Gradable and ungradable
As in Spanish, some adjectives (called gradable) allow degrees (and comparison), e.g.:
quite big, very big, bigger than
(But not: )
Other adjectives (called ungradable) do not allow degrees. We can say, for example:
absolutely enormous, really enormous
(But not: , , )
Examples of modifying adverbs
Examples of gradable adjectives
Spanish
very
big
muy grande
rather
tired
bastante cansado/a
quite1
nice
muy guapo/a
extremely
angry
extremadamente enfadado/a
really2
pleased
realmente agradecido/a
reasonably
tasty
muy gustoso/a
Examples of modifying adverbs
Examples of ungradable adjectives
Spanish
absolutely
enormous
absolutamente enorme
totally
exhausted
totalmente exhausto/a
quite1
delightful
completamente encantador/a
perfectly
furious
perfectamente furioso/a
really2
ecstatic
realmente estático/a
positively
delicious
positivamente delicioso/a
1 With gradable adjectives,
quite means ‘fairly’; with ungradable adjectives it means ‘perfectly’.
2 With gradable adjectives, really means ‘very’; with ungradable adjectives it means ‘perfectly’.
