Professional Documents
Culture Documents
&
non-‐gradable
Tips
&
exercises
Adjectives
&
intensifiers
• Gradable-‐
can
be
graded
or
given
different
degrees
on
a
sliding
scale.
For
example:
• Non-‐gradable
-‐
can
be
divided
into
two
types:
– Strong
or
Extreme
adjectives
-‐
stronger
equivalents
of
gradable
adjectives.
For
example:
– Absolute
adjectives-‐
they
are
either
true
or
not
true,
there
is
no
middle
ground.
For
example:
The
most
common
intensifiers
·∙
extremely
·∙
pretty
·∙
quite
·∙
very
·∙
totally
·∙
really
absolutely
Which
of
these
words
can
be
used
with
the
following.
1. gradable
only
2. non-‐gradable
only
3. gradable
and
non-‐gradable
with
the
same
meaning
4. gradable
and
non-‐gradable
with
a
different
meaning
Really
• The
word
really
is
a
very
useful
word
in
informal
English
for
two
reasons:
• As
you
can
use
it
with
both
gradable
and
non-‐gradable
adjectives,
you
don't
have
to
worry
about
the
grammar
side
of
things.
• It
has
more
emotional
content
than
very.
Look
at
these
sentences:
– Thanks
for
the
party,
I
had
a
very
good
time.
– Thanks
for
the
party,
I
had
a
really
good
time.
• The
first
is
polite
enough,
but
the
second
sounds
as
though
you
really
mean
it.
As
if
it
came
from
the
heart.
How
can
we
tell
if
an
adjective
is
gradable
or
not?
and
superlative
versions
1.
Can
we
make
comparative
of
the
adjective?
– It's
hotter
today
than
it
was
yesterday.
(gradable)
– It's
more
boiling
today
than
it
was
yesterday.
(strong)
– This
house
is
more
unique
than
that
one.
(absolute)
• Usually
we
only
make
comparisons
with
gradable
adjectives.
So
try
using
a
comparative
and
if
it
sounds
OK,
then
the
adjective
is
probably
gradable.
How
can
we
tell
if
an
adjective
is
gradable
or
not?
2.
Can
we
use
the
determiner
very
before
the
adjective?
– I'm
very
tired.
(gradable)
– She's
very
exhausted.
(strong)
– It's
very
unique.
(absolute)
Decide
which
category
these
adjectives
fit
into.
Try
using
them
with
very
and
absolutely
and
see
which
sounds
best.
Why
do
we
use
intensifiers
with
non-‐gradable
adjectives ?
•
Grading
adverbs
such
as
quite,
very
and
extremely
are
used
to
put
an
adjective
somewhere
on
a
scale.
– quite
tired
– very
popular
– extremely
cold
• But
absolute
and
strong
adjectives
cannot
be
given
a
degree
like
this.
When
we
use
intensifiers
like
absolutely,
completely
and
totally,
we
are
using
them
for
emphasis
rather
than
degree.
– completely
exhausted
– absolutely
right
– totally
unique
Cross
out
the
wrong
option.
It's
a(n)
absolutely
/
really
/
very
nice
day,
isn't
it?
I
thought
the
film
was
absolutely
/
quite
/
extremely
amazing.
It's
absolutely
/
very
/
really
marvellous
news.
The
forecast
is
looking
pretty
/
quite
/
totally
promising.
We
were
really
/
totally
/
very
unlucky
at
the
races.
I'm
getting
absolutely
/
quite
/
really
bored
with
this
book.
She
was
extremely
/
pretty
/
totally
amazed
to
see
him
there.
We
got
really
/
totally
/
very
soaked
in
the
rain.
He's
absolutely
/
extremely
/
pretty
clever
for
his
age.
Her
first
day
at
work
was
extremely
/
pretty
/
quite
disastrous.
We
had
a
really
/
totally
/
very
pleasant
day
by
the
seaside.
They
were
really
/
totally
/
very
astonished
at
the
news.