vocapp.com
1.2 Gradable and ungradable adjectives
What are adjectives?
1.
In the examples below, these adjectives are used to describe
an elephant. Large, grey, and friendly are all examples of
adjectives
Describing feelings and things
2.
Adjectives that end in -ed are used to describe
3.
tired, bored, excited
4.
Adjectives that end in -ing are used to describe
5.
6.
tired / tiring; bored / boring; excited / exciting
Feel
7.
Describe
8.
What are gradable adjectives?
Adjectives are describing words.
'-ed' and '-ing' adjectives.
how people feel/how a person feels
Big, angry, small, expensive, cold, are (?)
9.
10. married, furious, impossible, excellent, freezing, are (?)
11. Ungradable / non-gradable / extreme adjectives
12. 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.
big, bigger, biggest
13. 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
14. Modifiers used with gradable adjectives
15. Modifiers used with non-gradable adjectives
16. Modifiers used with gradable and ungradable adjectives
17. Ungradable / non-gradable adjectives sometimes occur with
modifiers such as completely
18. Don't talk to Jenny, she's very angry. Gradable or ungradable
adjectif?
19. Sorry, I can't stop, I'm extremely busy. Gradable or
ungradable?
20. I'm worried about Tom, he's dreadfully unhappy. Gradable or
ungradable?
21. This is a very important matter. Gradable or ungradable?
22. That slice of cake is rather big. Gradable or ungradable?
23. I felt really (?) because I tried so hard but I still failed the
driving test
frustrating/frustated
things and situations. refer to the thing/person/situation that
causes the feeling
Few, but common, adjectives end in either -ed or -ing
annoyed, bored, confused, depressed, excited, frustrated,
frightened, satisfied, shocked
annoying, boring, confusing, depressing, exciting, frustrating,
frightening, satisfying, shocking
Adjectives used to describe qualities that can be measured in
degrees.
gradable adjectives.
non-gradable or ungradable adjectives...
Adjectives used to describe qualities that are completely
present or completely absent.
Gradable adjectives
Ungradable adjectives.
Modifiers used with gradable adjectives: extremely, very, quite
Modifiers used with non-gradable adjectives: absolutely,
completely, totally, utterly.
Modifiers used with gradable and ungradable adjectives:
really, fairly, pretty
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.
Angry is a gradable adjective.
Busy is a gradable adjective.
Unhappy is a gradable adjective.
Important is a gradable adjective.
Big is a gradable adjective.
I felt really frustated because I tried so hard but I still failed the
driving test
24. And it's your fifth time! How (?)
embarrassing / embarrassed
And it's your fifth time! How embarrassing!
25. I was (?) interested in the book
very / really / totally
I was very interested in the book.
26. Yes, it was (?) fascinating
very / really / totally
Yes, it was totally fascinating.
27. I was (?) relieved at the end
very / really / absolutely
I was really relieved at the end.
28. Yes, and we won! I was (?) over the moon
very / really / absolutely
Yes, and we won! I was really over the moon.
29. Base adjectives
Base adjectives are normal adjectives that don't have the idea
of 'very'
Strong adjectives, however, are extreme adjectives that have
the idea of 'very'
30. Strong adjectives
gorgeous = very beautiful huge = very big
- Page 1 -
vocapp.com
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
beautiful
ugly
dirty
good
bad
happy
angry
hungry
tired
funny
big
small
fat
scared
cold
hot
The use of very, absolutely and really with base and strong
adjectives
48. Base adjectives
very absolutely really
gorgeous
awful
filthy
superb, great, fantastic
terrible
thrilled
furious
starving
exhausted
hilarious
huge, enormous
tiny
obese
terrified
freezing
boiling
Very, absolutely and really are used differently according
whether the adjective is a base or a strong one
He was very happy; He was really happy
49. Strong adjectives
very absolutely really
he was absolutely thrilled. he was really thrilled.
50. Adverbs with gradable adjectives
very, extremely, a bit, slightly
Really is used with both.
51. Adverbs with ungradable adjectives
absolutely, completely, totally, utterly.
Really is used with both.
52. Un-gradable/non-gradable/extremely adjectives sometimes
occur with
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.
modifiers such as completely to emphasize the extent of the
quality.
- Page 2 -
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)