Introduction / Context:
The purpose of this question is to distinguish between the -ing participle (active/causative sense) and the -ed participle (passive/resultant state) in adjectival use. People are “shocked” (state experienced), while events are “shocking” (they cause the feeling).
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Subject: “We” (experiencers).
- Adjective used: “shocking” (causative).
- Context: reaction to sad news.
Concept / Approach:
- Use “-ed” participles to describe how a person feels: “bored”, “confused”, “shocked”.
- Use “-ing” participles to describe the thing that causes the feeling: “boring lecture”, “confusing problem”, “shocking news”.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the experiencer: the subject is “we”.Select the correct form: “shocked”.Correct sentence: “We were shocked to hear the news of the untimely death of the leader.”
Verification / Alternative check:
Switch roles to test: “The shocking news upset us.” Here the event is “shocking”, but with “we” as subject, “shocked” is mandatory.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B–D: These are grammatically sound prepositional complements.E: Incorrect because A contains an error in participle choice.
Common Pitfalls:
Overusing “-ing” adjectives for feelings; not distinguishing between cause and effect in participial adjectives.
Final Answer:
We were shocking
Discussion & Comments