-ed/-ing adjectives

A lot of adjectives are made from verbs by adding -ing or -ed. They are called participial adjectives they take the forms of the present (-ing) and past participle (-ed) of the verb.

-ed adjectives

-ed adjectives are used to describe how we feel. Look at the following examples:

We’re tired. Can we stop walking around and go home?

-ing adjectives

-ing adjectives are used to talk about the things that produce these feelings. Check the examples below:

Running is very tiring. We don’t want to run.

This film is very boring. Let’s play cards.

Her visit was very surprising. We weren’t expecting her.

Adjective order

OPINION: wonderful, terrible, lovely

SIZE: small, huge, tiny

AGE: ancient, new, young

SHAPE: round, square, oblong

COLOUR: green, bright, pale

ORIGIN: Victorian, American, Turkish

MATERIAL: wooden, metallic, cotton

PURPOSE: racing, sleeping, cooking

When should we use the hyphen?

The hyphen should be used to connect the different words of a compound adjective when we use it before a noun, but when we use the adjective after the verb be or a sensory verb, the words often remain separate.

He is a well-known actor. 

This actor is well known for his impactful performances. 

However, some common compound adjectives are consistently hyphenated. It’s a good idea to consult a dictionary or verify online.

Their relationship was short-lived.

While English speakers might occasionally skip the hyphen, its correct use is crucial to prevent misunderstandings. Consider the difference in these sentences:

He is a large truck driver. (This means the driver himself is large.)

He is a large-truck driver. (This indicates he drives large trucks.)

Degrees Of Adjectives

Positive Degree:

This is the simplest form of an adjective

Positive: The cat is grey.

Comparative Degree:

Used to compare two things or qualities, the comparative degree often ends in “-er” or is preceded by “more” when dealing with longer adjectives. 

Comparative: 

The cheetah is faster than the lion.

Comparative with “more”: 

The plot of the movie is more interesting than the book.

Superlative Degree:

This degree is employed when comparing three or more things or qualities. It typically ends in “-est” or is preceded by “most” for longer adjectives. Examples include:

Superlative: the fastest cat 

Superlative with “most”: the most beautiful sunset