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GRAMMAR · SUGGESTED LEVEL A2–B1

Bored vs boring

One describes how you feel.
The other describes what causes the feeling.

Try the practice ↓
Theo resting his cheek on his hand, looking bored
THE FEELING

I’m bored.

You feel bored when something doesn’t interest you, or you have nothing to do.

“I’m bored. Let’s go for a walk.”
THE CAUSE

This is boring.

Something — or someone — is boring when it makes you feel bored.

“This film is boring. Let’s watch something else.”
WATCH WITH THEO

A quick explanation.

Watch the short lesson, then come back and try the questions.

Watch on YouTube ↗

Opens YouTube in a new tab.

The film is boring.

↓ it makes me feel…

I’m bored.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN

Choose the word that fits.

Answer all six questions, then check your answers. You can try again as often as you like.

01 The lesson was ___. I kept looking at the clock.
02 I feel ___ when I have nothing to do.
03 This game is ___. Let’s play something else.
04 Are you ___? Would you like to go for a walk?
05 He tells the same story every day. He can be ___.
06 We were ___ during the long wait.

Show all answers and explanations
  1. boring — The lesson caused the feeling, so it was boring.
  2. bored — I feel describes a person’s feeling: bored.
  3. boring — The game causes boredom, so it is boring.
  4. bored — The question asks how you feel: bored.
  5. boring — A person can also cause boredom. Here, he is boring.
  6. bored — We describes the people experiencing the feeling: bored.
MAKE IT YOURS

Think of your own example.

Finish these sentences aloud or on paper:

“I feel bored when…”
“I think … is boring.”
Get the practice sheet and answer key ↓

Keep practising.

Created for The Pocket Teacher · Theo is our animated guide. About these lessons · Suggest a correction