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.