Inspired vs. Inspiring

Hey! Welcome here!

Let`s learn how to use the word inspired and inspiring.

When you are inspired, you feel something different. You feel motivated or uplifted or elated. You feel that you can do something that you think difficult or challenging. When someone or something inspires you and you feel inspired – then, you are influenced by that something or someone.

Let`s see some examples.

1. After reading the novel The Alchemist, I felt really inspired to go for my dreams.

2. The doctors and nurses are inspired by the citizens` support.

3. Ara is inspired to study English because she likes to be an English teacher.

Please take note that since inspire is also a verb, the three examples above are in the form of passive voice sentences. The subjects in those sentences are the receivers of the action rather than the doers.

On the other hand, when something is inspiring, it has an effect that encourages or stimulates you to be strongly interested or enthusiastic in something that you think difficult or challenging, or to be better or to be good. A person or thing or event can be inspiring.

Let`s look at the following examples.

1. The speech of Morgan Freeman is inspiring.

2. Mr. Kiyosawa is an inspiring Japanese teacher.

3. The Hachiko movie is inspiring.

To sum it up, when you say I AM INSPIRED, someone or something is the cause of your feeling of enthusiasm or interest or motivation.

However, when you say I AM INSPIRING, it means that you are the cause of someone`s feeling of enthusiasm or interest or motivation.