Bored or Boring? Fix It Fast with This Participial Adjectives Quiz

“Amazed” is correct because it describes the people’s emotional reaction to the magician’s final trick. The trick itself may be “amazing,” but since the sentence is about the audience’s reaction, “amazed” (the -ed form) is the right participial adjective. This difference again follows the consistent rule: “-ed” forms describe emotional or physical states of people, while “-ing” forms describe what causes those feelings. Mastering this difference helps writers and speakers express actions and reactions clearly, especially when depicting scenes of surprise, wonder, or other strong reactions.

The word “interesting” is the correct choice because it describes a book that stimulates curiosity or holds attention. It’s an “-ing” adjective used to characterize something that causes a feeling in someone else. If we said “interested,” it would incorrectly suggest the book feels interest, which is illogical. The distinction between a subject doing the action versus experiencing it applies again here, where “interesting” affects the reader, and “interested” would incorrectly humanize the object. Recognizing this helps avoid awkward phrasing and ensures more precise descriptions.

“Surprising” is the correct answer because the update delivered unexpected news, thereby causing surprise. The participial adjective “surprising” describes the source of the emotion, which in this case is the update. If “surprised” were used, it would describe someone reacting to the update, not the message itself. This highlights how the “-ing” form is typically associated with the thing or event producing the emotional effect, while “-ed” is reserved for the person receiving or experiencing the emotion. Choosing the right form makes your writing more accurate and less ambiguous.

“Stressful” is the appropriate word here because it describes an event or situation that induces stress—in this case, the interview. Unlike typical “-ing” participial adjectives, some -ful words like “stressful” also function similarly by describing what causes an emotional state. Saying “she was stressed” would be grammatically correct in another context, but the sentence focuses on the experience itself rather than her reaction. Knowing the difference between a description of an event versus a person’s response is key for crafting logical, clear statements, particularly in writing with emotional context.

The correct answer to the first question is “boring.” “The movie was boring” means the movie caused boredom. Participial adjectives ending in “-ing” describe the thing or situation that causes a feeling, while “-ed” describes how someone feels. Saying “the movie was bored” would imply the movie itself was experiencing boredom, which doesn’t make sense. This usage demonstrates how participial adjectives function differently depending on whether the subject is causing or receiving the emotion. By choosing “boring,” the sentence clearly communicates that the movie lacked engagement for the viewer, leading them to walk out.

“Exhausted” is correct in the second sentence because it describes how she feels after an intense activity—studying all night. The “-ed” form of participial adjectives is used to show the emotional or physical result of something. In contrast, “exhausting” would describe the subject that causes the feeling. Since the woman is the one affected, not the cause, “exhausted” correctly fits the context. This distinction between internal state (“-ed”) and external source (“-ing”) is essential for clear communication and is especially important in narratives and descriptive writing.

“Inspiring” is the correct choice because it describes something (the speech) that evokes inspiration. The “-ing” form of participial adjectives refers to things that generate or provoke a feeling. Saying “His speech was inspired” would mean the speech itself had received inspiration, which doesn’t match the sentence’s intent. “Inspiring” communicates that the audience found the speech motivational and emotionally stirring. Understanding whether the subject is active (doing the inspiring) or passive (feeling inspired) is a key part of participial adjective usage in both spoken and written English.

“Complicated” is the correct form because it describes how the instructions are received and understood. The “-ed” participial adjective here implies that the object—the instructions—are inherently difficult or confusing in their final form. This usage conveys the result of something being overly altered or made complex. Using “complicating” would suggest the instructions are in the process of becoming more difficult or are causing other problems, which isn’t the intended meaning. Recognizing this subtle difference allows for better precision in technical and instructional writing.

“Interested” is correct because it describes a person’s feeling or lack of engagement. Since the sentence starts with “I’m not,” it’s referring to a personal reaction rather than something external. The opposite, “interesting,” would incorrectly suggest the movies themselves are reacting or feeling emotion. This -ed form is used whenever a person expresses their emotional or mental state. Distinguishing this helps learners and writers maintain clarity in subject-verb relationships and adjective agreement, especially in conversational settings and informal writing.

“Confused” fits best because it describes the speaker’s current emotional state. The sentence communicates that the speaker is overwhelmed by grammar rules, which has led to internal confusion. “Confusing” would refer to something that creates confusion—like a difficult lesson. Since the feeling is within the speaker, the “-ed” participial adjective “confused” is grammatically and semantically appropriate. This structure is common when talking about emotions and mental states in English and is especially important in personal expression and reflective writing.