Gradability

Gradability

1. Adverbs of degree

   • We use adverbs and adverbial phrases of degree to qualify adjectives, verbs or other adverbs
   • adverbs which intensify the meaning of the words they qualify, e.g. absolutely, extremely, really, very
     • She really wants to do well in her exams
   • adverbs which soften or reduce their strength, e.g. a bit, a little, slightly
     • I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't get any tickets
   • adverbs which have a variable effect on meaning, depending on sentence stress and intonation, e.g. fairly, pretty, quite, rather, somewhat
     • I'd say that $200 was a pretty good price. I'm quite interested in history, but mainly local history
   • We put quite before a/an+ adjective+ noun
     • It's a quite difficult situation
   • We put pretty, somewhat, and fairly between a/an and adjective+ noun
     • It's a pretty difficult situation
   • Rather can be placed in either position
     • It's rather a difficult situation or it's a rather difficult situation

2. Gradable and ungradable adjectives

   • Gradable adjectives describe a quality that can be measured on a scale. Ungradable adjectives express extreme or absolute qualities
   • adverbs that are used with gradable adjectives, e.g. awfully, extremely, incredibly, really, terribly
     • I was extremely annoyed. It's very important. It was a really fascinating talk
   • adverbs that are used with ungradable adjectives, e.g absolutely, really, utterly
     • I was absolutely furious. It was an incredibly interesting talk
   • We use utterly with negative ungradable adjectives
     • His comments were utterly outrageous
   • Certain adjectives are ungradable as they describe situations which are "black and white". E.g. full/empty, right/wrong, acceptable/ unacceptable. We intensify these using adverbs of degree that take you to the limit, e.g completely, totally, entirely, wholly, quite
     • The restaurant was completely empty. It's quite wrong to think that
   • Some adjectives can be both gradable and ungradable, e.g ashamed, beautiful, delicious, new, thrilled
     • I was extremely (or absolutely) thrilled to be asked

3. Adverb+ verb

   • Adverbs of degree that are used with verbs include: a bit, absolutely, completely, entirely, moderately, quite, rather, really, slightly, totally, wholly
     • We have completely redesigned the office space. He slowed down a bit at the end of the race. She slightly underestimated the total number of people
   • When we use quite+verb, it can have two meanings depending on the context
     • I quite wanted to visit the museum. I quite understand your position

4. Adverb+ adverb

   • Adverbs of degree can also qualify other adverbs
     • He works quite fast. He talked openly about his experiences
   • We prefer to avoid using two -ly adverbs together
     • She played the piano piece quite brillantly

5. Literal and figurative uses of adverbs of degree

   • It is common to use adverbs such as totally and completely in a figurative rather than a literal sense.
     • She was totally devastated by the news. After standing in the rain, we were completely frozen
   • We can use rather, pretty, and quite to understate feelings which are actually quite strong
     • It's a rather beautiful building. The experience was pretty incredible

6. Collocations with intensifying adverbs

   • Adverb+ adjective: e.g. deeply concerning, heavily influenced, highly recommended, perfectly clear, strictly forbidden
     • It's strictly forbidden to smoke in the building
   • Adverb+ verb: e.g. deeply regret, distinctly recall, fully appreciate, greatly exaggerate, radically rethink, strongly disagree
     • We had to radically rethink the whole plan