LoginGradable and Ungradable Adjectives
Discover the rules for using gradable ('quite interesting') and ungradable ('utterly fascinating') adjectives. Detailed explanations and a quiz to test your knowledge.
What are Gradable and Ungreadable Adjectives?
Gradable and ungradable Adjectives are distinguished based on whether they can be modified by adverbs of degree. Gradable adjectives can be modified by adverbs of degree. Ungradable adjectives, on the other hand, cannot be modified by adverbs of degree..
Take a look at the following table to explore some gradable and ungradable adjectives with close meanings:
ungradable adjective | boiling | huge/enormous | priceless |
|---|---|---|---|
extremely hot | extremely big | extremely expensive | |
very hot | very big | very expensive | |
gradable adjective | hot | big | expensive |
rather hot | rather big | rather expensive | |
fairly hot | fairly big | fairly expensive | |
fairly cold | fairly small | fairly cheap | |
rather cold | rather small | rather cheap | |
gradable adjective | cold | small | cheap |
very cold | very small | very cheap | |
extremely cold | extremely small | extremely cheap | |
ungradable Adjective | freezing | tiny/minute | free |
Gradable Adjectives
Most adjectives have a meaning which can be made stronger or weaker; these are called 'gradable adjectives'.
Gradable adjectives represent a point on a scale. Thus, we can make comparative and superlative forms from all gradable adjectives. For example, cheap and expensive are adjectives on the scale of 'how much something costs'. Some of the other adjectives in this group include:
fast
rich
important
cold
busy
good
strong
tall
happy
funny
Modifying Gradable Adjectives
Gradable adjectives can be made stronger with the adverb 'very,' but not with the adverb 'absolutely':
Your antique rosewood desk looks absolutely expensive.
Your antique rosewood desk looks very expensive.
Other modifiers that we can use to strengthen the meaning of these adjectives are:
really
so
rather
extremely
terribly
most (formal)
pretty (informal)
Take a look at some examples:
I'm so happy to see you here.
You look pretty young.
I was most surprised to hear of your engagement.
Many adverbs can be used to modify gradable adjectives. Among them, 'very' is the most commonly used. But keep in mind that in order to sound fluent you can use other combinations of adverbs and adjectives. Take a look at these examples:
I was bitterly disappointed.
As a teenager, Brandon was painfully shy.
He is a highly successful businessman.
Tip!
Note that not all adverbs can go with all adjectives. You should pay attention to the collocations of each word to avoid using incorrect forms. We can often only use certain adverbs with certain adjectives.
Gradable adjectives can usually be made weaker by adverbs such as:
a (little) bit
fairly
somewhat
slightly
Here are some examples:
It's a slightly different color than I expected.
Weren't you being a little bit unfair?
The price is somewhat higher than I expected.
We can use the structure "be + not + very/that + adj" or "be + not + adj. + at all" to weaken gradable adjectives. Note that this structure is informal and you should not use it in a formal context.
His latest book wasn't very long and it wasn't exciting at all.
Ungradable Adjectives
Other adjectives have a meaning which is extreme or absolute and cannot easily be made stronger or weaker. These are called 'ungradable adjectives'. Ungradable adjectives represent the extremes of a scale and do not have comparative and superlative forms. Some of the common ungradable adjectives include:
Alive
Dead
Empty
Enormous
Unique
Perfect
Priceless
Delicious
Sure
Modifying Ungradable Adjectives
The meaning of ungradable adjectives indicates the extremes of a scale; therefore, they are not usually used in comparatives and superlatives. We also cannot use the adverb 'very' to modify them. Take a look at these examples:
His antique coin was more priceless than theirs. → His antique coin was more valuable than theirs.
Their garden is very enormous. → Their garden is absolutely enormous.
The adverb 'absolutely' is the most common modifying adverb for ungradable adjectives in spoken and informal English:
Their wedding cake was absolutely delicious.
Are you absolutely sure?
Usually, ungradable adjectives cannot be made weaker:
My most valuable possession is a slightly priceless antique car.
I wouldn't recommend the restaurant; it's not very fabulous.
Ungradable adjectives are not usually used in comparatives and superlatives. However, in informal English, we can use them comparatively to compare similar things at one end of a scale:
I was more exhausted by the journey than I was after the climb.
Their garden is even more enormous than ours!
Modifying Adjectives In Informal English
The most commonly used modifier that can be used with both gradable and ungradable adjectives is 'really.'
This book was really exciting.
It's really hot in here.
ln informal American English, we can use 'real' instead of 'really,' :
That horse runs real slow.
When talking in a very informal and friendly context, we can use 'dead' and a number of slang words as intensifiers.
That movie was dead scary!
Review
Adjectives can be either gradable or ungradable. check out the definition on the list:
gradable adjectives: can get stronger or weaker
ungradable adjectives: cannot get stronger or weaker and they have an absolute meaning
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