Check if an adjective is gradable or non-gradable

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 1

Can we use very before it?

• This exercise is very easy.
• This exercise is very impossible.
  (Something is either possible or impossible.)

Test 2

Can we make a comparative or superlative from it using adjective + er/est or more/most + adjective?

• Last winter was the coldest for 50 years.
• 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.)

Now do Check if an adjective is gradable or non-gradable · exercise 1.