Increasing your overall vocabulary and word choices

Part One--- “-ed” and “-ing” adjectives

Part Two--- Word Roots and Affixes

ESL English Learner Fridays Workshop #1

Let’s have a parti(ciple)!!!

Using –ing and –ed adjectives to increase verbal repertoire

(participial adjectives)scared

embarrassing

flustered

amazing

flushed

draining

ashamed

interesting

thrilled

embarrassed

thrilling

frightened

overwhelming

I AM SO BORING!!!!!

Have you heard/said this before?

I AM SO BORED!!!!!

Here is what should be said.

THAT IS SO BORING!!!!!

Or, this is correct, too.

And…here is why…with two examples

A present participle (-ing) should describe a person or thing causing a feeling.

The presenter is boring [not bored].

A past participle (-ed) should describe a person having a feeling because of an experience.

The audience is bored [not boring].

In the first example just now (with the –ing form), the presenter is causing boredom, not experiencing it.

In the second example (with the –ed form, the audience is experiencing boredom, not causing it.

Now, let’s view it differently--

In simple present, we would say“This confuses me,”“You confuse me,”“He confuses me,”“She confuses me,”or “They confuse me.”

The subject of each sentence (This, You, He, She, They) causes me to have a feeling of confusion.

So we can say:

This is confusing.You are confusing.He is confusing.She is confusing.They are confusing.

But: I am confused.

Therefore, remember that “-ed” adjective describes how you feel because of an experience…

It describes how you feel because of something that someone (or something did to you).

I AM SO CONFUSED!!!!!

Use the –ed adjective for the person who has the feeling.

I AM SO CONFUSED!!!!!

An action happened to you; as a result of undergoing the experience, you feel this way.

This confuses me, so I am confused.

In other words, this is what you mean.

This confuses me, so I am feeling confused by this.

Or, even deeper, you mean this.

so...

Why is it “–ed”?

Answer:

You cannot have a result without a cause first.

Therefore, the feeling you or others have HAS to look like past tense even if it is an adjective.

so...

Can a stick or a rock feel“worried?”

Answer:

Sticks and rocks cannot feel worried or any other “–ed” adjective. Only living creatures can feel.

When looking at the “-ing” adjective….

Remember to use the “-ing” adjective for someone or something that causes a feeling…

…We can then say

“You are (or This is, She is, He is, etc.) confusing me, so you are confusing.

In other words, because you are actively confusing me as we speak, what you are (to me or others) is a confusing person.

THAT IS SO CONFUSING!!!!!

The person or thing creates the feeling.

This confuses me, so it is confusing to me.

In other words, this is what you mean.

THIS IS CONFUSING!!

The other part involves the word “is”, which is a linking verb.

THE ESSAY IS CONFUSING!!

Participles used as adjectives can follow linking verbs. In this case, the adjectives describe the subject of the sentence.

THE TUTOR IS CONFUSED!!

Some common linking verbs before –ed or –ing adjectives are:

• is, are, am (all forms of be)• feel (only with –ed adjectives)• appear• seem• become

Here is a good way to check:

If it’s a feeling that is received,check it with “by + noun” at the end…

I am confused by you.

Since you can say this, saying “I am confused,” is correct.

If it’s a feeling that someone or something causes, check it with “to + noun” at the end…

This is confusing to him.

Since you can say this, saying “This is confusing,” is correct.

As a result, if you tell someone, “I am so confusing!”, you actually mean that YOU confuse people!!!

If that is true, THEY would be confused by YOU.(Chances are that this is not what you mean at all)

IT IS A DEPRESSING MOVIE.

Participles used as adjectives can also precede the nouns they describe.

JIM IS A DEPRESSED YOUNG MAN.

Am I confusing to any of you, yet?

Are you at all confused by me?

Questions for this part?

In groups, or individually, please try to make 3-5 good sentences using -ing adjectives from the word list. You will have the option of sharing some of your best, if there is time.

AlarmingAggravatingAmusingAnnoyingAstonishingAstoundingBoringCaptivatingChallengingCharmingComfortingConfusingConvincingDepressingDisappointingDiscouragingDisgustingDistressingDisturbing

EmbarrassingEncouragingEntertainingExcitingFrighteningFrustratingFulfillingGratifyingInspiringInsultingInterestingMovingOverwhelmingPerplexingPleasingRelaxingRelievingSatisfyingShocking

SickeningSoothingSurprisingTemptingTerrifyingThreateningThrillingTiringTouchingTroublingUnsettlingWorrying

In groups, or individually, please try to make 3-5 good sentences using -ed adjectives from the word list. You will have the option of sharing some of your best, if there is time.

AlarmedAggravatedAmusedAnnoyedAstonishedAstoundedBoredCaptivatedChallengedCharmedComfortedConfusedConvincedDepressedDisappointedDiscouragedDisgustedDistressedDisturbed

EmbarrassedEncouragedEntertainedExcitedFrightenedFrustratedFulfilledGratifiedInspiredInsultedInterestedMovedOverwhelmedPerplexedPleasedRelaxedRelievedSatisfiedShocked

SickenedSoothedSurprisedTemptedTerrifiedThreatenedThrilledTiredTouchedTroubledUnsettledWorried

Now, let’s practice with a fun and interactive lesson:

http://www.grammar.cl/Games/Adjectives_ED_ING.htm

Part Two

How to use word roots and affixes to increase your vocabulary

1. incredible (adj.)

in= notcred=believeible= ableSomething not able to believe

2. perspiration (n.)

per= throughspir= breathetion=actionAction of breathing through(the skin)

3. soph(o)moric (adj.)soph= wisemor=foolishic= likeLike a wise, but foolish, person

4. inspir(a)tion (n.)in=inspir= breathetion=quality of

The quality of breathing in

5. retracting (v.)re= backtract= drawing= action of

The action of drawing back

6. path(o)gen (n.)path=diseasegen= start

Something that starts a disease

7. pre(de)cessor (n.) pre= before(de)cess= go (away)or= person*predecessor also uses a form of decess (decease) which has a deeper meaning.

Person who has gone before another one.

8. luminous (adj.) lum= lightin= insideous=full (of)

A place with a lot of light in it

9. Perspiration is typically caused by exercise.

10. The predecessor of the current CEO was very popular.

11. Uncovered coughing is a usual pathogen of a common cold epidemic.

Fun Activity with Words