Deciding whether to use the -ing form (present participle) or the -ed form (past participle of a regular verb) as an adjective in a specific sentence can be difficult.
Tip: Decide whether the modified NOUN or PRONOUN is causing or experiencing what the participle describes to make the right choice.
Examples:
Use a present participle (-ing) to modify a noun or pronoun that is the agent or the cause of the action.
a.) Micah described your interesting plan [The noun plan causes what its modifier describes--interest; so interesting is correct.]
b.) I find your plan exciting. [The noun plan causes what its modifier describes--excitement; so exciting is correct]
Use a past participle ( -ed in regular verbs) to modify a noun or pronoun that experiences or receives whatever the modifier describes.
a.) An interested committee wants to hear your plan. [The noun committee experiences what its modifier describes--interest; so interested is correct.]
b.) Excited by your plan, they called a board meeting. [The pronoun they experiences what its modifier describes--excitement; so excited is correct.]
Example study: Here are frequently used participles that convey very different meaning, depending on whether the -ed or the -ing form is used.
amused, amusing / frightened, frightening / annoyed, annoying / insulted, insulting / appalled, appalling / offended, offending / bored, boring
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