That sounds boring, you must have been bored

(Answers to the Exercise)

  1. And then as we were flying over the Himalayas, we got caught in a thunder storm and the lights on the plane went out.
  2. (i) That must have been scary / frightening / terrifying.
    (ii) You must have been scared / frightened / terrified.
    (Note: terrifying / terrified is the strongest of the three suggestions. We can make it even stronger if we say absolutely terrifying /terrified).

  1. Thelma had been looking forward to the festival for weeks. Then, on the day it was supposed to take place, it poured with rain and they cancelled it.
  2. (i) That must have been disappointing (for her).
    (ii) She must have been (pretty) disappointed.

  1. So, I got up from the table and went to the check-out to pay for the meal. I took out my wallet and realised I didn't have any money.
  2. (i) That must have been embarrassing.
    (ii) You must have been (pretty) embarrassed.

  1. My daughter went out with some friends last night. She said she'd be back by 11, but we didn't see her till three o'clock in the morning.
  2. (i) That must have been worrying.
    (ii) You must have been worried.
    (Or, for a more colourful expression: You must have been worried sick).

Word List

    Here is a list of some ____ed / ____ing pairs like the ones featured in this lesson. A small number of non-____ed, ____ing words are also included. These are marked with an asterisk.

    SURPRISE

    • amazed / amazing
    • astonished / astonishing
    • surprised / surprising

    INTEREST, JOY etc.

    • amused / amusing
    • delighted / delightful*
    • excited / exciting
    • fascinated / fascinating
    • interested / interesting

    TIREDNESS and BOREDOM

    • bored / boring
    • tired / tiring
    • exhausted / exhausting

    LACK OF UNDERSTANDING

    • confused / confusing
    • puzzled / puzzling

    FEAR and WORRY

    • disturbed / disturbing
    • frightened / frightening
    • scared / scary*
    • terrified / terrifying
    • worried / worrying

    ANGER

    • annoyed / annoying
    • irritated / irritating

    OTHER NEGATIVE FEELINGS

    • depressed / depressing
    • disappointed / disappointing
    • disgusted / disgusting
    • embarrassed / embarrassing
    • horrified / horrifying
    • shocked / shocking
    • upset* / upsetting

    We hope you've enjoyed this lesson.
    Please click here if you want to try some other one-point lessons.

    © Robert E. Jones, 2003