- '-ing' adjectives
- ◊ GRAMMARA large number of adjectives end in `-ing'.\◊ related to transitive verbsMany `-ing' adjectives have the same form as the present participle of a transitive verb, and are similar in meaning. For example, `an astonishing fact' is a fact that astonishes you.
...her annoying habit of repeating what I had just said.
\...a brilliantly amusing novel.
Note that `-ing' adjectives of this kind often describe the person or thing causing a feeling, as in `a boring lecture', whereas `-ed' adjectives describe the person or thing affected by a feeling, as in `a bored student'. See entry at ↑ '-ed' adjectives.\When a transitive verb does not refer to causing a feeling, you can often put the object of the verb in front of the `-ing' form to form a compound adjective.The news was listened to by at least half the German-speaking population.
\Each colony would be completely self-governing.
◊ related to intransitive verbsSome `-ing' adjectives are related to intransitive verbs. They describe processes, changes, or states. For example, if there is a `decreasing' number of things, the number of things is getting smaller; an `existing' law is one which already exists. When an `-ing' word of this kind is used after `be', it forms part of a continuous tense.The crying made her look so old and vulnerable, like a miserable, sick, ageing monkey.
Much of the world's tanker fleet is ageing.
...an increasing amount of leisure time.
\Efficiency and productivity are increasing.
Here is a list of common `-ing' adjectives related to intransitive verbs:ageing, bleeding, booming, bursting, decreasing, diminishing, dwindling, dying, existing, increasing, living, prevailing, recurring, reigning, remaining, resounding, rising\◊ related to verbs but different in meaningA few `-ing' adjectives are related to verbs in form, but have a different meaning from the usual or commonest meaning of the verb. For example, the verb `dash' usually means `move quickly', but someone or something that is `dashing' is stylish and attractive.She kept dashing out of the kitchen to give him a kiss.
\I used to be told I looked quite dashing.
The following adjectives have a different meaning from the verb they appear to be related to:becoming, dashing, disarming, engaging, fetching, halting, promising, retiring, trying\◊ not related to verbsA few `-ing' adjectives are not related to verbs at all. For example, there are no verbs `to appetize', `to bald', or `to scathe'. The following `-ing' adjectives are not related to verbs:appetizing, balding, cunning, enterprising, excruciating, impending, neighbouring, scathing, unwitting...the appetizing aromas of the dishes I produced for myself.
Pitman glanced at the fat, balding man sitting beside him.
\He launched into a scathing attack on Gates.
◊ used for emphasis in informal speechA small group of `-ing' adjectives are used in informal speech for emphasis:blinking, blithering, blooming, flaming, flipping, raving, stinking, thundering\These adjectives are always used in front of a noun, never after a link verb.\If you plan to join the others, you might tell your blinking brother.
Several of these adjectives are usually used with a particular noun, as shown in the examples below.He's in America, according to that blithering idiot Pete.
I knew that I was carrying on a dialogue with a raving lunatic.
\Nobody must get in here and make a thundering nuisance of themselves.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.