FOCUS 6 PARTICIPIAL ADJECTIVES
The film was boring. I was bored with the film.
Participles can be used as adjectives to describe people and things. The present participle is used like an adjective to express an active meaning: it tells us what the noun “is doing/doer”. The past participle is used like an adjective meaning: it tells us the effect on the person or thing (what emotion is aroused in the person), or in many cases what the person feels. Past participles are sometimes followed by prepositions. Not all participles can be used as adjectives. Below there is a list of commonly used adjectives with the prepositions that follow the –ed form.
Annoying – annoyed
Confusing – confused
Depressing – depressed
Embarrassing – embarrassed about
Exciting – excited
Worrying – worried
Disappointing- -disappointed in
Interesting – interested
Annoying – annoyed
boring – bored
Disgusting – disgusted with
Exhausting – exhausted
Pleasing – pleased
Amazing – amazed
amusing – amused
astonishing – astonished at
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shocking – shocked
surprising - surprised
frightening – frightened
terrifying – terrified of
tiring – tired
Not all participial adjectives are formed by adding –ing.
Delightful – delighted
Attractive – attracted
Impressive – impressed
For more information see the topic “Participial Adjectives” in Part II.
EXERCISES
Ex.1 Write the correct form of the word in brackets (either –ed or –ing)
The lawyer’s arguments were so … that we were … of the man’s innocence. (convince)
The statistics on child abuse are quiet … . I am sure many people are … at the enormity of the problem. (shock)
Seeing hot-air balloons floating over the desert is an … sight. You’d be … at the number of people who participate in this sport. (amaze)
The climb up the mountains was so … that many of the students who were feeling … by then, asked if we could stop and rest. (tire)
Many Americans were … by the president’s speech which was … both for its grasp of the problems facing the country today and for its passionate optimism. (impress)
Letting children stay out late is a … problem. By midnight, many parents already feel a little … . (worry)
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Some say Hitchcock’s film The Birds was … . Personally, I was more … by Psycho. (terrify)
Helen was … with her retirement gift. What a … idea, buying her a ticket to Paris for all-expenses-paid trip. (delight)
Sue doesn’t think slapstick comedy is … . She is more … by satire. (amuse)
Personally, I am not … in stamp collection, although I’m sure it’s an … hobby. (interest)
The dirt and litter on our city streets is … . Many residents are … by the fact that the local council won’t provide litter-bins here (desgust)
I am so … with the test results. It’s … to know you’ve succeeded in a difficult course. (please)
I find Josef very … , but I’m not … to his friend at all.(attract)
Roberta’s disappearance is … . Most of his neighbours were … to rear about it in the papers. (astonish)
Ex.2 Make up your own sentences using the following participial adjectives:
Depressing/depressed, embarrassing/embarrassed, exciting/excited, frightening/frightened, amazing/amazed, exhausting/exhausted, surprising/surprised.
Ex.3 Choose the right word
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FOCUS 7 LINKING VERBS + ADJECTIVES
The little boy seems very frightened. Alcohol is forbidden to people under 18.
A linking verb connects a subject and a complement. The complement describes the subject, not the verb. Many adjectives are used as complements. Below is a list of verbs that can take adjectives as complements, with examples of typical complements in brackets.
| Be (happy) | Prove (difficult) | Become (suspicious) |
| Appear (upset) | Seem (satisfied) | Come (true) |
| Feel (tired) | Smell (nice) | Fall (silent) |
| Look (young) | Stay (calm) | Get (dark) |
| Taste (sweet) | Grow (old) | Remain (silent) |
| Turn (blue) | Sound (nice) | Keep (quiet) |
| Go (red) |
She is happy. This soup tastes salty. Sally went red.
EXERCISES
Ex.1 Choose the word that is most appropriate to the verb in each sentence.
1. While the teacher lectured him on bad behavior the pupil remained … . (silently, silent, violent)
2. The biblical story of Samson is … (popular, familiar, similar) with children.
3. The young woman turned … (deep, pale, light) when she realized the stranger beside her was holding a gun.
4. You look … . (tired, shocked, exhausted) Have you been … (awake, alive, asleep) all night?
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6. Students often feel … (dubious, furious, nervous) before examinations.
7. The fish smells … (disturbing, disgusting, distressing). Perhaps it’s bad.
8. The capital was cut off by heavy snowstorms. It was … (impossible, improbable, insensible) to enter the city)
9. It’s … (immoral, illegal, unnatural) to drive at 110 kph on
Ex. 2 Compose 10 sentences using the model: linking verbs + adjectives
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