If a learner tells you they're boring, they almost certainly mean they're bored. Nobody corrects it, because it sounds humble.
Most languages don't split this the way English does. One form describes the thing that causes a feeling; the other describes the person who has it.
-ing is the cause: the meeting is boring. -ed is the effect: I'm bored. Learners meet boring first, so it comes out in both situations — and in one of them it becomes a statement about them.
It comes with a whole family
Every feeling adjective in English has this pair. Miss the first and you'll miss all five:
The rule that covers all of them
Ask who feels and what causes. You feel → -ed. The thing causes → -ing. A person is almost never -ing unless you really mean it.
One honest caveat
-ing for people is real and correct — "he's amazing", "she's inspiring". There you're describing the effect they have on others, not what they feel.
You don't need one more rule to memorise. You need to speak and be corrected.
The mistake you just read is one of dozens — and almost nobody corrects them, because people understand you anyway.
- Actually speakJohn hears what you say and corrects you on the spot, with the reason why.
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- Ten minutes a dayOne short lesson every day beats three hours on a Sunday.
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