Gradable and Non-gradable adjectives 1

Question 1

Gradable adjectives can be used with grading adverbs.
Grading adverbs: a bit, dreadfully, extremely, hugely, immensely, intensely, rather, reasonably, slightly, very.
Gradable adjectives: angry, big, busy, clever, common, different, fast, friendly, happy, important, low, popular, quiet, rich, strong, weak, young.

Answer 1

She was extremely rich.
It’s hugely popular.
The people there are reasonably friendly.
They’re slightly different.

Question 2

Non-gradable adjectives are used with non-grading adverbs:
Non-grading adverbs: absolutely, entirely, completely, perfectly, practically, simply, totally, utterly, virtually, almost, exclusively, fully, largely, mainly, nearly, primarily.
No-gradable adjectives: awful, excellent, huge, impossible, superb, terrible, unique, unknown, wrong, domestic, environmental, agricultural.

Answer 2

She is completely wrong.
He was practically unknown to the public.
It was absolutely superb.
The region is largely agricultural.

Question 3

Some adverbs are used with both, gradable and non-gradable:
Fairly (less than very)
Really (very much)
Pretty (informal to fairly).

Answer 3

She’s fairly popular at school.
I’m really busy at the moment.
It’s a pretty important exam.
It was a fairly awful film.
The bill was pretty huge.

Question 4

With some gradable adjectives, we use REALLY/PRETTY, not fairly/very:
Essential, perfect, invaluable, superb, tremendous, wonderful.

Answer 4

Experience is really/pretty essential for the job.
The weather is really/pretty wonderful (perfect).