依据词尾可以识别很多形容词。形容词的一大子类也可以根据词尾在形式上区分，这便是以ed，和ing为词尾的词语：
-ed形式 computerized, determined, excited, misunderstood, renowned, self-centred, talented, unknown
-ing 形式 annoying, exasperating, frightening, gratifying, misleading, thrilling, time-consuming, worrying
记住，有些-ed形式并不以-ed为词尾，如misunderstood 和unknown。这种说法仅仅是对这种形式的总称。以-ed 或 -ing结尾的形容词被称作分词形容词，因为它们有着与动词分词相同的词尾 (he was training for the Olympics, he had trained for the Olympics)。某些情况下，存在一个和形容词对应的动词(to annoy, to computerize, to excite, 等等)，但也有些这
类的形容词没有与之对应的动词（*to renown, *to self-centre, *to talent）。和其他形容词一样，分词形容词通常可以用very, extremely, 或 less来修饰(very determined非常确定, extremely self-centred极度自我中心, less frightening不那么吓人, 等等)。它们还能用 more和 most 来形成比较和最高级 (annoying, more annoying, most annoying)。最后，大多数分词形容词既可以用作定语，又可以用作表语。
定语 表语
That's an irritating noise 那是令人恼火的噪音 That noise is irritating 那噪音令人恼火
This is an exciting film 这是部精彩的电影。 This film is exciting 这部电影挺精彩。
He's a talented footballer 他是个天才的足球运动员。 That footballer is talented 那个足球运动员很有天分。
很多没有对应动词的分词形容词由名词和分词组合而成。
alcohol-based chemicals 醇基化学品
battle-hardened soldiers 久经沙场的士兵
drug-induced coma 药物性昏迷
energy-saving devices 省力的装置
fact-finding mission 寻求事实的任务
purpose-built accommodation 专用住房
这些词语也可以用作表语（the chemicals are alcohol-based化学品是醇基的, the soldiers were battle-hardened士兵们久经沙场，等等）。
当分词形容词用作表语时，有时会难以区分它们是形容词还是动词。
[1] the workers are striking
在上下文不清楚的情况下，striking的语法状态是不确定的。下面将句子扩充，可以看出作为形容词和动词的不同理解。
[1a] the workers are very striking in their new uniforms (=`impressive', `conspicuous') 工人们穿着新制服非常醒目（＝“令人印象深刻”的，“引人注目”的）
[1b] the workers are striking outside the factory gates (=`on strike') 工人们在工厂大门外举行罢工（＝正在罢工）
比较以下这组句子
[2] the noise is annoying 噪音令人厌烦
[3] the noise is annoying the neighbours 噪音正烦扰邻居
在[2]中，我们可以用very来修饰annoying。
[2a] the noise is (very) annoying 噪音（非常）令人厌烦
但是我们不能在句 [3]中以同样的方式来修饰它。
[3a] *the noise is (very) annoying the neighbours
[2a]可以成立，说明在这个句型结构里 annoying是形容词。在句[3]中，我们不能像[3a]那样加very，由此证明了annoying的动词属性。更进一步的证据是neighbours（直接宾语）紧接在后annoying。注意我们还可以将句[3]变成被动句 (the neighbours were annoyed by the noise邻居们被噪音烦扰)。在此例中，annoying是句子的主动词，紧接在进行体助动词is的后面。在[2]中，动词只有一个，即主动词is。
我们可以依照同样的标准对以下词语进行辨析。
形容词 动词
This film is terrifying电影很吓人 This film is terrifying the children电影把孩子们吓着了
Your comments are alarming 你的评论令人担心 Your comments are alarming the people你的评论让人们担心了
The defendant's answers were misleading 被告的回答有误导性。 The defendant's answers were misleading the jury被告的回答在误导陪审团
如果-ing形式可以转换为非进行体动词，那么我们也可以认定-ing 形式是动词。
进行体 非进行体
The children are dancing 孩子们正在跳舞 The children dance孩子们跳舞
My eyes are stinging我的眼睛正感到刺痛 My eyes sting我的眼睛感到刺痛
The wood is drying 木头正在变干 The wood dries 木头变干了
将进行体到非进行体的变化与下面的转换作比较：
the work is rewarding工作有成效 ~*the work rewards
the job was exacting这工作费劲 ~*the job exacted
your paper was interesting你的论文有意思 ~*your paper interested
在这些例子中，非进行体的句子不符合语法规则，这意味着它们用作形容词。
相似的不确定性也出现在-ed形式中。同样，我们一般可以用very来确定- -ed词是形容词还是动词。
The bomb was detonated被引爆了 ~*The bomb was very detonated
This document is hand-written文件是手写的 ~*This document is very hand-written
My house was built in only twelve weeks我的房子只花了12个星期就盖起来了 ~*My house was very built in only twelve weeks
noise的形容词Ten people were killed十人被杀 ~*Ten people were very killed
这些例子中不能加very，说明它们是动词而非形容词。不过，用这一方法检验-ed形式没有-ing形式准，因为very有时既可以用于形容词、又可以用于动词结构。
形容词 动词
I was embarrassed 我感到很尴尬
I was very embarrassed 我感到非常尴尬 I was embarrassed by your behaviour 你的行为让我难堪
was very embarrassed by your behaviour你的行为让我非常难堪I
She was surprised 她感到惊讶
She was very surprised 她感到很惊讶 She was surprised by my reaction 我的反应让她惊讶
She was very surprised by my reaction 我的反应让她很惊讶
出现by-施动者短语(by your behaviour, by my reaction)意味着-ed 形式的动词词性。反过来，出现补语如that-从句意味着-ed 形式的形容词词性。比较下面两个句式：
形容词 The jury was convinced that the defendant was innocent陪审团相信被告是无辜
的
动词 The jury was convinced by the lawyer's argument陪审团被律师的论证给说服了
以下是更多形容词结构（带补语）和动词结构（带by-施动者短语）的例子。
形容词 动词
I was delighted to meet you again我很高兴再次遇见你 I was delighted by his compliments我为他的恭维而高兴
John is terrified of losing his job约翰害怕丢掉工作 John is terrified by his boss约翰对老板感到害怕
I was frightened that I'd be late我恐怕会迟到 I was frightened by your expression我被你的表情吓着了
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