The Intensity Game
Some adjectives can be more or less intense (gradable), while others are absolute - they're either on or off, like a light switch. Understanding this will stop you from sounding like a complete muppet when you try to emphasize things.
The Basic Difference:
- Gradable: Can be more or less (hot, cold, big, small)
- Non-Gradable: Absolute states (dead, perfect, unique, impossible)
- Think: Can something be "very dead"? No! It's either dead or alive!
Gradable Adjectives (The Flexible Ones)
| Adjective | Can Use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hot/Cold | very, quite, rather, extremely | very hot, quite cold, rather warm |
| Big/Small | very, quite, rather, extremely | very big, quite small, rather tiny |
| Good/Bad | very, quite, rather, extremely | very good, quite bad, rather awful |
| Tired/Hungry | very, quite, rather, extremely | very tired, quite hungry, rather sleepy |
Non-Gradable Adjectives (The Absolute Ones)
Extreme Adjectives (Already at Maximum):
- Exhausted (= very tired) - Use "absolutely exhausted"
- Freezing (= very cold) - Use "absolutely freezing"
- Boiling (= very hot) - Use "absolutely boiling"
- Starving (= very hungry) - Use "absolutely starving"
- Furious (= very angry) - Use "absolutely furious"
Absolute Adjectives (On/Off States):
- Dead, alive, pregnant, married, single
- Perfect, unique, impossible, essential
- Empty, full, correct, wrong
Intensifiers for Each Type
| Adjective Type | Intensifiers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Gradable | very, quite, rather, extremely, fairly | very tired, quite good, rather expensive |
| Non-Gradable (Extreme) | absolutely, completely, totally, utterly | absolutely exhausted, completely furious |
| Non-Gradable (Absolute) | completely, totally, absolutely | completely wrong, totally unique |
Adjectives That Can Be Both!
Context Changes Everything:
- Mad (angry): "quite mad" (gradable)
- Mad (insane): "completely mad" (non-gradable)
- Right (correct): "absolutely right" (non-gradable)
- Right (direction): "quite right" (gradable - sort of right direction)
Don't Be a Numpty - Common Mistakes
Wrong:
- "Very unique" (Unique means one of a kind!)
- "Very perfect" (Perfect is already perfect!)
- "Very impossible" (It's either possible or not!)
- "Quite exhausted" (Use "absolutely" with extreme adjectives!)
Right:
- "Absolutely unique" or "Quite unusual"
- "Absolutely perfect" or "Very good"
- "Absolutely impossible" or "Very difficult"
- "Absolutely exhausted" or "Very tired"
Comparative and Superlative Forms
| Type | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| Gradable | bigger, more expensive, better | biggest, most expensive, best |
| Non-Gradable | Can't compare absolutes! | Can't have degrees of perfection! |
| Exception | "More perfect" (in informal speech) | "Most unique" (technically wrong but used) |
Practice Exercises (Absolutely Essential!)
Exercise 1: Choose the Right Intensifier
1. I'm _____ exhausted after that workout.
2. This coffee is _____ hot.
3. Your answer is _____ correct.
4. She's _____ tall for her age.
Exercise 2: Gradable or Non-Gradable?
1. "Freezing" is _____ (gradable/non-gradable)
2. "Expensive" is _____ (gradable/non-gradable)
3. "Perfect" is _____ (gradable/non-gradable)
4. "Interesting" is _____ (gradable/non-gradable)
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