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Gradable - Adjectives Copia 2

The document explains gradable and ungradable adjectives, highlighting that gradable adjectives can vary in intensity and can be modified with words like 'extremely' or 'fairly', while ungradable adjectives indicate absolute qualities and can be emphasized with terms like 'absolutely' or 'completely'. It notes that some adjectives can function as either gradable or ungradable depending on context. Additionally, it provides examples of adverb and adjective collocations.

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42 views10 pages

Gradable - Adjectives Copia 2

The document explains gradable and ungradable adjectives, highlighting that gradable adjectives can vary in intensity and can be modified with words like 'extremely' or 'fairly', while ungradable adjectives indicate absolute qualities and can be emphasized with terms like 'absolutely' or 'completely'. It notes that some adjectives can function as either gradable or ungradable depending on context. Additionally, it provides examples of adverb and adjective collocations.

Uploaded by

dmolineroscribd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Gradable Adjectives

 Gradable adjective: they refer to qualities


which can be weaker or stronger.
 E.g.: important, slow, valuable, vigorous, etc.
Gradable adjectives

 To make a gradable adjective stronger we


can use:
 Extremely, incredibly, most (formal), pretty
(informal), rather, really, terribly, very.
 E.g.: It’s pretty obvious that he’s not interested.
 The talk was most interesting.
 I thought he was rather nice.
Gradable adjectives

 IMPORTANT:
 We cannot use ABSOLUTELY with gradable
adjectives.
Gradable adjectives

 To make a gradable adjective weaker we can


use:
 (little) bit, fairly, quite, relatively, slightly,
somewhat (formal)
 E.g.: He’s quite rich, but not a millionaire.
 We were somewhat disappointed with the
service.
 The hotel was fairly cheap.
Ungradable adjectives

 They indicate extreme or absolute qualities.


 E.g.: brilliant, correct, disastrous, exhausted,
furious, identical, perfect, unique, etc.
Ungradable adjectives

 They can be stressed using:


 absolutely, completely, quite, really, totally, utterly.
 E.g.: They were absolutely furious.
 This vase is quite unique.
Ungradable adjectives

 Absolutely cannot be used with all


ungradable adjectives.

 In some cases, completely, totally or utterly


are preferred.
Ungradable adjectives

 We can also use that something is very


nearly in an abolute/extreme state using
almost, nearly, practically, virtually.

 E.g.: The tank is almost empty.


 The two vases are virtually identical.
Compare

 The beach was fairly empty.


 The beach was absolutely empty.

 Some adjectives can be gradable or ungradable


depending on the context.
Adverb + adjective
collocation
bitterly cold, disappointed, opposed
 completely different, incomprehensible, new, sure
 deeply ashamed, attached, divided, unhappy
 entirely beneficial, different, satisfactory, unexpected.
 heavily armed, dependent, polluted
 highly contagious, critical, intelligent, likely, sensitive
 painfully aware, obvious, sensitive, slow
 perfectly balanced, normal, safe, serious
 seriously damaged, hurt
 totally harmless, inadequate, unbelievable
 utterly different, disastrous, impossible, useless
 widely available, held, publicised, used

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