Gradable and ungradable adjectives

•Gradable adjectives
can be intensified with various words: quite,
reasonably, moderately, very, fairly . These words
would express the ‘intensity’ or ‘degree’of the
adjective.
•Ungradable adjectives
are ‘extreme’ or complete in themselves. They can be
further intensified with words like absolutely, extremely,
etc that emphasise the word itself but do not express
different degrees of it.
Which adjectives take ‘very’? Which take
‘absolutely’
Which adjectives take ‘very’? Which take
‘absolutely’

v. good a. awful v. expensive

v. attractive v. gloomy v. cheap
a.amazing a. incredible v. complicated
v. pleasant v. bad a. perfect
a. brilliant a.astonishing a. fine
 Look at these sets of words. Which is the odd one
out? Is the odd one out gradable or ungradable?

1) good reasonable marvellous fair

2) dreadful ghastly terrible poor
3) gorgeous magnificent stunning pretty
4) upset sad devastated disappointed
5) hot warm boiling mild
6) terrified worried frightened scared
7) weary shattered tired weak
8) ridiculous absurd ludicrous foolish
9) large vast huge enormous
10) content thrilled ecstatic delighted
 Quite: a double-edged sword

• Quite + gradable adjective: moderately

The play was quite (moderately) interesting .

• Quite + ungradable adjective: absolutely

My experience was quite (absolutely) amazing