Grammar exercises

Part A. Look at line 5 of the article. What’s the difference between shocking and shocked?

Some verbs which describe people’s feelings have two adjectival forms.

E.g. to shock / shocked / I was shocked by the news.

To shock / shocking / The news was shocking.

Part B. Find other words like this in the article. Sometimes only one of the two is there, but you can write both in the columns. Note: These are only words that tell us about people’s feelings (not words like ‘cooking’).

Part C. Use the “-ing” adjectives below to complete the sentences which follow.

a) The main problem is …....... prices. Things are getting much too expensive.

b) Factories in Japan are becoming even more automated, making …...... use of robots.

c) Things will have to change. The …...... system simply doesn’t work.

d) Mohammed Ali, the former heavyweight champion of the world, has been described as a …...... legend.

e) The young folks have all gone. There is no one left in the village apart from a few …........ people.

f) Unemployment is on the increase. A …............ number of young people, in particular, are finding themselves out of work.

Part D. Use the “ -ed ” adjectives below to complete the definitions which follow.

a) When you find something funny, you are …......... by it.

b) If something makes you sad and unhappy, you feel …...........

c) If you are …..........., you feel very surprised.

d) If something makes you very worried, you are …......... by it.

e) If you are reasonably content with something, you feel ….........

f) When you are …...., you feel tired and impatient because you have nothing to do.

Part E. The following words are in the text. Use your dictionary to find the other parts of speech. Check the pronunciation. Add the words of your own.

Part F. Put one suitable adjective (-ed or –ing) into each gap.

a) The book was so…........... that I couldn’t put it down.

b) The students were …........... the lesson and really fell asleep.

c) John told some very….......... stories. We couldn’t stop laughing.

d) “You look ….......... to see me! ” “I am. I thought you were in China! ”

e) She is very …......... in modern art. She reads all the books she can about it.

f) Your exam results are…............ I thought you would do much better.

g) Please stop tapping your fingers. I find it very…............

Part G. Complete the following pairs of sentences using the correct form of the verb in brackets. You must use the “ -ed ” form for one sentence in each pair and the “ -ing ” form for the other.

1. a) I had nothing to do. I was …........ and lonely. (bore)

b) I had only one book with me but I didn’t read it. It was so …..........

2. a) I enjoyed Dr Brown’s visit. He is a very…......... speaker. (interest)

b) We invited them to join us, but they weren’t really …..........

3. a) The bad news was very …......... (depress)

b) It was a bad day. We were all thoroughly ….............

4. a) I enjoyed the film. The monster was absolutely …......... (terrify)

b) We were told there was a bomb in the building. Everyone was absolutely …........

5. a) We were rather ….......... with the results. (disappoint)

b) The results were very …..............

6. a) We were dreadfully late. It was very ….......... (embarrass)

b) George made a perfect fool of himself. He was awfully …..........

7. a) Jack looked even more ….......... than he felt. (amaze)

b) She is a brilliant woman. She has the most …......... ideas.

8. a) Have you heard what’s happened? Isn’t it …...........? (excite)

b) Mary looked calm, but inside she felt really …...........

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