Gradable and non-gradable adjectives in English Grammar
Gradable and non-gradable adjectives
Non-gradable adjectives (strong/extreme adjectives) already express something very special, so we do not usually use the following adverbs with them: a bit, deeply, extremely, fairly, rather, slightly, terribly, very.
We use: absolutely, completely, entirely, simply, totally, utterly.
Example:
This box here is very small.
That box over there is absolutely tiny.
| adverb | gradable adjective | adverb | ungradable adjective/ strong adjective |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
a bit |
angry | absolutely completely entirely simply totally utterly |
furious | |
| bad | awful, dreadful, terrible | |||
| beautiful | gorgeous, stunning | |||
| big | enormous, huge | |||
| clean | spotless | |||
| cold | freezing, icy | |||
| confused | baffled | |||
| dirty | filthy | |||
| embarrassed | mortified | |||
| exciting | thrilling | |||
| expensive | exorbitant | |||
| far | remote | |||
| funny, amusing | hilarious | |||
| good | excellent, fantastic, terrific, marvellous | |||
| happy | delighted, elated | |||
| hot | boiling | |||
| hungry | starving, ravenous | |||
| important | necessary, vital | |||
| interesting | fascinating | |||
| long | endless | |||
| nice | lovely | |||
| old | ancient, antique | |||
| pretty | gorgeous | |||
| quiet | silent | |||
| sad, upset | devastated | |||
| scared, frightened | terrified, horrified | |||
| silly | ridiculous | |||
| small | tiny | |||
| sure | positiv | |||
| surprised | amazed, astonished, flabbergasted | |||
| tasty | delicious | |||
| tired | exhausted | |||
| ugly | hideous | |||
| unpleasant | disgusting | |||
| wet | soaking, drenched |
The following adverbs can be used with gradable and non-gradable adjectives: quite, pretty, really.
Example:
This box here is really small.
That box over there is really tiny.
Thanks to Oleg.