Adjectives: past participle / -ing

Ing Adjectives
- Describe the cause or source (agent; active) of the feeling or emotion.
 That was an amusing movie. (The film caused the amusement.)
- Describe something still undergoing a process or activity.
 Don't awaken a sleeping dog. (a dog that is sleeping)
 Look! It's a shooting star. (a star that is shooting across the sky)
 It's a slow-moving train. (a train that is moving slowly)
- Describe the function of something.
 Don't forget your sleeping bag. (a bag for sleeping)
 He practices his rifle skills at the shooting range. (an area for target practice)
 It's a moving van. (a truck for transporting households)

Past Participle Adjectives

- Describe the receiver (passive) of the feeling or emotion.
 The amused viewers enjoyed the movie. (The viewers feel the amusement.)
- Describe a quality or state completed by someone.
 The black-eyed boxer walked out of the ring. (an eye that was harmed by another fighter)
 The freshly-washed dog sat in the sun. (a dog that was washed by someone)
 Would you like some frozen yogurt? (yogurt that was frozen by someone)
- Describe a natural quality or state (no agent).
 The black-eyed terrier walked into the park. (a dog with naturally black eyes)
 The short-haired dog sat in the sun. (a dog with naturally short hair)
 Would you like to visit the frozen Antarctic tundra? (a region that is permanently frozen)

Exercise
- Choose the right adjective
1. While looking in the sky, we saw ………………… fireworks.
a) exploded b) exploding
2. After he said 'goodbye', she had a ………………… heart.
a) broken b) breaking
3. The ………………… truth is that nobody knew who had the bomb.
a) shocked b) shocking
4. The ………………… president didn't know what to say to the newspaper reporters.
a) surprised b) surprising
5. The ………………… weather conditions are forcing most people to stay inside.
a) frozen b) freezing
6. A ………………… popsicle is waiting for you in the freezer.
a) frozen b) freezing
7. "The long and ………………… road that leads to your door."
a) winding b) wound
8. A …………………-up executive needs a vacation. wind up = stress (for animate beings)
a) winding b) wound
9. A ………………… scene on the side of the road can slow down traffic.
a) distracting b) distracted
10. A ………………… driver may cause an accident.
a) distracting b) distracted
11. We called a plumber to repair the ………………… faucet.
a) dripped b) dripping
12. His art looks like ………………… paint.
a) dripped b) dripping
13. The ………………… icebergs are floating into shipping lanes.
a) melted b) melting
14. ………………… ice makes delicious drinking water.
a) melted b) melting
15. The ………………… accountant needs an assistant.
a) overworked b) overworking