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Omar Ahmed Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Tricky questions

A teacher of English in my country says, "Adjectives in -ing describe the doer of the action , but adjectives ending in -ed describe the thing or the person that received the action. "

In fact, I don't think he is right. Am I right?

He also says, "Use "best" and not "the best" at the end of a sentence. For example, I liked this film best. (not the best)"

I think that we can use "the best" at the end of a sentence. I sometimes see "the best" at the end of a sentence. Am I right?

  

Top answer

When participles ("-ing" = present participle and "-ed" = past participle) function as adjectives, the noun that they modify could be referring to either a "doer" or a "done to" - as shown below, where the noun "runner" sometimes refers to the "doer" and sometimes to the "done to". "

— Peter Tallon

  • When participles ("-ing" = present participle and "-ed" = past participle) function as adjectives, the noun that they modify could be referring to either a "doer" or a "done to" - as shown below, where the noun "runner" sometimes refers to the "doer" and sometimes to the "done to".
  • "
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5 Answers
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When participles ("-ing" = present participle and "-ed" = past participle) function as adjectives, the noun that they modify could be referring to either a "doer" or a "done to" - as shown below, where the noun "runner" sometimes refers to the "doer" and sometimes to the "done to".

"The tiring runner won the race."

"The tiring runner was passed."

"Everyone passed the tiring r

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I like him best.

I like him the best.

Native English speakers do say both - without any difference in meaning.

You might like to take note that if you are comparing just two items, you should not use the superlative form. "Best" implies that you are comparing more than two things.

"ET" and "Star Wars" are both good films but I think "ET" is better."

"Of all the

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In the "runner" sentences the runner is either winning or getting passed.

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There are many on line references to participles functioning as adjectives but, sorry, Not as far as I know about doing and done to.

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essam gaweesh"Adjectives in -ing describe the doer of the action , but adjectives ending in -ed describe the thing or the person that received the action. "

This is correct.
"doer of the action" = subject; "receiver of the action" = object.

An -ing form typically modifies a noun which can be the subject of an active sentence.

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