

Curt was confused/ the rules were confusing

bullet

The children were excited/ the school trip was exciting

bullet

Melanie was surprised/ the gift was surprising.

bullet

The class was interested/ the game was interesting

 

Questions- Choose the correct word

1.  I always feel excited/exciting when I take a vacation.

2.  The news was very interested/ interesting.

3.  Everyone was surprised/ surprising when Tom Cruise came to the party.

4.  Teri is always so confused/ confusing when she reads English.

5.  That loud TV is so annoyed/ annoying.

6.  When I am in the office, I am bored/ boring.

Answers

1.  excited  (person's feeling)

2.  interesting  (situation that caused the feeling)

3.  surprised  (person's feeling)

4.  confused  (person's feeling)

5.  annoying  (situation that caused the feeling)

6.  This is a trick question-

If you say  "I am bored,"  you don't feel happy or excited.

If you say "I am boring,"  other people feel bored because of you.

 
   

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