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Gradable and non-gradable

Posted by HCD on March 17, 2003

In Reply to: Gradable and non-gradable posted by ESC on March 17, 2003

: : : I'd like to know how to discover when a adjective or adverb is gradable or non-gradable, without having to know a large list by heart. Can anybody help me?
: : : Thanks.

: : I don't understand the question. Do you mean gradable as in degrees -- "pretty, prettier, prettiest"? Or non-gradable meaning an absolute --"unique"? Something is unique or it's not.

: Here's what I found:

: "Adjectives can be divided into gradable and non-gradable (or classifying) adjectives. Gradable adjectives can be compared (happy-happier-happiest, good-better-best, beautiful-more beautiful-most beautiful) and modified with the intensifying word very. Non-gradable adjectives do not have comparative or superlative forms nor are they intensified: a financial plan, an electric train, semantic criteria." www.helsinki.fi/~mpalande/adjectives.html

: Another good site is:
: www.grammarstation.com/ SpelltheAdjectives.html
:

Look! For an English native the gradability can possibly be considered easy, but not for other origin peoples, for instance the Latins's origin.
To realize how difficult it is, take a glance at the site about gradable and ungradable adjecitves modifiers on the site:www.edict.com.hk/funcgrammar/NonGradable/Participles.htm.
Thanks, HCD

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