Gradable and Non-gradable Adjectives
Table of Contents
Exercises
Explanation
1. Gradable adjectives
Gradable adjectives describe qualities that can exist in different degrees. Their meaning can be made stronger or weaker.
They can be:
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compared (bigger, biggest)
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modified by intensifiers like very, quite, rather, extremely
Examples:
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The room is warm, but yesterday it was warmer.
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She looked very tired after work.
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This exercise is fairly easy.
Common gradable adjectives: big, small, fast, slow, young, old, interesting, difficult, cold, happy
2. Non-gradable adjectives
Non-gradable adjectives describe qualities that are already extreme, complete, or fixed. Their meaning is not usually adjustable.
They:
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do not take comparative forms
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are not used with very or a bit
Types of non-gradable adjectives
a) Extreme adjectives
They already mean “very”.
Examples:
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exhausted
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freezing
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brilliant
Correct: The lecture was absolutely fascinating.
Incorrect: very fascinating
b) Absolute adjectives
They describe states with no middle point.
Examples:
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dead
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perfect
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impossible
Correct: The solution is completely impossible.
Incorrect: rather impossible
c) Classifying adjectives
They show type or category, not degree.
Examples:
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digital
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medical
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wooden
Correct: online payment
Incorrect: very online payment
3. Adverbs with gradable vs non-gradable adjectives
Gradable adjectives + gradable adverbs
very, quite, fairly, extremely, a bit
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quite useful
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extremely expensive
Non-gradable adjectives + non-gradable adverbs
absolutely, completely, totally, nearly, almost
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absolutely exhausted
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almost perfect
Incorrect: very exhausted
Incorrect: a bit perfect
4. Common exceptions (B2 level)
Some adverbs can be used with both, but the meaning may change.
a) Really, pretty, quite
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She is quite confident. (rather confident – gradable)
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The idea is quite brilliant. (completely brilliant – non-gradable)
b) Context matters
Some adjectives can be gradable or non-gradable depending on meaning.
Examples:
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That café is pretty old. (age → gradable)
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I met an old friend yesterday. (relationship → non-gradable)
