An adjective is used to describe the quality of a noun or pronouns, a quality a thing might possess. For instance, it might describe the variation in temperature, its freezing point or boiling point. So here the temperature variation is shown by the hotness or coldness is called gradable whereas the limit of it as freezing point and boiling point is considered as a ungradable adjective.
What are Gradable Adjectives?
It is an adjective when it can be graded. When you get different degrees of ‘strength’ the adjective can be used. Suppose for example, if you need an adjective that can be used to say something -’a bit big’, ‘a little big’, ‘very big’ or you can also use it as ‘extremely big’.
For instance, if you consider the adjective huge, then you can’t say it as ‘little huge’ or ‘quite huge’ or add any other degrees to it. Therefore these types of adjectives are considered as non-gradable adjectives. Sometimes it is felt that we do have adverbs that can be collocated with these adjectives.
Generally, you can also use words such as ‘completely’ and ‘absolutely’. You will also be offered further adverbs which can be used according to whether the adjective can be used till the extreme level or not.
It must always be noted that a gradable adjective will be used with gradable adverbs, in order to vary the adjective’s grade or intensity. For example, you can have a look at the given below words (adjective and adverbs).
Examples of Gradable Adjectives
- Angry
- Big
- Busy
- Clever
- Cold
- Deep
- Fast
- Friendly
- Good
- Happy
- High
- Hot
- Important
- Long
- Popular
- Rich
- Strong
- Tall
- Warm
- Weak
- Young
List of Grading Adverbs
- A Little
- Dreadfully
- Extremely
- Fairly
- Hugely
- Immensely
- Reasonably
- Slightly
- Unusually
By the above example we can explain that these gradable adjectives are also considered as the ‘Qualitative Adjectives’ and the Gradable Adverbs are considered as ‘Sub modifiers’. With gradable adjective, you can easily have comparative as well as superlative forms.
For instance, you can check:
- Big, Bigger, Biggest
- Tall, Taller, Tallest
- Hot, Hotter, Hottest
Now you can use them in your sentences given below:
- My teacher was very proud of my daily homework submission
- We had a website which was popular. But the next one will be more popular.
- It was cold in the morning and will get colder by evening.
What are Non-Gradable Adjectives?
Just like gradable, non-gradable adjectives are also used with non-gradable adverbs. They cannot be used with gradable or grading adverbs. For instance, you can check the words given below.
Examples of Non-Gradable Adjectives
- Excellent
- Awful
- Terrified
- Dead
- Impossible
- Unique
- Chemical
- Digital
- Domestic
List of Common Non-Gradable Adverbs
- Utterly
- Absolutely
- Completely
- Totally
- Nearly
- Virtually
- Essentially
- Mainly
You do not need to memorize each and every word of the gradable and non-gradable adjective. Once you understand the concept it will be easy for you to make the changes.
For instance, you can form sentences by making the use of non-gradable adjective as well.
- She did her maths exam absolutely awful and will have to take the re-test.
- It is really beautiful and it is what makes it virtually unique.