Adjective and participle

-ed endings are used to describe people:

The story interested John. – John was interested in the story.

-ing endings are used to describe things, events, etc:

The story was interesting.

-ing endings are also used to describe people:

Isn’t John interesting!

Compare: Gloria was interested (= that was the effect smn or smth had on her)

Exercise 1. Change these sentences using -ed / -ing endings.

1. The journey tired us. The journey was ………..

2. The experience upset Sylvia. Sylvia was ………..

3. The experience upset us. The experience was ………..

4. Gloria enchanted me. Gloria was ………..

5. I enchanted Gloria. Gloria was ………..

6. The children delighted us. We were ………..

Exercise 2. Complete the following sentences with the correct -ed or -ing adjective.

1. The instructions in the exam were very complicated and left the students feeling totally ………. (confuse).

2. I don’t find horror films at all ………. in fact. I find them quite funny (frighten).

3. Would you be ………. in coming to the theatre this evening? I have a spare ticket (interest).

4. Can’t you fix that dripping tap? It’s getting on my nerves, it’s really ………. (irritate).

5. I didn’t expect to see Peter at the party. I was really ………. to see him there (surprise).

6. He’s had a lot of bad news recently and is feeling a bit ……….. Let’s go and cheer him up (depress).

7. I find it ………. to lie on the sofa and listen to music after a hard day’s work (relax).

8. I was told the film was really good but I felt utterly ………. by it (bore).

9. I get really ………. when people throw rubbish down in the streets. It makes me furious (annoy).

10. If I said anything as stupid as he did in front of a thousand people, I’d feel really ………. (embarrass).

Adjective and preposition

Exercise 1. Choose adjectives from the ones given below and an appropriate preposition to complete the sentences. Give alternatives if they are possible:

afraid angry concerned pleased sorry

1. You realise I’m not ………. you, don’t you? It wasn’t your fault.

2. I’m really ………. the mistake, but I had problems with the computer.

3. You’re looking very ………. yourself! Have you won some money?

4. She was quite ………. the decision and wrote a letter of complaint.

5. I was ………. the success of your money ………. raising efforts.

6. I feel so ………. the parents of the children who were killed in the accident.

7. The government has become increasingly ………. the dangerous levels of exhaust pollution in city centres.

8. When the fighting broke out, Sarah was ………. her father who was in the capital city at the time.

9. Most of the newspaper seems to be ………. sport.

Exercise 2. Change these sentences using good followed by an appropriate preposition. Make any other changes that might be needed.

Example: At school I always did well at maths. - I was always good at maths.

1. Scientists now say that butter is healthy. Scientists now say ………..

2. The election result benefits democracy. The election result ………..

3. The children in the family I was staying with treated me well. The children in the family ………..

4. I like cooking because I do it well. I like cooking ………..

5. As she worked well with animals, she became a vet. As she ………..

6. When he found the money that the old lady had lost, he felt pleased. When he found the money that the old lady had lost, he ………..

7. We’re are very sad ………. Jane’s departure.

8. It’s no good being angry ………. me.

9. John is jealous ………. his wife’s success.

10. We should be kind ………. dumb animals.

11. I’m very fond ………. anything sweet.

12. We’re really excited ………. the wedding.

Exercise 3. Supply the missing prepositions

1. I’m sorry ___ the trouble I’ve caused.

2. The south is different ___ the caused.

3. Don’t trust him. He’s capable ___ anything.

4. I was surprised ___ his attitude.

5. You can have this free ___ charge.

6. I’m curious ___ Tony’s background.

7. Old Alf is very careful ___ his money.

8. We’re quite safe ___ danger.

9. Bill is now married ___ the girl next door.

10. Businessmen can’t be certain ___ success.

11. Contrary ___ expectations, she won!

12. I wasn’t aware ___ Sam’s absence.

13. This magazine is full ___ ads.

14. Frank’s quite careless ___ danger.