Evaluative adjectives:

1. It is important to distinguish between two kinds of adjectives: limit and gradable.

Limit or extreme adjectives already have very strong meanings.
e.g. exhausted means very tired.
Delicious means very tasty.
For this reason it sounds odd to say ‘very exhausted” or “very delicious”`
Gradable adjectives express qualities that can exist in different strengths.
A person can be more or less tall, or more or less attractive.
So we can use modifiers like fairly, quite, very, extremely

Examples:
Gradable Limit/extreme
big vast, huge, enormous
dirty filthy, revolting
good perfect, marvellous, wonderful
angry furious
frightened terrified
difficult impossible. challenging
2. To modify limit adjectives, we need an extreme modifier.
e.g. absolutely huge
completely terrified
quite perfect
utterly ridiculous
totally blind
Some modifiers and adjectives go together, and some do not. It takes time and practice to elarn
which are used together. We can say ‘absolutely furious’ but not ‘completely furious’.
The best advice is to start by recognizing the different modifiers when you are listening and
reading, and if you are in doubt, use absolutely, which can go with all limit and gradable
adjectives.
3. Quite.
Quite can be used with limit and gradable adjectives, and its meaning changes according to
stress and intonation.
e.g. It can be positive - It’s quite good. Neutral – It’s quite good Negative – It’s quite good.
Rather and pretty are similar, but again, practice is neede to know how and when to use them.

Practice 1.Work in pairs. Make up some short dialogues using pairs of adjectives and
appropriate modifiers.
e.g. That painting’s rather valuable, isn’t it?
Valuable! You’re joking! It’s absolutely priceless.
bad – revoting
wet – soaked
good – marvellous
big – enormous
Practice 2. Complete the table using a limit or gradable adjective where necessary.
surprising amazing
atrocious
indispensable
angry
ridiculous
hungry starving
Which of the following adverbs could be used with which adjectives? Give examples.
absolutely, fairly, extremely, utterly, very, rather, pretty

Practice 3. How to sound more emotional and enthusiastic?

1. Use emphatic sentences. (Grammar and stylistic inversion)
e.g. Never in my life have I seen anything like this.
Only this music can arouse such strong emotions.
2. Use superlatives or comparative structures.
e,g, What do you think of the movie? – It’s the most spectacular movie I’ve ever seen. Or
It’s the least exciting movie I’ve ever seen.
The more I listen, the more I enjoy it.
3. Use strong (gradable) adjectives with intensifiers
e.g. It’s a little too sophisticated for me.
That’s was an absolutely amazing experience
Make up sentences using the following adjectives:

tremendous, fascinating, fantastic, superb, marvellous, gorgeous, breathtaking, amusing,

amazing, glamorous, magnetic, extravagant, stunning, excellent, hilarious, virtuosic, impeccable

distasteful; unsympathetic, uncouth, commonplace, ordinary, uninteresting, abominable, boring,

tedious, unimaginative, uninspired, revolting, repugnant
 Intensifying adverbs
Exercises
Exercise 1. Choose the two correct adverbs in these sentences.

1. I totally/perfectly/quite agree with you.

2. She totally/quite/ strongly disagrees with you.
3. Some people sincerely/seriously/entirely believe there’s life in space.
4. I perfectly/strongly/completely understand what you’re trying to say.
5. I totally/really/quite like spice food.

Exercise 2. Choose the one correct adverb in these sentences.

1. I absolutely/completely/sincerely adore ice-cream.
2. I perfectly/strongly/totally forgot about her birthday.
3. What you believe depends entirely/seriously/sincerely on your point of view.
4. I really/quite/completely can’t stand getting up in the morning.
5. I have absolutely/entirely/thoroughly enjoyed the evening with you.

Exercise 3. Match a gradable adjective with an extreme one.

Gradable adjective Extreme adjective
stupid Delightful
expensive Brilliant
pleasant Exorbitant
unusual Devastated
upset Extraordinary
clever Ridiculous
With which group or groups of adjectives can we use these intensifying adverbs?

Very absolutely really quite