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