Gradable adjectives describe qualities that can vary in degree, while non-gradable adjectives describe conditions that are either true or false. Gradable adjectives can be modified with adverbs and have comparative and superlative forms. Some words can have multiple gradable or non-gradable meanings depending on context. Some adjectives are often treated as gradable in common usage, but are considered incorrect in formal speech or writing.
A gradable adjective is a word that describes a quality that can be present in varying amounts, such as “old” or “fragile.” Conversely, a nongradable adjective describes a condition that is either true or false, with no in-between, such as “married” or “ex.” One person might be described as older or older than another person, but it would not make sense to say that one person is less married than another.
In general, a gradable adjective can be modified with adverbs relating to quantity, such as “much” or “enough”, and can have comparative and superlative forms. For example, something can be “very sad” or “a little sad.” The word “sad” also has a comparative form: one story can be sadder than another. It also has superlative form: a third story may be the saddest of all.
Gradable adjectives can be qualitative – measurable – or quantitative – non-measurable characteristics. For example, “hot” is a gradable adjective because it describes a condition that may or may not be truer. A day with a high of 100°F (37°C) is hotter than a day with a high of 90°F (32°C). Gradable adjectives can also refer to something that can’t be measured objectively, such as “interesting.” The same book can be considered more interesting or less interesting depending on who is reading it.
A native English speaker can usually determine whether an adjective is gradable or non-gradable by considering whether it makes sense with the word “much” used before it. Non-native speakers may find this a bit more challenging, since a number of adjectives seem like they should be gradable, but really aren’t. The word “superb,” for example, simply means “really good,” so it sounds like something could be more or less superb. Grammatically, however, “superb” is actually non-gradable.
Some words can have multiple gradable or non-gradable meanings depending on their context. For example, “liquid” has a scientific meaning that is not scalable. A liquid substance is in a particular state of matter. On the other hand, in unscientific usage, a soup with a very thin broth might be considered more liquid than one with a thick broth.
There are also a number of adjectives that most grammarians would consider non-gradable, but are often treated as gradable in common usage. For example, the word “unique” technically means “one of a kind”. By this definition, to say that someone has a “unique voice” would mean that no other person in the world has a voice like that person’s. Often, however, “unique” is used as a gradable adjective meaning “unusual” or “uncommon,” as in “He has a very unique style.” The latter usage is considered to be incorrect in formal speech or writing.
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