Mixed -ed and -ing Adjectives
B1-B2 Level
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This mixed exercise also practises common prepositions after -ed adjectives: interested in, excited about, bored with, frightened of, and disappointed with. These prepositions belong to the feeling adjective, not the cause adjective. Read the whole sentence before answering. The correct form depends on meaning, not only on the word before the blank. Ask: who feels it? and what causes it?
Quick Rule
person/group + -ed + preposition | cause + -ing
- 1.She is interested in science. (feeling + preposition)
- 2.Science is interesting. (cause)
- 3.We were excited about the trip. (feeling + preposition)
- 4.The trip was exciting. (cause)
- 5.The passengers were frustrated by the frustrating delay. (both)
All 20 questions
Complete each sentence with the correct -ed or -ing adjective. Pay attention to who feels the emotion and what causes it.
Maya is _____ in environmental science because her biology teacher makes every lesson _____. (interested / interesting)
The final was _____, but the team felt strangely calm instead of _____. (excited / exciting)
Several passengers were _____ and _____ after the unclear announcement at the station. (confused / confusing; tired / tiring)
The ending was _____ and the final scene was _____. (disappointed / disappointing; shocked / shocking)
The hike was _____, so we were _____ when we reached the village. (tired / tiring)
Everyone was _____ by the _____ change in the timetable. (surprised / surprising)
The stormy mountain road looked _____ and _____. (frightened / frightening; overwhelmed / overwhelming)
The passengers became _____ and _____ during the airport delay. (frustrated / frustrating; annoyed / annoying)
Her speech was _____, and many students felt _____ to apply for the course. (encouraged / encouraging)
I felt _____ about asking a question because the silence in the room was _____. (embarrassed / embarrassing)
The users were _____ and _____ after the short software tutorial. (confused / confusing; encouraged / encouraging)
The documentary details were _____ and _____. (fascinated / fascinating; surprised / surprising)
The manager sounded _____ about the results, but the figures were not very _____. (satisfied / satisfying)
The indoor activities were _____, and the children were _____. (bored / boring)
The instructions looked _____ and _____. (overwhelmed / overwhelming; confused / confusing)
Nina was _____ and _____ after reading the sample exam questions. (worried / worrying; frightened / frightening)
The workshop was _____, and the participants felt _____ to try the method at work. (motivated / motivating)
I was _____ by the _____ number of messages in my inbox. (shocked / shocking)
The museum guide was _____, and the exhibition was _____ too. (interesting / interested; fascinating / fascinated)
After finishing the final task, I felt _____ and _____. (satisfying / satisfied; relaxing / relaxed)
Continue Practising
Continue practising with these related exercises
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