Gradable
I. Match the adjectives. Write the letters a-k.
Adjectives:
Gradable
Extreme
1. big
2. small
3. hot
4. cold
5. hungry
6. pretty
7. tasty
8. tired
9. bad
10. nice
11. ugly
a. freezing
b. starving
c. delicious
d. exhausted
e. boiling
f. gorgeous
g. huge
h. tiny
i. awful
j. hideous
k. awesome
II. Cross out the wrong option. Click on an option to cross it out it. If you change your
mind, click on one of the other options
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
It's a(n) absolutely / really / very nice day, isn't it?
I thought the film was absolutely / quite / extremely amazing.
It's absolutely / very / really marvellous news.
The forecast is looking pretty / quite / totally promising.
We were really / totally / very unlucky at the races.
I'm getting absolutely / quite / really bored with this book.
She was extremely / pretty / totally amazed to see him there.
We got really / totally / very soaked in the rain.
He's absolutely / extremely / pretty clever for his age.
Her first day at work was extremely / pretty / quite disastrous.
We had a really / totally / very pleasant day by the seaside.
They were really / totally / very astonished at the news.
III. Decide whether these intensifiers go with gradable or ungradable adjectives. Try
saying them with tired, exhausted and unique, and see which you think sounds
better.
Gradable
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ungradable
a bit, a little
almost
completely
dreadfully
entirely
1
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
exceedingly
fairly
fantastically
hugely
immensely
incredibly
nearly
perfectly
rather
reasonably
simply
slightly
unusually
virtually
utterly
IV. Underline the best option. Click on an option to underline it. If you change your mind,
click on one of the other options
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
I'm fantastically bad / terrible at maths.
It is hugely important / essential that this should be done well.
It's unusually boiling / hot for this time of year.
The hotel is fairly immense / large .
It was a very accomplished / marvellous performance.
Her sense of humour is utterly unusual / unique .
I'm incredibly delighted / pleased at the news.
She was completely puzzled / stupefied by his suggestion.
She was totally surprised / euphoric when she won the award.
He's immensely excited / thrilled about his trip.
She is virtually penniless / poor .
My phone is completely broken / useless .
This vase is perfectly hideous / ugly .
She's almost old / ancient .
He was rather furious / annoyed when he found out the truth.
I'm a bit exhausted / tired .
We're reasonably pleased / delighted with the results.
These cakes are exceedingly delicious / good .
He has a fairly colossal / inflated sense of his own importance.
We were entirely satisfied / overjoyed with the arrangements.
This chocolate is simply sublime / tasty .
Their prices are rather exorbitant / high .
They charge an absolutely trifling / small amount for the service.
I'm slightly astounded / surprised at his behaviour.
She's a dreadfully brilliant / talented dancer.
2
V. For each sentence, choose the best word or phrase to complete the gap from the choices below.
1. Thanks for the week-end. We had ____ a wonderful time.
A so
B such
C very
D absolutely
2. The weather at the beach on Saturday was __________ gorgeous.
A such
B extremely
C absolutely D awfully
3. Try that restaurant. The food is ______ marvelous.
A such
B very
C terribly
D simply
4. I was _________ annoyed when he said that.
A much
B absolutely C totally
D extremely
5. He told me a/an __________ unbelievable story.
A completely B extremely
C nearly
D very
6. You probably feel quite cold today but actually, fifteen degrees is ______ hot for
England in October.
A simply
B pretty
C completely D absolutely
7. What they told the police was _______ untrue.
A extremely
B very
C otally
D rather
8. Both sisters were _______ brilliant students.
A relatively
B totally
C almost
D wholly
9. That's a wonderful ring. It must have been ______ expensive.
A really
B absolutely C simply
D totally
10. I need to sit by the fire. I'm __________ freezing!
A rather
B wholly
C absolutely D very
3
Answer
I. 1.g; 2h; 3e; 4a; 5b; 6f; 7c; 8d; 9i; 10k; 11j
II.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
It's a(n) absolutely / really / very nice day, isn't it?
I thought the film was absolutely / quite / extremely amazing.
It's absolutely / very / really marvellous news.
The forecast is looking pretty / quite / totally promising.
We were really / totally / very unlucky at the races.
I'm getting absolutely / quite / really bored with this book.
She was extremely / pretty / totally amazed to see him there.
We got really / totally / very soaked in the rain.
He's absolutely / extremely / pretty clever for his age.
Her first day at work was extremely / pretty / quite disastrous.
We had a really / totally / very pleasant day by the seaside.
They were really / totally / very astonished at the news.
III
Gradable
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
a bit, a little
almost
completely
dreadfully
entirely
exceedingly
fairly
fantastically
hugely
immensely
incredibly
nearly
perfectly
rather
reasonably
simply
slightly
unusually
virtually
utterly
Ungradable
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
IV
1. I'm fantastically bad / terrible at maths.
2. It is hugely important / essential that this should be done well.
4
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
It's unusually boiling / hot for this time of year.
The hotel is fairly immense / large .
It was a very accomplished / marvellous performance.
Her sense of humour is utterly unusual / unique .
I'm incredibly delighted / pleased at the news.
She was completely puzzled / stupefied by his suggestion.
She was totally surprised / euphoric when she won the award.
He's immensely excited / thrilled about his trip.
She is virtually penniless / poor .
My phone is completely broken / useless .
This vase is perfectly hideous / ugly .
She's almost old / ancient .
He was rather furious / annoyed when he found out the truth.
I'm a bit exhausted / tired .
We're reasonably pleased / delighted with the results.
These cakes are exceedingly delicious / good .
He has a fairly colossal / inflated sense of his own importance.
We were entirely satisfied / overjoyed with the arrangements.
This chocolate is simply sublime / tasty .
Their prices are rather exorbitant / high .
They charge an absolutely trifling / small amount for the service.
I'm slightly astounded / surprised at his behaviour.
She's a dreadfully brilliant / talented dancer.
V. 1b; 2c; 3d; 4d; 5a; 6b; 7c; 8b; 9a; 10c
5
... / very pleasant day by the seaside They were really / totally / very astonished at the news III Gradable 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 a bit, a little almost completely dreadfully entirely... immensely incredibly nearly perfectly rather reasonably simply slightly unusually virtually utterly Ungradable 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 IV I'm fantastically bad / terrible at maths It is hugely important