'Bored' and 'boring' - Learners' Questions

Oum in Cambodia asks: “When should I use the words 'bored' and 'boring'?” Dan has the answer.

Transcript
Hi guys! Dan here for BBC Learning English with this week's Learner Question. Find out what it is after this.

OK! This week's learner question comes from Oum in Cambodia, who asks "When should I use the words bored and boring?" It's a very good question Oum. Are you listening? Here we go.

Bored and boring are both adjectives. They have the same meaning i.e. not interesting. But they're used in different ways. Consider: I am bored because this TV programme is boring, or, this film is frightening so I am frightened.

In English, when an adjective has an –ed and an -ing form. The -ed form describes the feeling of the person, whereas the -ing form describes the object which makes us feel. I feel bored because the TV is boring. I feel frightened because the film is frightening. But if I stop watching the film, I will not be frightened any more, yet the film will still be frightening.

We can make another difference between bored and boring - one which describes a temporary feeling or a permanent quality. For example: I don't like David. He's boring. Or: I'm bored let's go and have some fun. In the first example I don't like David because he's boring. This describes a permanent quality. David was boring yesterday, he's boring today, and he will probably be boring tomorrow. However, in my second example, I have a temporary feeling. I am bored. If I go and do something fun I won't be bored any more, will I?

[farleyleite]

I'm not bored, because i like to learn english with the bbc learning !

[jayamohan]

Dan you are an outstanding teacher, you clear all our doubt very easily.

[aichamendo]

Thank you so much for your details answer

[KA-oupw]

I am not bored because this video is not boring.

[elifkareni]

Thank you sir, could you explain this sentence " he is boring( you have said that for David).." i didnt get it well. İn this sentence: David is boring means David is object here or we use the "ed" for when we use it for our own! For example can we say " David is bored"? Or we should say " David got bored " which one is correct? Thabk you in advance! I m just try to learning English and I think I m in right place!!!

[davidbandini]

Do you really think that I'm boring? 😢😢😢

[rmadwa]

Iam not bored beacause this video is useful

[carlospadinmartinez]

ohh that's boring, now I'm really bored

[davmaster]

THANK YOU I AM NOT BORING YOU YOUR VIDEOS ARE BORED jk