“Interesting” and “interested” are both adjectives, but they mean different things.
Let’s say your friend offers you two free movie tickets.
— If you are interested in it, that means that you want the ticket.
— If the movie was interesting, it means that you liked the movie.
In other words, “interested” refers to “you” and “interesting” refers to “the movie”.
We use ‘interesting’ to describe a person or thing we like.
Sally is an interesting person.
It was an interesting book.
We use ‘interested’ when we say that we have an interest in someone or something.
Jack is interested in talking to Sally.
In high school, I was really interested in history.
Use these formulas to make your own sentences:
#1. A person/thing + BE + interesting.
She is an interesting person.
#2. A person + BE + interested in + [someone/something].
She is interested in design.
By the way, we can also describe our interest in something with the word ‘interest’. It can be a noun or a verb.
I lost interest in martial arts a long time ago. (interest is a noun)
Sport has never really interested me. (interest as a verb)
Self-check: Take the test to check yourself.
My Multiple Choice Quiz
Practice: Make your own sentences using the formulas:
___ is interesting
____ be interested in [something]
Share your sentences in the comments.
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