Special forms: '-ing' adjectives

2.67 There are a large number of adjectives ending in '-ing'. Most of them are related in form to the present participles of verbs. In this grammar they are called '-ing' adjectives.

He was an amiable, amusing fellow.

He had been up all night attending a dying man.

Adjectives which end in '-ing' are sometimes called participial adjectives. The present participle is explained in the Reference Section.

2.68 One group of '-ing' adjectives describe the effect that something has on your feelings and ideas, or on the feelings and ideas of people in general.

...an alarming increase in racial hostility.

A surprising number of men stay bachelors.

...a charming house on the outskirts of the town.

...a warm welcoming smile.

2.69 These adjectives are normally qualitative adjectives. This means that they can be used with a submodifier, and have comparatives and superlatives.

...a very convincing example.

There is nothing very surprising in this.

...a very exciting idea.

...a really pleasing evening at the theatre.

When Bernard moans he's much more convincing.

...one of the most boring books I've ever read.

2.70 They can be used in attributive or predicative position.

They can still show amazing loyalty to their parents.

It's amazing what they can do.

...the most terrifying tale ever written.

The present situation is terrifying.

2.71 These '-ing' adjectives have a related transitive verb which you use to describe the way someone is affected by something. For example, if you speak of 'an alarming increase', you mean that the increase alarms you. If you speak of 'a surprising number', you mean that the number surprises you.

Here is a list of '-ing' adjectives that describe an effect and which have a similar meaning to the usual meaning of the related verb:

alarming amazing amusing annoying appalling astonishing astounding bewildering boring challenging charming

compelling confusing convincing demeaning depressing devastating disappointing disgusting distracting distressing distorting

embarrassing enchanting encouraging entertaining exciting frightening harassing humiliating infuriating inspiring interesting

intimidating intriguing menacing misleading mocking overwhelming pleasing refreshing relaxing rewarding satisfying

shocking sickening startling surprising tempting terrifying threatening thrilling tiring welcoming worrying

Transitive verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.15 to 3.26.

describing a process or state 2.72 The other main group of '-ing' adjectives are used to describe a process or state that continues over a period of time.

...dwindling herds of humpback whales.

Oil and gas drillers are doing a booming business.

...a life of increasing labour and decreasing leisure.

2.73 These adjectives are classifying adjectives, so they are not used with ordinary submodifiers such as 'very' and 'rather'. However, adjectives used to identify a process can be submodified by adverbs which describe the speed with which the process happens.

...a fast diminishing degree of personal freedom.

...rapidly rising productivity.

2.74 These '-ing' adjectives have related intransitive verbs.

Here is a list of '-ing' adjectives which describe a continuing process or state and which have a similar meaning to the usual meaning of the related verb:

ageing ailing bleeding booming

bursting decreasing diminishing dwindling

dying existing increasing living

prevailing recurring reigning remaining

resounding rising ruling

Intransitive verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.9 to 3.14.

2.75 These '-ing' adjectives are only used attributively, so when '-ing' forms of intransitive verbs appear after the verb 'be' they are actually part of a continuous tense.

2.76 The '-ing' form of most intransitive English verbs can be used attributively as adjectives to indicate what someone or something is doing.

...a walking figure.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.

He escorted her around the bowing and chanting multitude.

...two years of falling employment.

...a tremendous noise of crashing glass.

The use of the '-ing' form of verbs as adjectives is a productive feature of English. Productive features are explained in the Introduction.

2.77 Most of the '-ing' adjectives talked about so far are related to verbs. Sometimes however, '-ing' adjectives are not related to verbs at all. For example, there is no verb 'to neighbour'.

Whole families came from neighbouring villages.

Here is a list of '-ing' adjectives which are not related to verbs:

appetizing balding cunning

enterprising excruciating impending

neighbouring scaling unwitting

2.78 Sometimes, an '-ing' adjective is related to an uncommon use of a verb, or appears to be related to a verb but is not related exactly to any current use. For example, the verb 'haunt' is most commonly used in connection with ghosts, but the adjective 'haunting' is more often used of things such as songs and memories. A haunting tune is a tune you cannot forget.

Here is a list of qualitative '-ing' adjectives which are not related to a common transitive use of a verb:

becoming bracing cutting dashing disarming

engaging fetching halting haunting moving

penetrating piercing pressing promising rambling

ravishing retiring revolting searching taxing

trying

Here is a list of classifying '-ing' adjectives which are not related to a common intransitive use of a verb:

acting driving

floating gathering

going leading

missing running

2.79 Some adjectives are derived from a verb and a prefix. For example, 'outgoing' is derived from the verb 'go' and the prefix 'out-'. There is no verb 'to outgo'.

Wouldn't that cause a delay in outgoing man?

Here is a list of '-ing' adjectives derived from a verb and a prefix:

forthcoming incoming oncoming

ongoing outgoing outstanding

overbearing uplifting upstanding

2.80 A small group of '-ing' adjectives are used in informal spoken English for emphasis, usually to express disapproval. This use is explained in paragraphs 2.41 to 2.42.

Some compound adjectives (see paragraphs 2.98 to 2.107) end in '-ing'.