We use -ingadjectives to describe an effect and-edadjectives to describe how a person feels:
That was such aninterestinglecture. Prof. Green is such a good speaker.
Not:That was such an interested lecture.
I was notinterestedin the lecture.
Not:I was not interesting…
See also:
Adjectives: with -ingand -ed(interesting,interested)
We can’t use some -edforms before a noun:
The new results are clear from the diagramshown.
Not: …from the shown diagram
See also:
Adjectives with nouns and verbs
Adjectives in English do not change (agree) with the noun that they modify:
Thetropical birdswerebeautiful.
Not:The tropical birds were beautifuls.
See also:
Adjectives: forms
Some adjectives only appear before nouns and do not follow verbs. They include adjectives of degree, time and order, and adjectives that limit the noun that follows them:
The trip was acompletedisaster from start to finish.
Not:The disaster was complete
Hislatewife Betty was related to my mother.
Not:His wife was late
Theonlyperson who can sort this out is Keith.
Not:The person was only
See also:
Adjectives with nouns and verbs
Take care to spell the suffix -fulwith onel:
careful | carefull | helpful | helpfull |
grateful | gratefull | wonderful | wonderfull |
powerful | powerfull | beautiful | beautifull |
Other errors with common adjectives
Most people go to the populartouristdestinations.
Not: …the popular touristic destinations.
It can befunto work with young children.
Not: …funny to work with… (funmeans ‘enjoyable’,funnymeans that something makes you laugh orthat it is strange)
I have a verystressfuljob.
Not: …a very stressing job.
We went to anearbyrestaurant.
Not: …a near restaurant.
What are thenecessaryingredients for this dish?
Not: …the needed ingredients…?
I noticed anopenwindow.
Not: …an opened window
I was reallysurprisedwhen I heard the news.
Not:I was really surprise…
We’re having a party on Friday. Everybody iswelcome.
Not:Everybody is welcomed.
Theyoungergeneration often lack ambition.
Not:The young generation often lack ambition.
See also:
Actual
Funorfunny?