Adjectives are words that describe the qualities (characteristics) of other words. They add a lot of interesting meaning to what you are saying. When you want to describe something that has different degrees of quality, you use gradable adjectives!
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Gradable
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Most adjectives are gradable, such as ‘cold’ ‘hot’ and ‘expensive’. Gradable adjectives show that something can have different degrees – this means that their meaning can be modified (made stronger, weaker, or otherwise altered) by placing one or more adverbs in front of them.
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For example:
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- an expensive jacket
- a very expensive jacket
- a fairly expensive jacket
- an extremely expensive jacket
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- I am a bit cold. Can I turn the fire on?
- I am very interested in taking this course.
- Yesterday’s test was extremely difficult.
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Non-gradable
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Non-gradable adjectives are like ‘married’ or ‘wooden’ – they describe qualities that are completely present or completely absent. They do not have different degrees. You cannot be very married or a a bit married.
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Adjectives like ‘excellent’ ‘awful’ and ‘freezing’ are also non-gradable adjectives. They already contain the idea of ‘very’ — ‘freezing’ means very cold etc.
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For example:
| NON-GRADING ADVERBS | NON-GRADABLE ADJECTIVES | |
| absolutely | awful | extreme |
| utterly | excellent | |
| completely | terrified | |
| totally | dead | absolute |
| nearly | impossible | |
| virtually | unique | |
| essentially | chemical | classifying |
| mainly | digital | |
| almost | domestic |
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- It is freezing in here!
- The food was awful. I do not recommend it.
- My exam results were absolutely terrible. I have to re-take my exam next week.
- He is completely fascinated by your story.
- That movie is really terrifying.
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* The adverbs absolutely and completely can be used with non-gradable adjectives. Notice that really can be used with both gradable AND non-gradable adjectives.
* NOTE: there are many other adjectives and adverbs that we didn’t cover in this article.
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Complete the sentences with an appropriate adverb!
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very / really / absolutely / completely / a bit
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- Have you seen this movie? It’s ______ amazing!
- Come to the welcome party next week. It will be ______ fantastic.
- What an ______ gorgeous shirt!
- Sorry. I will be ______ late.
- I speak ______ good Spanish but my French is terrible.
[su_note]Answers: (1) completely (2) really (3) absolutely (4) a bit (5) very[/su_note]
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Source: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org, https://en.oxforddictionaries.com, https://www.englishclub.com/