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(Non) Gradable Adjective
(Non) Gradable Adjective
(Non) Gradable Adjective
Most adjectives are gradable, which means that they describe qualities that can have different degrees and can be made weaker or stronger (e.g. easy, good, angry) when
combined with an adverb such as very, really, pretty, rather, quite, fairly, slightly, extremely, incredibly, terribly, immensely, reasonably, ususually, relatively, deeply, hugely, somewhat,
etc.
Non-gradable adjectives describe absolute or extreme qualities that cannot be graded (fantastic, impossible, enormous) as they already contain the idea of “very” in ther
definitions. They are combined with adverbs such as absolutely, really, totally, etc. to add extra enphasis
The adverbs really, pretty, fairly can be used with both gradable and non-gradable adjectives in informal contexts.
The adverb quite can be used with both gradable and non-gradable adjectives but with a difference in meaning:
“After spending 2 hours at the gym, Steve was quite tired but went out with his friends anyway. (=fairly, but not very)
“I’m quite certain that this is the only possible solution. (=completely)
Not all adverbs can be combined with all adjectives. some collocate and some don’t.
“I’m not going out in this weather. It’s absolutely/entirely freezing!”
virtually/
perfectly deeply highly bitterly terribly completely entirely utterly painfully relatively potentially immensely absolutely heavily totally reasonably
practically
clear moved critical cold appalled satisfied different meaningless slow cheap fatal popular unknown awful populated harmless accurate
normal hert unusual disappointed disappointed (ir)relevant satisfactory useless upset easy dangerous powerful impossible ridiculous damaged unexpected priced
straight
capable committed successful upset afraid awful unexpected different aware deadly strong useless impossible polluted unacceptable safe
forward
acceptable affected (un)likely important safe sure miserable obvious rare harmful important invisible devastated dependent unsuitable
reasonable grateful qualified sad useless dependent ridiculous clear small hazardous wealthy identical critical unaware
safe upset improbable meaningless beneficial impossible young damaging proud non-existent appalling inappropriate