What Are Gradable Adjectives?

Gradable adjectives describe qualities that can exist in different degrees or levels. You can be a little bit cold, quite cold, or very cold.

We use intensifiers like very, quite, really, or a bit with these adjectives to show the degree.

• The weather is very hot today.
• She is quite tired after work.
• That book was really interesting.

What Are Non-Gradable Adjectives?

Non-gradable adjectives describe qualities that are absolute or extreme. They already express the highest possible degree of a quality, so you cannot make them stronger with very.

For example, something is either dead or it is not; it cannot be very dead. Similarly, something is either perfect or it is not.

We use different intensifiers with non-gradable adjectives to emphasize their absolute nature.

Common Non-Gradable Adjectives

Here are some common non-gradable adjectives you should know:

• Extreme size or shape: enormous, huge, tiny, gigantic
• Extreme temperature: freezing, boiling
• Extreme feelings or states: exhausted (very tired), furious (very angry), terrified (very scared), starving (very hungry), hilarious (very funny), brilliant (very good), delicious (very tasty)
• Absolute states: dead, unique, impossible, perfect, finished, complete

How Do We Use Intensifiers with Non-Gradable Adjectives?

When you want to emphasize a non-gradable adjective, use specific intensifiers that mean 'completely' or 'absolutely'.

• absolutely
• completely
• totally
• utterly
• extremely (sometimes used, but less common for absolute adjectives)

For example, you say absolutely enormous, not very enormous. You say completely exhausted, not very exhausted.

Examples

• The film was very good. (Gradable)
• The film was absolutely brilliant! (Non-gradable)
• I am very tired after studying all night. (Gradable)
• I am completely exhausted after studying all night. (Non-gradable)
• The soup is quite hot. (Gradable)
• The soup is absolutely boiling! (Non-gradable)
• Her new car is very big. (Gradable)
• Her new car is absolutely enormous. (Non-gradable)
• The problem was very difficult. (Gradable)
• The problem was completely impossible. (Non-gradable)

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Many Spanish speakers naturally translate "muy" directly to very, even when using an adjective that is non-gradable in English. This leads to common errors like saying very enormous or very fantastic. In Spanish, you might say "muy enorme" or "muy fantástico," but in English, these adjectives already express an extreme degree.

Remember to use intensifiers like absolutely or completely instead. For example, say The stadium is absolutely enormous, not The stadium is very enormous. Similarly, say The concert was absolutely fantastic, not The concert was very fantastic.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between gradable and non-gradable adjectives?

The main difference is that gradable adjectives can be measured in degrees (e.g., a little cold, very cold), while non-gradable adjectives describe an absolute or extreme state that cannot be measured (e.g., freezing, perfect).

Can I use 'really' with non-gradable adjectives?

Yes, really can sometimes be used with both gradable and non-gradable adjectives. For instance, really fantastic is acceptable. However, for a stronger, more precise emphasis with non-gradable adjectives, absolutely, completely, or totally are often preferred at B1 level.

Why is understanding non-gradable adjectives important for the B1 Preliminary exam?

Understanding non-gradable adjectives helps you use a wider range of vocabulary and express yourself more accurately, which is essential for the B1 Preliminary (PET) Writing and Speaking parts. For example, in the Speaking Part 2 (Long Turn), you might need to describe a picture using strong adjectives. Using absolutely enormous instead of very big shows better lexical resource and a higher level of English.

How can I remember which adjectives are non-gradable?

A good way to remember is to think if the adjective describes an extreme or absolute quality. If something is already 'the most' or 'complete' (like dead or perfect), it's likely non-gradable. Practice and noticing how native speakers use them will also help.