What Are Gradable and Non-Gradable Adjectives?

Short answer by GrammarGramps: Gradable adjectives are adjectives that can exist in degrees, such as “hot,” “tall,” and “happy.” Non-gradable adjectives are adjectives that cannot exist in degrees, such as “dead,” “impossible,” and “complete.

You can modify gradable adjectives with words like “very” and “quite.” You cannot do the same with non-gradable adjectives.

Non-gradable adjectives have two types: absolute adjectives and extreme adjectives. Gradable adjectives also have two types: comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives.

Learn more in the detailed guide below.

Introduction to Gradable and Non-Gradable Adjectives by GrammarGramps

Hey again. Today, I want to tell you about gradable and non-gradable adjectives.

This post is a branch of our main comprehensive guide on adjectives. If you haven’t already, be sure to check it out and then come back here.

So, gradable and non-gradable adjectives are quite simple.

As you know, there are some adjectives, some qualities, that can exist in a person or an animal or a place (a noun, basically) in varying degrees. For instance, a person can be beautiful, but their friend can be more beautiful. A person can be somewhat hungry, but their friend can be very hungry.

There is a wide range or spectrum for these adjectives. These are known as gradable adjectives. They are called gradable because they can be graded on a scale.

On the other hand, there are some adjectives that indicate properties that can either exist in a noun or not exist. For example, if someone is dead, they’re just dead. They can’t be more dead or less dead. They’re either dead or they’re not. These are called non-gradable adjectives. There are two main types of non-gradable adjectives, which include absolute adjectives and extreme adjectives.

Now, let’s dive into the details.

Gradable Adjectives: Definition and Examples

As mentioned above, a gradable adjective is one that can exist in varying degrees. You can intensify or reduce it using degree adverbs like “very,” “quite,” “extremely,” “fairly,” and “rather.” (We’ve explained the concepts of “adverbs of degree” in our detailed guide on adverbs and their types. Be sure to check it out.)

Here are some examples:

Non-Gradable Adjectives: Definition and Examples

A non-gradable adjective is one that cannot exist in degrees. The quality it describes is absolute. It is either present or it is not. Using degree adverbs with non-gradable adjectives is grammatically incorrect in formal contexts.

Here are some examples:

Types of Gradable Adjectives

Since gradable adjectives can exist in degrees, they can take two forms depending on how they are being used in a sentence. These are comparative adjectives and superlative adjectives.

Comparative Adjectives

A comparative adjective is used to compare two things by showing a higher or lower degree of a quality. Comparative adjectives either add “-er” to the base adjective or use “more” before it.

• Jack’s African farm was hotter than the one in Siberia.
• The work there was more difficult than he expected.

You can read the full guide on comparative adjectives here on GrammarGramps to learn more about how they are formed and used.

Superlative Adjectives

A superlative adjective identifies the highest or lowest degree of a quality among three or more things. Superlative adjectives either add “-est” to the base adjective or use “most” before it.

• Of all the farms Jack visited, the African one was the hottest.
• It was the most difficult experience of his life.

Have a look at our detailed guide on superlative adjectives to learn more them, including their types and the rules for their formation.

What is the Difference Between Comparative and Superlative Adjectives?

Both comparative and superlative adjectives are forms of gradable adjectives, but the number of things being compared is what sets them apart.

The simplest way to remember it: if you are comparing two things, use the comparative. If you are picking the one that stands out most from a group, use the superlative.

Types of Non-Gradable Adjectives

As mentioned earlier, there are two main types of non-gradable adjectives: absolute adjectives and extreme adjectives. Let’s look at each one.

1. Absolute Adjectives

Absolute adjectives describe a quality that is either present or not. There are no degrees. Something is either dead or it isn’t. Something is either impossible or it isn’t. You cannot use “very” or “quite” with them.

For emphasis, you can use modifiers like “absolutely,” “totally,” or “completely” with absolute adjectives.

Below is a table that shows different absolute adjectives, along with correct modifier usage.

You can read the full guide on absolute adjectives by GrammarGramps to learn more.

2. Extreme Adjectives

Extreme adjectives are the most intense version of a gradable adjective. The word “freezing,” for example, is the extreme version of “cold.” The word “enormous” is the extreme version of “big.” These adjectives already contain the idea of “very” within their meaning, so you cannot add “very” on top of them. You use “absolutely” or “really” with them instead.

Below is a table that lists various extreme adjectives along with their gradable counterparts.

Read the full guide on extreme adjectives by GrammarGramps to get a better idea about these.

How Are Absolute Adjectives and Extreme Adjectives Different?

Both absolute and extreme adjectives are non-gradable, meaning you cannot use “very” or “quite” with either of them. However, the reason why they are non-gradable is different.

Absolute adjectives are non-gradable because the quality they describe is binary. It either exists or it does not. There is no scale involved at all.

Extreme adjectives are non-gradable because they already sit at the top of a scale. “Freezing” is not binary in the way “dead” is. Something can be cold, quite cold, or very cold, but “freezing” represents the extreme end of that scale. It already has “very” baked into its meaning.

Here is a simple way to think about it:

So while both types are non-gradable, absolute adjectives have no scale at all, and extreme adjectives sit at the ceiling of one.

List of Gradable Adjectives

Here is a list of gradable adjectives, sorted alphabetically.

• Angry
• Beautiful
• Big
• Brave
• Bright
• Busy
• Cheap
• Cold
• Dangerous
• Dark
• Difficult
• Expensive
• Famous
• Fast
• Friendly
• Good
• Happy
• Heavy
• Hot
• Hungry
• Interesting
• Kind
• Large
• Loud
• Old
• Pretty
• Quick
• Quiet
• Sad
• Sharp
• Short
• Slow
• Small
• Smart
• Strong
• Sweet
• Tall
• Tired
• Warm
• Weak
• Young

List of Non-Gradable Adjectives

Here is a list of non-gradable

• Absolute
• Ancient
• Boiling
• Complete
• Dead
• Destitute
• Empty
• Entire
• Essential
• Eternal
• Excellent
• Final
• Finite
• Freezing
• Full
• Impossible
• Infinite
• Invisible
• Microscopic
• Necessary
• Perfect
• Permanent
• Possible
• Ruined
• Spotless
• Starving
• Straight
• Tremendous
• True
• Ultimate
• Unanimous
• Unique
• Universal

Check out our list of 100+ adjectives here if you’re interested in learning more of them, beyond the gradable and non-gradable scope.

Conclusion + Related Resources

And that is basically it.

The concept of gradable and non-gradable adjectives is very simple and straightforward. We’ve gone in quite a few details above. If you still aren’t clear on anything and need some extra help, send me a message from the Contact page.

Also, once you’re done reading this guide, try and speed run some more grammar terms and topics by visiting the glossary of English grammar by GrammarGramps.

I also suggest checking out our guides on adverbs and nouns as your next starting point of exploration. There’s a lot to learn, you know.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)