The Core Distinction: Gradable vs. Ungradable Adjectives

Before choosing a qualifier, you must determine whether the adjective can be measured on a sliding scale.

Gradable Adjectives

• What they are: Adjectives that exist on a spectrum where degrees of intensity are possible. You can be slightly cold, very cold, or extremely cold.

• Examples: cold, tired, big, angry, expensive, good, bad.

• Permitted Qualifiers: slightly, a bit, fairly, quite, very, extremely, exceptionally, highly.

Ungradable (Extreme) Adjectives

• What they are: Adjectives that already represent an absolute limit or extreme state. Something cannot be very freezing because freezing means it is already at the absolute limit of cold.

• Examples: freezing, exhausted, colossal, furious, exorbitant, flawless, dreadful.

• Permitted Qualifiers: absolutely, completely, utterly, totally, virtually, practically, truly.