Gradable Adjectives Qualities that can be measured in degrees (beauty, size, age, etc.

tc.) Comparative and superlative Grading adverbs (very / extremely) o Jenny is very angry. Dont talk to her. o Sorry, I cant stop. Im extremely busy. o This is a very important matter. o That slice of cake is rather big. * Some may be G and NG: foreign She sounded slightly foreign. Hes advising on foreign policy. Non Gradable Adjectives Qualities that are completely present or completely absent. Not comparative or superlative Not very nor extremely (we dont usually imagine degrees of more less of the quality being described). Sometimes with NG adverbs completely. o The questions were completely impossible. o The food was absolutely superb. *Adjectives referring to particular types (classifying adjectives) Chemical reaction (not very chemical reaction) An indoor pool (not very indoor pool)

Grading Adverbs Extremely Very Rather Slightly A bit (Not usually used with NG because they identify a particular type or an absolute quality)

Ex. The food is extremely superb. (incorrect) I found a very Roman coin. (incorrect) This food is extremely tasty. (correct) I found a very shiny coin. (correct)

*Really, Fairly, Pretty (informal of Fairly) With both G and NG Its a really difficult/impossible exercise.

For the class:

Cold: fairly quite very extremely; but freezing Gradable: hot, rich, big, hungry.

1) I would eat only if I were ____ hungry. 2) The last time I was ____ unhappy was 3) makes me ____ furious. 4) I think the film is ____ terrifying. 5) If I were ____ rich, I
2. Write these on the board and ask students to complete the gaps with the word VERY or ABSOLUTELY. Go through this together as a group, highlighting the different kinds of adjectives and the rules. (Answers: 3 and 4 are with absolutely, 1, 2 and 5 are with very. Tell students to complete the sentences so that they are true for them. Do an example first with number one. I would eat frogs legs only if I were very hungry. Tell students to work in pairs and tell each other their sentences. Do some feedback on this as a group. Note: you could be more imaginative with your sample sentences than I was and have them all based on a similar theme (on the theme of food, or sports, or school for example), using this exercise to review vocabulary of that theme.

3. 4.