Gradable and non gradable adjectives

Gradable and non gradable adjectives

1. Gradable adjectives

   • express different degrees of qualities, properties, states, conditions, relations, etc.
     • Modifiers are used with adjectives
       • Weaker
         • A little, a bit
         • Pretty/quite
       • Stronger
         • Really/very
         • Extremely
     • ADJECTIVES with different levels of quality: angry, big, boring, cheap, cold, expensive, frightening, funny, hot, interesting, old, pretty, small, tasty, tired, etc.
       • For example: a bit cold, very cold, extremely cold

2. Non gradable adjectives

   • Adjectives that describe absolute qualities
     • amazing, ancient, awful, boiling, delicious, enormous, excellent, exhausted, fascinating, freezing, gorgeous, terrible, terrifying, tiny, etc.
       • For example: did you see the final match? It was absolutely amazing
     • Modifiers
       • Extreme adjectives: absolutely/really

3. Taken from © British Council The United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations.

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