Practice
Gradable and non-gradable adjectives
Sign in to saveA room can be a little cold, quite cold, or very cold because cold has degrees. A room cannot usually be very freezing in careful standard English. Freezing already describes an extreme point, so absolutely freezing or completely freezing is more natural.
Choose a degree word that fits a gradable or non-gradable adjective, and recognize when an adjective describes a point on a scale or an absolute state.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
The reservoir is almost full. /ə ˈrezəvwɑːr ɪz ˈɔːlməʊst fʊl/
The short answer
Use words such as very, quite, fairly, and a bit with gradable adjectives. Use words such as absolutely, completely, and nearly with non-gradable adjectives. Check whether the adjective can naturally describe different points on a scale.
The coffee is quite hot, but the plate is completely empty.
Why it works: Hot can vary in degree, while empty describes a state with no contents.
5 more examples
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The report is very clear, so I can follow the main argument.
Clear can describe several degrees of understanding, so very fits naturally.
Not this:The instructions are
absolutely clearafter the manager explains the final step. What changes: Absolutely presents clarity as complete in this context. -
The walk was a bit long for my younger cousin.
Long can be shorter or longer, so a bit shows a small degree.
Not this:The bridge is
completely inaccessiblewhile the lift is being repaired. What changes: Inaccessible describes a blocked state, so completely fits the meaning. -
The soup is fairly warm, so you can eat it now.
Warm has degrees between cool and hot, and fairly places it in the middle range.
Not this:The reservoir is
almost fullafter the weekend rain. What changes: Almost says that the reservoir is close to the complete state of being full. -
I was really surprised by the quick reply.
Surprised can be mild or strong, so really can increase its degree.
Not this:The delivery address is
completely wrong. What changes: Completely emphasizes that the address does not match the required one. -
The train is quite crowded this morning.
Crowded can vary from slightly busy to very full, so quite is possible here.
Not this:The office was
absolutely emptyby six o'clock. What changes: Absolutely emphasizes the complete absence of people in the office.
Read the full guide
Start by asking whether the adjective can be more or less true. If it can, choose a degree word that moves along a scale. If it describes a limit or complete state, choose a word that shows how close something is to that limit or whether it has reached it. Context can make some choices flexible, but the usual pairings give you a clear starting point.
Decide whether the adjective has degrees
A gradable adjective can describe different amounts of the same quality. Cold, expensive, useful, and tired are common examples. You can be slightly tired or extremely tired. The adjective stays the same, but the degree word tells the listener where on the scale you mean.
The meeting was rather short.
Short can vary in degree, so rather can describe its length.
Can you say a little expensive or extremely expensive?
Yes. Expensive is gradable because a price can be low, moderate, or high.
Use scale words with gradable adjectives
Very, really, fairly, quite, rather, a little, and a bit often go with gradable adjectives. The word you choose shows how strong the quality is. A little and a bit usually show a small degree. Very and really usually make the quality stronger.
This suitcase is a little heavy, but I can carry it.
A little shows that the suitcase is heavy to a small degree.
The final question was really difficult.
Really raises the degree of difficulty without making it an absolute state.
Recognize complete and extreme meanings
Non-gradable adjectives often describe a limit, a complete state, or an extreme. Empty, impossible, finished, dead, and essential commonly work this way. The usual question is not how much empty or how much impossible, but whether the state has been reached or how close something is to it.
The form is nearly complete, but two signatures are still missing.
Nearly shows that completion is close but has not happened yet.
Which word fits an adjective that describes an absolute state: very or completely?
Completely is often the better choice because it says that the state is total.
Pair non-gradable adjectives with suitable words
Absolutely, completely, totally, nearly, almost, and virtually often match non-gradable adjectives. Absolutely and completely show a full state. Nearly and almost show that something is close to the state but has not reached it. Learn these as useful pairings, then check whether they match the sentence you want to write.
The spare battery is completely dead.
Completely emphasizes that the battery has no remaining power for the task.
It is virtually impossible to finish before the deadline.
Virtually says that success is so unlikely that it is close to impossible.
Use context when a pairing seems unusual
English speakers sometimes use an unusual pairing for emphasis, humor, or a particular context. That does not make every combination suitable for careful writing. If you are unsure, choose a common pairing first. A degree word should help the reader understand the scale or state you mean.
The answer is absolutely correct.
Absolutely presents correct as a complete judgment in this sentence.
The answer is very clear.
Very works when clarity is treated as a quality that can increase or decrease.
Before you go
Remember this
Use gradable adjectives when a quality can move along a scale, and choose degree words such as very, quite, fairly, or a bit. Use non-gradable adjectives for complete or extreme states, and choose words such as absolutely, completely, nearly, or almost. Read the whole meaning before choosing an intensifier.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Gradable and non-gradable adjectives"
What is a gradable adjective?
A gradable adjective describes a quality that can be stronger or weaker. Clear, warm, crowded, and difficult are common examples. You can add a degree word such as very, quite, fairly, or a bit to show where the quality sits on a scale.
The report is very clear, so I can follow the main argument.
What is a non-gradable adjective?
A non-gradable adjective often describes a complete or extreme state. Empty, impossible, essential, and finished commonly have this meaning. Words such as absolutely, completely, nearly, and almost help show whether the state is complete or close to complete.
The instructions are absolutely clear after the manager explains the final step.
Can I use very with every adjective?
No. Very usually fits gradable adjectives, such as very clear or very useful. For an adjective that already has an extreme or complete meaning, a pairing such as absolutely essential or completely empty is often more natural in careful standard English.
The walk was a bit long for my younger cousin.
What is the difference between almost and completely?
Almost means close to a state without fully reaching it, as in almost full. Completely says that the state has been reached, as in completely full. Choose almost when something remains to be done, and completely when nothing remains.
The bridge is completely inaccessible while the lift is being repaired.
Why do some adjective pairings change with context?
Context can change whether a speaker treats an adjective as a scale or an absolute judgment. A phrase may also be informal, humorous, or deliberately emphatic. When you write carefully, choose a common degree word that makes your intended meaning easy to understand.
The soup is fairly warm, so you can eat it now.