Gradable / Ungradable adjectives
Gradable / ungradable
Adjectives can be either gradable or ungradable
1) Gradable
A gradable adjective or adverb is one that can be used in the comparative or
superlative, or that can be qualified by words such as 'very' or 'quite'.
With gradable adjectives, we can use all adverbs of degree, including, of course,
"very".
Adjectives describe qualities (characteristics) of nouns. Some qualities can vary in
intensity or "grade", for example: rather hot, quite hot, kind of hot, somewhat hot,
hotter (than), (the) hottest, very hot, super-hot, less hot. When the intensity of an
adjective can vary, it is called a gradable adjective.
°C
boiling 100 boiling is non-gradable
extremely hot
very hot
hot
rather hot
fairly hot
fairly cold
rather cold
cold
very cold
extremely cold
freezing 0 freezing is non-gradable
2) Ungradable
Some adjectives cannot be made bigger, smaller, higher, lower, stronger, weaker,
etc. Their intensity NEVER varies, they are [Link] are called ungradable
adjectives:
The tree is dead.
Not: The tree is fairly dead.
My dog is female.
Not: My dog is sort of female.
Other common ungradable adjectives include: automatic/manual; Irish/Brazilian/Thai
etc.; married/unmarried/single; wooden. You can’t be very married or a bit married.
Non-gradable adjectives do not have different degrees.
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Adjectives like ‘terrifying’, ‘freezing’ ‘amazing’ are also non-gradable adjectives.
They already contain the idea of ‘very’ in their definitions – ‘freezing’ means ‘very
cold’ etc.
The room is filthy.
Not: The room is very filthy.
I am feeling miserable today.
Not: I am feeling a bit miserable today.
My cousin felt elated at her birthday party.
Not: My cousin felt extremely elated at her birthday party.
Using adverbs of degree
When we use adverbs of degree to modify adjectives we usually have to use different
adverbs for gradable and non-gradable adjectives.
NOT I’m completely hot.
NOT It was very fantastic!
1) With gradable adjectives
It’s a bit cold in here. Shall I turn the fire on?
He’s very interested in history. Why don’t you buy him a history book?
This exercise is really difficult. I don’t know any of the answers.
I’m extremely tired. I’m going to bed.
The adverbs a bit, very, really, extremely and quite can all be used with gradable
adjectives.
2) With ungradable adjectives
It’s absolutely freezing in here. Shall I turn the fire on?
He’s completely fascinated by history. Why don’t you buy him a history book?
This exercise is absolutely impossible.
That film is really terrifying. Don’t go and see it on your own.
The adverbs absolutely, completely, totally and utterly can be used with non-
gradable adjectives.
3) Quite - Really
Really and quite can be used with both gradable AND ungradable adjectives.
Quite has two meaning.
Compare:
It’s quite good, but it could be better (= It’s OK, not bad.)
It’s quite impossible. (= It’s completely impossible.)
With gradable words, quite usually means something like ‘fairly’ or’ rather’ in
affirmative sentences. With ungradable words, quite means ‘completely’.
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GRADABLE UNGRADABLE
angry furious
annoying infuriating
bad disgusting, horrible, terrible, awful
beautiful stunning
big enormous, huge
clean spotless
cold freezing
confident sure
crazy insane
cute adorable
difficult impossible
dirty filthy
disappointed devastated
excited thrilled
funny hilarious
good amazing, brilliant, excellent, fabulous, fantastic, incredible,
marvellous, outstanding, perfect, superb,
happy elated, ecstatic
hot, warm boiling
hungry starving
important critical, essential, vital
impressive magnificent, remarkable, spectacular
interesting fascinating
likely certain
loud, noisy deafening
nasty horrible
nice gorgeous, wonderful
old ancient
pleasant delightful
pleased delighted
pretty gorgeous
quiet silent
rude outrageous
sad miserable
scared terrified, petrified
scary terrifying
silly ridiculous
small tiny
strange bizarre, incredible
surprised astonished, amazed, stunned
tasty delicious
tired exhausted
ugly hideous
unimpressed appalled
unpleasant disgusting
valuable priceless
wet soaked
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