Some adjectives are non-gradable, also called ungradable. They are complete and final.
For example:
- The man was dead.
(You can’t be a little dead or very dead. You are either dead or alive.) - It was freezing outside.
(Something is either frozen or it is not.)
There are two tests to know if an adjective is gradable or non-gradable:
Test One
Can we use very before it?
This exercise is very impossible.
(Something is either possible or impossible.)
This exercise is very easy.
Test Two
Can we make a comparative or superlative from it using adjective + er/est or more/most + adjective?
The man was deader.
(Something is either dead or alive.)The car was more destroyed.
(Something is either damaged or destroyed.)Last winter was the most freezing for 50 years.
(Something is either frozen or it is not.)
Last winter was the coldest for 50 years.
Now do Check if an adjective is gradable or non-gradable · exercise 1.
