-ed or -ing
1) -ing and -ed clauses
By using –ing and –ed you can cut your sentences shorter, which is very common in English.
Study the difference between the two pairs of sentences below:
The woman who is waiting outside is my sister-in-law.
The woman waiting outside is my sister-in-law.
The money which was stolen last year has been found in Jim's cellar.
The money stolen last year has been found in Jim's cellar.
2) adjectives ending with -ing and -ed
Many adjectives can end with both –ing and –ed. The difference in meaning is usually quite clear. Adjectives used with things are usually with –ing, adjectives used with people are usually with –ed. But not always!
When you are tired, it means something is tiring you. When something is boring, it means people will be bored by it.
Study the following pairs of adjectives and think about the difference in meaning:
I am so tired.
My job is so tiring.
She is bored.
Her job is boring.
We were exhausted.
The trip was exhausting.
BASICS OF WORD FORMATION (2) – NOUNS
As with adjectives (Unit10), we can use prefixes and suffixes to form nouns.
MISUNDERSTANDING – (MIS- + UNDERSTANDING)
EXCITEMENT – (EXCITE + -MENT)
PREFIXES
Common noun prefixes are: dis-, mis-, co- and ex-
Check the following examples of nouns formed by a prefix:
DIS-
disconnection, disability, disappearance
MIS-
misunderstanding, misprint, misbehavior
CO-
co-author, co-founder, co-pilot
EX-
ex-president, ex-husband, ex-wife
SUFFIXES
Common noun suffixes are -ion, -ity, -ment, -hood, -ness, -ship
Check the following examples of nouns formed by a suffix:
-ION
decision, explanation, definition
-ITY
posibility, majority, security
-MENT
excitement, refreshment, improvement
-HOOD
childhood, neighborhood, adulthood
-NESS
happiness, madness, loneliness
-SHIP
relationship, membership, friendship