Grammar Focus: Adjectives ending in -ed / -ing + Simple Past Tense
Topic Vocabulary: photography, exposition, friend, going out, professional work
Level: B2
Learning Goal: Expand emotional vocabulary and use of past tense in storytelling
📖 The Magic Text
Last Friday, I attended a contemporary photography exposition at the city museum. My friend Carla, a passionate photographer, had some of her professional work on display, so I was both curious and excited to support her.
When I arrived, I felt slightly overwhelmed — the space was packed, and the atmosphere was intimidating. Everyone seemed engaged in deep conversations about lighting, composition, and symbolism.
At first, I was anxious I wouldn’t understand anything, but then I saw Carla’s section. Her portraits were striking, thought-provoking, and incredibly moving. One photo of an elderly woman smiling in a sunlit window left me completely captivated.
As I wandered through the gallery, I noticed how some pieces were truly disturbing, others deeply inspiring, and a few rather confusing. Still, I was constantly impressed by the artists’ bold choices.
Carla looked absolutely delighted, and when I told her how amazed I was, she laughed — apparently, she had been nervous all day. Later, we went out for drinks and talked about art, expression, and the fear of judgment in creative work.
By the end of the night, I felt both emotionally drained and completely fulfilled.
It was one of the most stimulating evenings I’ve had in months.
💬 Challenging Questions
📘 Text-Based:
- What specific feelings did the narrator experience during the exposition?
- How did the narrator’s opinion change from the beginning to the end?
- What adjectives describe Carla’s photographs?
💡 Personal/Professional:
- Describe a time when you saw or created something that left you moved or inspired.
- How does your profession or passion involve emotional expression?
🔍 Grammar Deep Dive
🎯 Adjectives Ending in -ed vs. -ing
| -ed (Feeling) | -ing (Cause/Quality) |
|---|---|
| amazed | amazing |
| bored | boring |
| overwhelmed | overwhelming |
| inspired | inspiring |
| confused | confusing |
| impressed | impressive |
| moved | moving |
| delighted | delightful |
| fulfilled | fulfilling |
| intimidated | intimidating |
| anxious | nerve-wracking (adj.) |
💡 Rule of Thumb:
- Use -ed to describe how someone feels.
- Use -ing to describe the thing that causes the feeling.
🔁 Simple Past Tense Practice
| Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| attend | I attended the exposition at the museum. |
| feel | I felt overwhelmed at first. |
| notice | I noticed how powerful the photos were. |
| tell | I told Carla I was impressed. |
| go out | We went out for drinks after the event. |
| discuss | We discussed art and creative pressure. |
| learn | I learned something new about photography. |
| support | I supported my friend during the event. |
💡 Use simple past for completed actions in the past. Don’t forget irregular verbs like go → went, tell → told, feel → felt.
🎭 Character Perspective Activity
You are one of the photographers at the exposition.
Write a short journal entry describing the event from your point of view. Mention:
- How you felt before and after the event.
- How people reacted to your work.
- Use at least 3 -ed adjectives, 3 -ing adjectives, and 4 simple past verbs.
✨ Creative Expansion
📝 Writing Task:
Write about a creative, professional, or social event that changed your perspective or surprised you.
Use a mix of -ed / -ing adjectives and at least 5 verbs in the past tense. Focus on describing emotions and reactions.
🎤 Speaking Task:
Describe an experience where you felt one way at first (e.g., bored or anxious) and felt differently afterward (e.g., impressed or inspired).
Use emotional adjectives and connect them to what caused the change.
💡 Tip from Celestia (Pop-Up Style)
💫 Celestia says:
Want to sound more fluent?
Combine rich emotional adjectives with precise past tense verbs. For example:“I was overwhelmed at first, but the stimulating conversation and moving artwork left me inspired.”
✨ Your feelings matter. Express them clearly — in English and in life.