Gradable and Non-gradable Adjectives

Adjectives describe qualities (characteristics) of nouns.

Some qualities can vary in intensity or grade (for example: rather hot, hot, very
hot; hot, hotter, the hottest).
The adjective hot is gradable.
Adjectives that describe qualities that can be measured in degrees, such as size,
beauty, age, etc. are the gradable adjectives because they can be used in
comparative or superlative forms, or with grading adverbs such as very or
extremely, to show that a person or thing has more or less of a particular quality.
Here some more examples of common gradable adjectives used with grading
adverbs:
Dont talk to Jenny, shes very angry.
Sorry, I cant stop, Im extremely busy.
Im worried about Tom, hes dreadfully unhappy.
That slice of cake is rather big.

Other qualities cannot vary in intensity or grade because they are:

a. extremes (for example: freezing)
b. absolutes (for example: dead)
c. classifying (for example: nuclear)
The adjectives freezing, dead and nuclear are non-gradable.
These adjectives describe qualities that are completely present or completely
absent. They do not occur in comparative and superlative forms, and cannot be
used with adverbs such as very or extremely, because we dont usually imagine
degrees of more or less of the quality being described. However, non-gradable
adjectives can go with non-grading adverbs such as completely which emphasize
the extent of the quality as follows:
The questions were completely impossible.
The food was absolutely superb.

Gradable Adjectives
A gradable adjective can be used with "grading adverbs" that vary the adjective's grade or
intensity. Look at these examples:
grading adverbs
a little, dreadfully, extremely, fairly,

+ gradable adjectives
angry, big, busy, clever, cold, deep, fast,

hugely, immensely, intensely, rather,

reasonably, slightly, unusually, very

friendly, good, happy, high, hot, important,

long, popular, rich, strong, tall, warm, weak,
young

Non-gradable Adjectives
A non-gradable adjective cannot be used with grading adverbs:

It was rather freezing outside.

The dog was very dead.

He is investing in slightly nuclear energy.

Often, non-gradable adjectives are used alone:

It was freezing outside.

The dog was dead.

He is investing in nuclear energy.

However, a non-gradable adjective can be used with "non-grading adverbs" (which usually
just give the adjective extra impact), for example:
non-grading adverbs

non-gradable adjectives

absolutely

awful

utterly

marvelous

completely

terrified

totally

dead

nearly

impossible

virtually

unique

essentially

chemical

mainly

digital

almost

domestic

extreme

absolute

classifying

Adverbs used with gradable and non-gradable adjectives

The adverbs really (very much) and fairly and pretty (both meaning "to a significant
degree, but less than very") can often be used with gradable and non-gradable adjectives.

"Quite" with gradable and non-gradable adjectives

The meaning of the adverb "quite" changes according to the type of adjective we use it
with:
adjective

quite =

It's quite warm today.

gradable

fairly, rather

Are you quite certain?

non-gradable

completely, absolutely

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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.

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I'm fantastically bad / terrible at maths.

It is hugely important / essential that this should be done well.
It's unusually boiling / hot for this time of year.
The hotel is fairly immense / large .
It was a very accomplished / marvellous performance.
Her sense of humour is utterly unusual / unique .
I'm incredibly delighted / pleased at the news.
She was completely puzzled / stupefied by his suggestion.
She was totally surprised / euphoric when she won the award.
He's immensely excited / thrilled about his trip.
She is virtually penniless / poor .
My phone is completely broken / useless .
This vase is perfectly hideous / ugly .
She's almost old / ancient .
He was rather furious / annoyed when he found out the truth.
I'm a bit exhausted / tired .
We're reasonably pleased / delighted with the results.
These cakes are exceedingly delicious / good .
He has a fairly colossal / inflated sense of his own importance.

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We were entirely satisfied / overjoyed with the arrangements.

This chocolate is simply sublime / tasty .
Their prices are rather exorbitant / high .
They charge an absolutely trifling / small amount for the service.
I'm slightly astounded / surprised at his behaviour.
She's a dreadfully brilliant / talented dancer.