C1 / C2 Gradabiity

C1 / C2 Gradability

Adverb - Adjective combinations that make your speech and writing sparkle :)

Look at these examples of gradable and ungradable adjectives. Can you see any patterns?

• very upset

• fairly content

• deeply hurt

• utterly ridiculous

• absolutely heart-broken

• totally inexcusable

A gradable adjective can be combined with adverbs like: very, fairly, rather, extremely, deeply, immensely.

A non-gradable adj is more extreme and cannot collocate with adverbs like very. Instead, we use: absolutely, totally, completely, utterly.

Multiple Choice

Ever since they split up, they've both been ...

• utterly miserable

• very miserable

• deeply miserable

Multiple Choice

Since the launch of the new marketing campaign, the increase in sales has been ...

• immensely staggering

• fairly staggering

• absolutely staggering

Multiple Select

Which of the adverbs below collocate with cheerful and irritable? (which are both gradable adjectives)

• pretty

• very

• rather

• absolutely

• utterly

Multiple Select

Which of the adjectives below collocate with entirely and utterly? (which are both used with non-gradable / extreme adjectives)

• impossible

• ridiculous

• tired

• laid-back

Some adverbs collocate with both gradable and ungradable adjectives:

• really (really comfortable, really awful)

• pretty (pretty quiet, pretty amazing)

• quite (with a change in meaning: I'm quite busy = fairly/pretty; You're quite impossible at times! = completely)

Some adjectives can be both gradable and non-gradable, which often entails a shift from literal to more figurative meaning:

The bird had fallen from its nest and was dead. (literal use - non-gradable adj)

The town centre is completely dead after 10. (figurative use - gradable)

Multiple Choice

I missed out on a trip to the States because I was ill. What makes it .... is that they were going to fly me there business class!

• doubly disappointing

• somewhat envious

• absolutely staggering

Multiple Choice

After the latest scandal, many celebrities have become ... of the press and its motives.

• utterly miserable

• highly suspicious

• deeply hurt

Multiple Choice

The new prime-minister seems to be .... for the job, on paper at least.

• quite determined

• very inadequate

• eminently suitable