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English grammar

Very tired, utterly exhausted: gradable and extreme adjectives

C1 · Advanced Referring to people and things Questions 10

The rule

Gradable adjectives (tired, cold, good, interesting) take very, extremely, fairly, rather, a bit, slightly. Extreme adjectives (exhausted, freezing, excellent, fascinating, furious, huge, delighted, terrified) already contain very, so they take absolutely, utterly, completely, totally — and really, which works with both. Absolute adjectives (unique, impossible, perfect, right) take absolutely, almost, quite. quite changes meaning: quite good = fairly good, but quite right, quite amazing = completely. pretty = fairly, informal; rather often signals something slightly negative or surprising. Many intensifiers are fixed collocations worth learning whole: deeply disappointed, highly unlikely, bitterly cold, fully aware, perfectly clear, badly damaged, strongly recommend. very exhausted and absolutely tired are typical errors.

Pattern

gradable (tired, cold, good): very / extremely / fairly / rather / a bit · extreme (exhausted, freezing, excellent): absolutely / utterly / completely / totally · really: both · quite: fairly (gradable) · completely (extreme) · collocations: deeply disappointed · highly unlikely · bitterly cold · fully aware

Examples

  1. After the hike we were absolutely exhausted.

  2. It is highly unlikely that the bus will come now.

  3. I was deeply disappointed by the decision.

  4. The film was quite good, but the book is quite brilliant.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: The view was very amazing.

    Right: The view was absolutely amazing.

    An extreme adjective takes absolutely, not very.

  • Wrong: I was absolutely tired after work.

    Right: I was very tired after work.

    A gradable adjective takes very, not absolutely.

  • Wrong: It is highly cold today.

    Right: It is bitterly cold today.

    The collocation is bitterly cold.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The concert was slightly fantastic.
    2. The concert was absolutely fantastic.
    3. The concert was very fantastic.
    4. The concert was fairly fantastic.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The concert was absolutely fantastic.

    fantastic is extreme: absolutely.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    I’m _____ aware of the risks, thank you.

    1. fully
    2. highly
    3. deeply
    4. bitterly
    Show answer

    Answer: A I’m fully aware of the risks, thank you.

    fully aware is the natural collocation.

  3. 3This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    The painting is very unique.

    1. The painting is absolutely unique.
    2. The painting is a bit unique.
    3. The painting is fairly unique.
    4. The painting is slightly unique.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The painting is absolutely unique.

    unique is absolute: absolutely unique.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    What does quite mean here?

    You’re quite right — I made a mistake.

    1. completely
    2. not at all
    3. a little
    4. fairly
    Show answer

    Answer: A completely

    With an absolute adjective, quite = completely.

  5. 5Choose the correct sentence.

    What does quite mean here?

    The food was quite good, but not special.

    1. fairly
    2. perfectly
    3. extremely
    4. completely
    Show answer

    Answer: A fairly

    With a gradable adjective, quite = fairly.

  6. 6Change the sentence.

    Make it stronger.

    The house was very big.

    1. The house was slightly huge.
    2. The house was absolutely huge.
    3. The house was absolutely big.
    4. The house was very huge.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The house was absolutely huge.

    Extreme adjective + absolutely.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. It is utterly unlikely that they will win it.
    2. It is deeply unlikely that they will win.
    3. It is bitterly unlikely that they will win.
    4. It is highly unlikely that they will win.
    Show answer

    Answer: D It is highly unlikely that they will win.

    The collocation is highly unlikely.

  8. 8Put the words in the right order.

    We were bitterly disappointed by the result

    Show answer

    Answer: We were bitterly disappointed by the result.

    bitterly disappointed is a strong collocation.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    You are writing a review.

    I would _____ recommend this hotel to families.

    1. bitterly
    2. strongly
    3. deeply
    4. utterly
    Show answer

    Answer: B I would strongly recommend this hotel to families.

    strongly recommend is the collocation.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    After the marathon I was very exhausted.

    1. After the marathon I was fairly exhausted.
    2. After the marathon I was a bit exhausted.
    3. After the marathon I was slightly exhausted.
    4. After the marathon I was completely exhausted.
    Show answer

    Answer: D After the marathon I was completely exhausted.

    exhausted is extreme: completely.

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