Collins Cobuild English Grammar (39 page)

refreshing

relaxing

rewarding

satisfying

shocking

sickening

startling

surprising

tempting

terrifying

threatening

thrilling

tiring

welcoming

worrying

Transitive verbs are explained in paragraphs
3.14
to
3.25
.

describing a process or state

2.68
    The other main group of
-ing
adjectives are used to describe a process or state that continues over a period of time.

…her
growing
band of supporters.
Oil and gas drillers are doing a
booming
business.
…a life of
increasing
labour and
decreasing
leisure.

2.69
    These adjectives are
classifying adjectives
, so they are not used with words like
very
and
rather
. However, adjectives used to identify a process are often modified by adverbs that describe the speed with which the process happens.

…a
fast diminishing
degree of personal freedom.
…
rapidly rising
productivity.

2.70
    These
-ing
adjectives have related intransitive verbs.

Here is a list of
-ing
adjectives that describe a continuing process or state and that have a similar meaning to the usual meaning of the related verb:

ageing

ailing

bleeding

booming

bursting

decreasing

diminishing

dwindling

dying

existing

increasing

living

prevailing

recurring

reigning

remaining

resounding

rising

ruling

Intransitive verbs are explained in paragraphs
3.8
to
3.13
.

2.71
    These
-ing
adjectives are only used in front of a noun, so when
-ing
forms of intransitive verbs appear after the verb
be
they are actually part of a progressive form.

BE CREATIVE

2.72
    In English, you can make most verbs into adjectives by adding
-ing
to the verb and putting it in front of the noun, to say what someone or something is doing.

…a
walking
figure.
…FIFA, world football’s
ruling
body.
…bands performing in front of
screaming
crowds.
…two years of
falling
employment.
…a tremendous noise of
smashing
glass.

form and meaning

2.73
    Most of the
-ing
adjectives talked about so far are related to verbs. Sometimes however,
-ing
adjectives are not related to verbs at all. For example, there is no verb
to neighbour
.

Whole families came from
neighbouring
villages.

Here is a list of
-ing
adjectives that are not related to verbs:

appetizing

balding

cunning

enterprising

excruciating

impending

neighbouring

scathing

unwitting

2.74
    Sometimes, an
-ing
adjective is related to an uncommon use of a verb, or appears to be related to a verb but is not related exactly to any current use. For example, the verb
haunt
is most commonly used in connection with ghosts, but the adjective
haunting
is more often used to talk about such things as songs and memories. A
haunting tune
is a tune you cannot forget.

Here is a list of qualitative
-ing
adjectives that are not related to a common transitive use of a verb:

becoming

bracing

cutting

dashing

disarming

engaging

fetching

halting

haunting

moving

penetrating

piercing

pressing

promising

rambling

ravishing

retiring

revolting

searching

taxing

trying

Here is a list of classifying
-ing
adjectives that are not related to a common intransitive use of a verb:

acting

driving

floating

gathering

going

leading

missing

running

2.75
    Some adjectives are derived from a verb and a prefix. For example,
outgoing
is derived from the verb
go
and the prefix
out-
. There is no verb
to outgo
.

Wouldn’t that cause a delay in
outgoing
mail?

Here is a list of
-ing
adjectives derived from a verb and a prefix:

forthcoming

incoming

oncoming

ongoing

outgoing

outstanding

overarching

overbearing

uplifting

upstanding

2.76
    A small group of
-ing
adjectives are used in informal spoken English for emphasis, usually to express disapproval. This use is explained in paragraphs
2.41
to
2.42
.

Some
compound adjectives
(see paragraphs
2.94
to
2.102
) end in
-ing
.

Special forms:
-ed
adjectives

2.77
    A large number of English adjectives end in
-ed
. Many of them have the same form as the
-ed
participle
of a verb. Others are formed by adding
-ed
to a noun. Others are not closely related to any other words.

…a
disappointed
man.
…a
bearded
man.
…
sophisticated
electronic devices.

2.78
    Adjectives with the same form as irregular
-ed
participles
(see the Reference Section) that do not end in
-ed
are also included here as
-ed
adjectives.

Was it a
broken
bone, a
torn
ligament, or what?

The
-ed
participles of some
phrasal verbs
(see paragraphs
3.83
to
3.116
) can also be used as adjectives. When they are used in front of a noun, the two parts of the phrasal verb are usually written with a hyphen between them.

…the
built-up
urban mass of the city.

2.79
    Most
-ed
adjectives are related to a transitive verb and have a passive meaning. They show that something has happened or is happening to the thing being described. For example,
a frightened person
is a person who has been frightened by something.
A known criminal
is a criminal who is known by the police.

We have a long list of
satisfied
customers.
We cannot refuse to teach children the
required
subjects.

qualitative
-ed
adjectives

2.80
    
-ed
adjectives that refer to a person’s mental or emotional reaction to something are generally qualitative.

He was a
worried
old man.
…a
bored
old woman.
…an
interested
student.

These adjectives can be modified by words such as
very
and
extremely
, just like other qualitative adjectives (see paragraphs
2.140
to
2.156
).

form and meaning

2.81
    Like other adjectives used for talking about feelings, these adjectives are often used to describe the expression, voice, or manner of the person affected, instead of referring directly to that person.