GRADABLE AND NON-GRADABLE ADJECTIVES

Adjectives can be classified as gradable and non-gradable depending on their

meaning.

Most adjectives are GRADABLE. They describe qualities that can have different
degrees and can be made weaker or stronger (e.g. easy, good, angry) when
combined with an adverb such as very, slightly, extremely…

NON-GRADABLE adjectives describe absolute or extreme qualities that cannot

be graded (e.g. fantastic, impossible, enormous), as they already contain the idea
of “very” in their definitions. These adjectives can be combined with adverbs such
as absolutely, really, totally to add extra emphasis.

GRADING ADVERBS GRADABLE ADJECTIVES

A bit, a little, fairly, quite, really, too, Cold, funny, popular, boring…
very, slightly, terribly, deeply,
immensely…
NON-GRADING ADVERBS NON-GRADABLE ADJECTIVES
Absolutely, completely, totally, fairly Freezing, brilliant, terrible, huge,
quite, utterly, pretty… overjoyed, furious…

 The adverbs really, pretty, fairly can be used with both gradable and non-
gradable adjectives in informal contexts.

o It was really cold last night.

o She felt pretty awful after the argument.

WATCH OUT!

 When quite is used with gradable adjectives, it means ‘fairly, but not very’.
When quite is used with non-gradable adjectives, it means ‘absolutely,
completely’.

o Our flat is quite nice, but not perfect.

o I love your flat! The balconies are quite splendid!

 Some adjectives have both gradable and non-gradable uses and may
have a change in meaning (old, common…)

o That is a very old camera (=not new) (gradable)

o I bumped into my old English teacher yesterday (=former) (non-
gradable)
o Earthquakes are common in this area (=frequent) (gradable)
o We hang out with people with common interests (=similar) (non-
gradable)