REALLY  

IMPOSSIBLE  
ABSOLUTELY  DEEPLY 
DELIGHTED   HURT 
MODIFYING

ADJECTIVES

Most adjectives have a meaning which can be made stronger or weaker; these are called “gradable adjectives”. Others
have a meaning which is extreme or absolute and cannot easily be made stronger or weaker; these are called
“ungradable adjectives”. 

Ungradable adjectives
Free Freezing Vast / enormous
(limit of the scale)
Cheap Cold Large
Gradable adjectives
Expensive Hot Small
Ungradable adjectives
Priceless Boiling Minute/ tiny
(limit of the scale)

Modifying gradable adjectives:

Gradable adjectives represent a point on a scale. For example, “cheap” and “expensive” are adjectives on the scale of
“how much something costs”. Ungradable adjectives represent the limits of a scale.

We can make gradable adjectives stronger with “very”, but not with the adverb “absolutely”.

That new jacket looks absolutely very expensive.

There are several other modifiers which we use to strengthen the meaning of these adjectives: so, rather, really, extremely,
terribly, most (formal), pretty (informal).

Last night’s match was terrible exciting.

I feel pretty upset after the accident.

HINT: Although very is commonly used to strengthen any adjective, your English will sound more fluent and natural if
you learn to use other combinations of adverb and adjective. (COLLOCATIONS!)

Modifying ungradable adjectives:

Ungradable adjectives have a meaning which are the limit of the scale in themselves. For example, the limits of the scale of
“how much something costs” are “free” and “priceless”.

A common way to intensify the meaning of an ungradable adjective is with the adverb “absolutely”.

The show was absolutely fabulous.

HINT: Although we use absolutely with many ungradable adjectives, there are some adjectives which are never intensified
with absolutely and some prefer to use other intensifying adverbs such as completely, totally and utterly. There are no
grammar rules which explain these combinations so it is best to learn them as vocabulary items. (COLLOCATIONS
AGAIN!)

 
PRACTICE 
1. READ THE ADJECTIVES IN THE BOX AND DECIDE WHICH ADJECTIVE COLLOCATES WITH, AT LEAST, ONE 
OF THE ADVERBS BELOW. 

 
RESENTFUL, POPULATED, WRONG, CRITICISED, CENSORED, NORMAL, BALANCED, DISAPPOINTED, 
  SAFE, QUALIFIED, HURT, RECOMMENED, CONTAGIOUS, RIGHT, MOVED, RESPECTED, CONVINCED, 
UNDERSTANDABLE 
 

BITTERLY
DEEPLY
PERFECTLY
HIGHLY
HEAVILY
ABSOLUTELY
 
2. COMPLETE THE FOLOWING SENTENCES WITH AN ADVERB FROM THE ONES IN THE EXERCISE ABOVE.  
a) He was …………………………………… resentful at the way he had been treated. 
b) She felt …………………………………… hurt for his behavior. She has always trusted him. 
c) It started out as a …………………………………… normal day. Nobody could imagine what happened next. 
d) His reaction was …………………………………… understandable, if we take into account the circumstances. 
e) You need to be …………………………………… qualified if you want to apply for that job. 
f) This is a  …………………………………… balanced work of art. Tom is a …………………………………… respected 
artist.  
g) His role in the film has been …………………………………… criticized. It wasn’t what we would call a good 
performance. 
h) His enthusiasm became …………………………………… contagious as the campaign progressed. 
i) The town is …………………………………… populated by immigrants. 
j) I understand your criticism, but I’m not …………………………………… convinced of it. 
PRACTICE 
3. READ THE ADJECTIVES IN THE BOX AND DECIDE WHICH ADJECTIVE COLLOCATES WITH, AT LEAST, ONE 
OF THE ADVERBS BELOW. 

 
RESENTFUL, POPULATED, WRONG, CRITICISED, CENSORED, NORMAL, BALANCED, DISAPPOINTED, 
  SAFE, QUALIFIED, HURT, RECOMMENED, CONTAGIOUS, RIGHT, MOVED, RESPECTED, CONVINCED, 
UNDERSTANDABLE 
 

BITTERLY DISAPPOINTED RESENTFUL HURT

DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED MOVED RESENTFUL HURT
PERFECTLY NORMAL SAFE BALANCED UNDERSTANDABLE
HIGHLY QUALIFIED RECOMMENDED RESPECTED POPULATED
HEAVILY CENSORED CRITICISED CONTAGIOUS POPULATED
ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED RIGHT WRONG
 
4. COMPLETE THE FOLOWING SENTENCES WITH AN ADVERB FROM THE ONES IN THE EXERCISE ABOVE.  
a. He was BITTERLY / DEEPLY resentful at the way he had been treated. 
b. She felt BITTERLY / DEEPLY hurt for his behavior. She has always trusted him. 
c. It started out as a PERFECTLY normal day. Nobody could imagine what happened next. 
d. His reaction was PERFECTLY understandable, if we take into account the circumstances. 
e. You need to be HIGHLY qualified if you want to apply for that job. 
f. This is a PERFECTLY balanced work of art. Tom is a HIGHLY respected artist.  
g. His role in the film has been HEVILY criticized. It wasn’t what we would call a good 
performance. 
h. His enthusiasm became HEAVILY contagious as the campaign progressed. 
i. The town is HEAVILY / HIGHLY populated by immigrants. 
j. I understand your criticism, but I’m not ABSOLUTELY convinced of it.