Gradable

Some adjectives and adverbs refer to qualities which are gradable – we can have more or less of them. For example, people can be more or less interesting; jobs can be more or less difficult. We can use degree modifiers (e.g. more, most, too, very, little, rather, so, enough, quite, fairly, not at all etc.) with gradable adjectives and adverbs.

• She is rather tall.
• I am extremely grateful to you.
• She is very beautiful.
• The water is too cold.

Not all adjectives and adverbs refer to gradable qualities. For example, we do not normally say most alive, very immediately, more perfect or less impossible.