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Understanding Gradable Adjectives

Adjectives can be classified as either gradable or non-gradable. Gradable adjectives describe qualities that can vary in degree and take intensifying adverbs like 'very', while non-gradable adjectives describe absolute qualities that cannot be intensified. Most adjectives are gradable but some, like 'fantastic' and 'enormous', are non-gradable because they already imply a high degree. Adverbs like 'really' can modify both types but have different meanings depending on the adjective.

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429 views1 page

Understanding Gradable Adjectives

Adjectives can be classified as either gradable or non-gradable. Gradable adjectives describe qualities that can vary in degree and take intensifying adverbs like 'very', while non-gradable adjectives describe absolute qualities that cannot be intensified. Most adjectives are gradable but some, like 'fantastic' and 'enormous', are non-gradable because they already imply a high degree. Adverbs like 'really' can modify both types but have different meanings depending on the adjective.

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Vick
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GRADABILITY

Adjectives can be classified as gradable or non-gradable depending on their meaning.

Most adjectives are gradable, which means that they describe qualities that can have different degrees and can be made weaker or stronger (e.g. easy, good, angry) when
combined with an adverb such as very, really, pretty, rather, quite, fairly, slightly, extremely, incredibly, terribly, immensely, reasonably, ususually, relatively, deeply, hugely, somewhat,
etc.

Non-gradable adjectives describe absolute or extreme qualities that cannot be graded (fantastic, impossible, enormous) as they already contain the idea of “very” in ther
definitions. They are combined with adverbs such as absolutely, really, totally, etc. to add extra enphasis

 The adverbs really, pretty, fairly can be used with both gradable and non-gradable adjectives in informal contexts.
 The adverb quite can be used with both gradable and non-gradable adjectives but with a difference in meaning:
“After spending 2 hours at the gym, Steve was quite tired but went out with his friends anyway. (=fairly, but not very)
“I’m quite certain that this is the only possible solution. (=completely)

 Not all adverbs can be combined with all adjectives. some collocate and some don’t.
“I’m not going out in this weather. It’s absolutely/entirely freezing!”

virtually/
perfectly deeply highly bitterly terribly completely entirely utterly painfully relatively potentially immensely absolutely heavily totally reasonably
practically

clear moved critical cold appalled satisfied different meaningless slow cheap fatal popular unknown awful populated harmless accurate

normal hert unusual disappointed disappointed (ir)relevant satisfactory useless upset easy dangerous powerful impossible ridiculous damaged unexpected priced

straight
capable committed successful upset afraid awful unexpected different aware deadly strong useless impossible polluted unacceptable safe
forward

acceptable affected (un)likely important safe sure miserable obvious rare harmful important invisible devastated dependent unsuitable

reasonable grateful qualified sad useless dependent ridiculous clear small hazardous wealthy identical critical unaware

safe upset improbable meaningless beneficial impossible young damaging proud non-existent appalling inappropriate

efficient true difficult essential

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