Page 175 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

G r a d a b l e a n d u n g r a d a b l e a d j e c t i v e s ; p o s i t i o n ( 2 )
Gradable
ungradable
position(2) ©
adjectives;
and
Gradable and ungradable adjectives
Gradable and ungradable adjectives
Gradable adjectives can be used with adverbs such as very or extremely to say that a thing or
Gradable adjectives can be used with adverbs such as very or extremely to say that a thing or
more
or
imply
'to
themselves
of a
Ungradable adjectives
particular quality.
less
person has more or less of a particular quality. Ungradable adjectives themselves imply 'to a a
person has
used with these adverbs.
Instead,
are
we can
seldom
as
such
and
use adverbs
large degree' and are seldom used with these adverbs. Instead, we can use adverbs such as
large degree’
totally.
or
absolutely
absolutely or totally.

deeply, fairly, comfortable,
extremely, deeply, fairly, angry, big, busy, comfortable,
extremely,
angry, big, busy,
gradable
.
. pretty common, happy, important, quiet, gradable
:
hugely, immensely, pretty
.
common, happy, important, quiet,
adverbs hugely, immensely, +], adjectives
adjectives
adverbs
.
really,
strong, young
rather,
(informal), rather, really, rich, strong, young
(informal),
rich,
slightly, very
reasonably, slightly, very
reasonably,

completely,
amazed, awful, dreadful, furious,
absolutely, completely, amazed, awful, dreadful, furious, ungradable
absolutely,
.
:
:
ungradable
.
entirely, pretty,
really,
invaluable,
simply, totally, utterly huge, impossible, invaluable, adjectives
+ | huge, impossible,
adverbs | entirely, pretty, really,
adverbs
diecti
wonderful,
useless
simply, totally, utterly
AGJOCHVES
terrible,
terrible, wonderful, useless
• 4580S a
a
solve.
completely impossible problem
us
to
• ¢
Our teacher gave us a completely impossible problem to solve.
Our teacher gave
• ¢
She was
She was extremely rich.
the
adverbs
all
Notice that not extremely rich. given can go with all the adjectives given. For example, we
Notice that not all the adverbs given can go with all the adjectives given. For example, we
« wouldn't usually say 'completely essential’ (see also Unit 92). Really and pretty can be used with
qwouldn't usually say 'completely essential' (see also Unit 92). Really and pretty can be used with
¥ .
ungradable
both
and
adjectives.
gradable
• * both gradable and ungradable adjectives.
More on the position of adjectives
More on the position of adjectives
adjective
preferred order
we
than one
noun, there
often
is
a
before a
for these
use
more
When
B When we use more than one adjective before a noun, there is often a preferred order for these
adjectives. However, this order is not fixed: opinion + size/physical quality/shape/age + colour +
adjectives. However, this order is not fixed: opinion + size/physical quality/shape/age + colour +
(see Unit
85)
+ origin + material + type + purpose + noun.
participle adjectives
participle adjectives (see Unit 85) + origin + material + type + purpose + noun.
an old plastic container
(= age + material + noun)
e an old plastic container (= age + material + noun)
a hard red ball
(= quality + colour + noun)
@ a hard red ball (= quality + colour + noun)
frightening Korean
mask
@ a a frightening Korean mask (= opinion + origin + noun)
(= opinion + origin + noun)
(for holding biscuits)
+ noun)
@ around biscuit tin (= shape + purpose (for holding biscuits) + noun)
(= shape + purpose
a round biscuit tin
a small broken plate
@ a small broken plate (= size + participle adjective + noun)
(= size + participle adjective + noun)
useful digital alarm clock
(= opinion + type + purpose + noun)
@ a a useful digital alarm clock (= opinion + type + purpose + noun)
learn
adjectives
be
help
can
to
useful
to remember that gradable
you
this order,
it
To
To help you to learn this order, it can be useful to remember that gradable adjectives
shape,
ungradable
size,
and
age)
adjectives
usually precede
quality,
@ (describing opinion,
Q (describing opinion, size, quality, shape, and age) usually precede ungradable adjectives
• (participle adjective and adjectives describing origin, material, type and purpose).
* (participle adjective and adjectives describing origin, material, type and purpose).
either
before the noun,
comma
put
between
can
adjectives come
we
and
or
a
When two gradable
C When two gradable adjectives come before the noun, we can put either a comma or and between
Compare:
them. Compare:
them.
Two used if they and political conditions between them It's improving financial conditions but and is
and
and big garden
big garden
• *
an attractive, big garden
an attractive
• ©
and
anattractive,
an attractive and big garden
between them:
have
colour
and
adjectives
Two colour adjectives have and between them:
Two
and blue flag
blue flag)
{not ...yellow,
• *
Sweden's yellow and blue flag (ot ...yellow, blue flag)
Sweden's yellow
from the same
adjectives have
if they are
and
ungradable
class,
Two ungradable adjectives have and between them if they are from the same class, but and is
from
are
different classes.
Compare:
not
not used if they are from different classes. Compare:
and
financial
improving financial conditions
and
• ¢ financial and political conditions
• *
adjective:
an
follows
to-infinitive
or prepositional
a
order
when
phrase
Study the word order when a to-infinitive or prepositional phrase follows an adjective:
Study the word
difficult word
a
/
to say.
</
It's an identical car to mine. V7
It's a difficult word to say. /
• ¢
It's
• *
It's an identical car to mine.
(that
a word
mine.
(that
/
is)
identical to
/
say.
a
difficult to
is)
car
It's a car (that is) identical to mine. /
It's
• ¢
• ¢
It's a word (that is) difficult to say. /
say word.
X
a
difficult to
It's an identical to mine car. X X
It's an-identical-to-mine-car.
It's
It's a difficult-to-say-word. X
• ¢
• *
Adjectives: position (1) => Ifflffig
Adiecives: position (1) => fitiya