English grammar
Easily confused: embarrassed / embarrassing, fun / funny, lend / borrow
Stop mixing up embarrassed / embarrassing, fun / funny and lend / borrow.
From the scene How embarrassing!
In short
-ed says how a person feels, -ing what causes it. Lend means give for a while; borrow means take.
Your turn
Which one goes with what causes the feeling (-ing)?
Options: spilling coffee is embarrassing · she was embarrassed · a fun time · a funny joke
Show answer
what causes the feeling (-ing) → spilling coffee is embarrassing
How it works
Words ending in -ed say how a person feels (she was embarrassed).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
"Funny" makes you laugh. She means a (blank) time.
Options: fun · funny · funnily
Show answer
"Funny" makes you laugh. She means a fun time.
«Funny» es algo que te hace reír. Quiere decir que lo pasó bien.
Good to know
Words ending in -ing describe the person or thing that causes the feeling (spilling coffee is embarrassing).
Good to know
Funny means it makes you laugh; fun means enjoyable (a fun time, a funny joke).
Good to know
You lend something to someone, and you borrow something from someone — and whatever you borrow, you give back.
how a person feels (-ed) she was embarrassed
Nuria
No, Javi. She was embarrassed. Spilling coffee is embarrassing.
No, Javi. Ella estaba avergonzada. Tirar el café da vergüenza.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No, Javi. (blank). Spilling coffee is embarrassing.
Options: A fun time · a funny joke · Could you lend me a tissue · She was embarrassed
Show answer
Nuria
No, Javi. She was embarrassed. Spilling coffee is embarrassing.
No, Javi. Ella estaba avergonzada. Tirar el café da vergüenza.
what causes the feeling (-ing) spilling coffee is embarrassing
Nuria
No, Javi. She was embarrassed. Spilling coffee is embarrassing.
No, Javi. Ella estaba avergonzada. Tirar el café da vergüenza.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No, Javi. She was embarrassed. (blank).
Options: A fun time · a funny joke · Could you lend me a tissue · Spilling coffee is embarrassing
Show answer
Nuria
No, Javi. She was embarrassed. Spilling coffee is embarrassing.
No, Javi. Ella estaba avergonzada. Tirar el café da vergüenza.
enjoyable · makes you laugh a fun time · a funny joke
giving something for a while could you lend me a tissue?
Tomás
Achoo! Javi, could you lend me a tissue?
¡Achís! Javi, ¿me prestas un pañuelo?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Achoo! Javi, (blank)?
Options: spilling coffee is embarrassing · could you lend me a tissue · she was embarrassed
Show answer
Tomás
Achoo! Javi, could you lend me a tissue?
¡Achís! Javi, ¿me prestas un pañuelo?
taking something for a while you can borrow it
Javi
You can borrow it, boss. Just please don't give it back.
Puedes tomarlo prestado, jefe. Pero, por favor, no me lo devuelvas.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), boss. Just please don't give it back.
Options: She was embarrassed · Spilling coffee is embarrassing · You can borrow it
Show answer
Javi
You can borrow it, boss. Just please don't give it back.
Puedes tomarlo prestado, jefe. Pero, por favor, no me lo devuelvas.
Common mistake
Not lend or rent here. Tomás takes it.
You can borrow it, boss. Just please don't give it back.
Puedes tomarlo prestado, jefe. Pero, por favor, no me lo devuelvas.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| how a person feels (-ed) | she was embarrassed |
|---|---|
| what causes the feeling (-ing) | spilling coffee is embarrassing |
| enjoyable · makes you laugh | a fun time · a funny joke |
| giving something for a while | could you lend me a tissue? |
| taking something for a while | you can borrow it |
More lines from the story
- Nuria"Funny" makes you laugh. She means a fun time.«Funny» es algo que te hace reír. Quiere decir que lo pasó bien.
- JaviHer app wrote: "I was very embarrassing because I spilt my coffee."Su app escribió: «Fui muy vergonzosa porque tiré mi café».
- TomásWhat do you mean, "there are two"? Two... babies?¿Cómo que «son dos»? ¿Dos... bebés?