Gradable and non-gradable

Posted by ESC on March 17, 2003

In Reply to: English grammar 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

• Gradable and non-gradable HCD 03/17/03
  • Gradable and non-gradable adjectival participles TheFallen 03/17/03
    • Gradable and nongradable . . . R. Berg 03/17/03
      • Gradable and nongradable . . . HCD 03/19/03
        • Grammar and Foreign Languages TheFallen 03/19/03
          • Grammar and Foreign Languages HCD 03/21/03