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Gradable and Non-gradable Adjectives

Adjectives describe qualities (characteristics) of nouns.

• Some qualities can vary in intensity or grade (for example: rather hot, hot, very

hot hot, hotter, the hottest).

!he adjective hot  is gradable.

Adjectives that describe qualities that can be measured in degrees, such as si"e,

beauty, age, etc. are the gradable adjectives because they can be used in

comparative or superlative forms, or #ith grading adverbs such as very orextremely, to sho# that a person or thing has more or less of a particular quality.

$ere some more examples of common gradable adjectives used #ith grading

adverbs:

%on&t tal' to enny, she&s very angry.

Sorry, can&t stop, &m extremely busy.&m #orried about !om, he&s dreadfully unhappy.

!hat slice of ca'e is rather big.

• *ther qualities cannot vary in intensity or grade because they are:

a. extremes (for example: free"ing)

b. absolutes (for example: dead)

c. classifying (for example: nuclear)

!he adjectives freezing, dead  and nuclear are non-gradable.

!hese adjectives describe qualities that are completely present or completely

absent. !hey do not occur in comparative and superlative forms, and cannot be

used #ith adverbs such as very or extremely, because #e don&t usually imagine

degrees of more or less of the quality being described. $o#ever, non+gradableadjectives can go #ith non+grading adverbs such as completely #hich emphasi"e

the extent of the quality as follo#s:

!he questions #ere completely impossible.

!he food #as absolutely superb.Gradable Adjectives

A gradable adjective can be used #ith grading adverbs that vary the adjective-s grade or

intensity. oo' at these examples:

grading adverbs 

a little, dreadfully, extremely, fairly,

/ gradable adjectives

angry, big, busy, clever, cold, deep, fast,

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hugely, immensely, intensely, rather,

reasonably, slightly, unusually, very

friendly, good, happy, high, hot, important,

long, popular, rich, strong, tall, #arm, #ea',

young

Non-gradable Adjectives

A non+gradable adjective cannot be used #ith grading adverbs:

• t #as rather free"ing outside.

• !he dog #as very dead.

• $e is investing in slightly nuclear energy.

*ften, non+gradable adjectives are used alone:

• t #as freezing outside.

• !he dog #as dead.

• $e is investing in nuclear energy.

$o#ever, a non+gradable adjective can be used #ith non+grading adverbs (#hich usually

 just give the adjective extra impact), for example:

non-grading adverbs non-gradable adjectives

absolutely a#ful extreme

utterly marvelous

completely terrified

totally dead absolute

nearly impossible

virtually unique

essentially chemical classifying

mainly digital

almost domestic

Adverbs used with gradable and non-gradable adjectives

!he adverbs really (very much) and fairly and pretty (both meaning to a significantdegree, but less than very) can often be used #ith gradable and non+gradable adjectives.

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"uite" with gradable and non-gradable adjectives

!he meaning of the adverb quite changes according to the type of adjective #e use it

#ith:

  adjective !uite

t-s !uite warm today. gradable fairly, rather

Are you !uite certain0 non+gradable completely, absolutely

Cross out the wrong option:

1. It's a(n) absolutely / really / very nice day, isn't it?

2. I thought the film was absolutely / quite / extremely amazing.

3. It's absolutely / very / really marvellous news.

4. The forecast is looking pretty / quite / totally romising.

5. !e were really / totally / very unlucky at the races.

6. I'm getting absolutely / quite / really "ored with this "ook.7. #he was extremely / pretty / totally amazed to see him there.

8. !e got really / totally / very soaked in the rain.

9. $e's absolutely / extremely /  pretty clever for his age.

10. $er first day at work was extremely / pretty / quite disastrous.

11. !e had a really / totally / very leasant day "y the seaside.

12. They were really / totally / very astonished at the news.

Choose the best option:

1. I'm fantastically bad  / terrible at maths.

2. It is hugely important  / essential that this should "e done well.3. It's unusually boiling / hot  for this time of year.

4. The hotel is fairly immense / large .

5. It was a very accomplished  / marvellous erformance.

6. $er sense of humour is utterly unusual / unique .

7. I'm incredi"ly delighted  / pleased  at the news.

8. #he was comletely puzzled / stupefied  "y his suggestion.

9. #he was totally surprised  / euphoric when she won the award.

10. $e's immensely excited  / thrilled  a"out his tri.

11. #he is virtually  penniless /  poor .

12. %y hone is comletely broken / useless .13. This vase is erfectly hideous / ugly .

14. #he's almost old / ancient  .

15. $e was rather   furious / annoyed  when he found out the truth.

16. I'm a "it exhausted  / tired  .

17. !e're reasona"ly pleased  / delighted  with the results.

18. These cakes are e&ceedingly delicious /  good  .

19. $e has a fairly colossal  / inflated  sense of his own imortance.

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20. !e were entirely  satisfied  / overjoyed with the arrangements.

21. This chocolate is simly sublime / tasty .

22. Their rices are rather exorbitant  / high .

23. They charge an a"solutely trifling  /  small  amount for the service.

24. I'm slightly astounded  / surprised  at his "ehaviour.

25. #he's a dreadfully brilliant  / talented  dancer.