1.2 TRY SOMETHING NEW: Gradable and ungradable adjectives

What are adjectives?

Adjectives are describing words.

Describing feelings and things

'-ed' and '-ing' adjectives.

Adjectives that end in -ed are used to describe

how people feel/how a person feels

Adjectives that end in -ing are used to describe

things and situations. refer to the thing/person/situation that causes the feeling

tired / tiring; bored / boring; excited / exciting

Few, but common, adjectives end in either -ed or -ing

Feel

annoyed, bored, confused, depressed, excited, frustrated, frightened, satisfied, shocked

Describe

annoying, boring, confusing, depressing, exciting, frustrating, frightening, satisfying, shocking

What are gradable adjectives?

Adjectives used to describe qualities that can be measured in degrees.

Big, angry, small, expensive, cold, are (?)

gradable adjectives.

married, furious, impossible, excellent, freezing, are (?)

non-gradable or ungradable adjectives...

Ungradable / non-gradable / extreme adjectives

Adjectives used to describe qualities that are completely present or completely absent.

They can be used in comparative or superlative forms, or with modifiers such as very or extremely, to show that person or thing has more or less of a particular quality.

Gradable adjectives

They do not occur in comparative and superlative forms, and cannot be used with modifiers such as very or extremely, because we don't usually imagine degrees of more or less of the quality being described

Ungradable adjectives.

Modifiers used with gradable adjectives

Modifiers used with gradable adjectives: extremely, very, quite

Modifiers used with non-gradable adjectives

Modifiers used with non-gradable adjectives: absolutely, completely, totally, utterly.

Modifiers used with gradable and ungradable adjectives

Modifiers used with gradable and ungradable adjectives: really, fairly, pretty

Ungradable / non-gradable adjectives sometimes occur with modifiers such as completely

to emphasize the extent of the quality: the questions were completely impossible; the food was absolutely superb; this book is absolutely excellent; this food is absolutely delicious; that's a completely idiotic idea.

Don't talk to Jenny, she's very angry. Gradable or ungradable adjectif?

Angry is a gradable adjective.

Sorry, I can't stop, I'm extremely busy. Gradable or ungradable?

Busy is a gradable adjective.

I'm worried about Tom, he's dreadfully unhappy. Gradable or ungradable?

Unhappy is a gradable adjective.

This is a very important matter. Gradable or ungradable?

Important is a gradable adjective.

That slice of cake is rather big. Gradable or ungradable?

Big is a gradable adjective.

I felt really (?) because I tried so hard but I still failed the driving test

I felt really frustated because I tried so hard but I still failed the driving test

And it's your fifth time! How (?)

And it's your fifth time! How embarrassing!

I was (?) interested in the book

I was very interested in the book.

Yes, it was (?) fascinating

Yes, it was totally fascinating.

I was (?) relieved at the end

I was really relieved at the end.

Yes, and we won! I was (?) over the moon

Yes, and we won! I was really over the moon.

Base adjectives

Base adjectives are normal adjectives that don't have the idea of 'very'

Strong adjectives

Strong adjectives, however, are extreme adjectives that have the idea of 'very'

beautiful

gorgeous

ugly

awful

dirty

filthy

good

superb, great, fantastic

bad

terrible

happy

thrilled

angry

furious

hungry

starving

tired

exhausted

funny

hilarious

big

huge, enormous

small

tiny

fat

obese

scared

terrified

cold

freezing

hot

boiling

The use of very, absolutely and really with base and strong adjectives

Very, absolutely and really are used differently according whether the adjective is a base or a strong one

Base adjectives

He was very happy; He was really happy

Strong adjectives

he was absolutely thrilled. he was really thrilled.

Adverbs with gradable adjectives

very, extremely, a bit, slightly

Adverbs with ungradable adjectives

absolutely, completely, totally, utterly.

Un-gradable/non-gradable/extremely adjectives sometimes occur with

modifiers such as completely to emphasize the extent of the quality.