Gradable and non-gradable Adjectives
Gradable and non-gradable adjectives
Adjectives can be gradable or ungradable. We use different groups of modifiers with the gradable and ungradable adjectives.
Gradable adjectives can show the scale or grade of something (how much?). They can form comparative and superlative form.
angry, big, busy, clever, common, deep, fast, friendly, happy, popular, rich, strong, weak, young, cheap, expensive, large, small, unpleasant, exciting, good, upset, disappointed, shy, intelligent, dizzy, aggressive, long, difficult, interesting
Modifiers for gradable adjectives:
a bit, a little, fairly, pretty, quite, really, too, very, hugely, slightly, rather, too, somewhat
His car was fairly expensive when it was new.
His mother was hugely disappointed with him.
Ungradable adjectives show extremes (all or nothing).
free, vast, enormous, priceless, minute, tiny, fabulous, freezing, amazing, correct, wrong, deaf, appalled, full, empty, awful, excellent, huge, impossible, superb, terrible, unique, whole, domestic, environmental, dead, exhausted, fantastic, necessary
Modifiers for gradable adjectives:
absolutely, completely, quite, totally, utterly, perfectly, practically, entirely, simply, virtually, almost, exclusively, fully, largely, mainly, fairly, really, pretty, nearly
Jack was totally wrong about the cost of the project.
Your photos are simply amazing!
Some adjectives can be both gradable and ungradable.
common, foreign, public, wild, academic, adult, average, genuine, guilty, scientific, technical, true, individual, innocent
