Grammar Focus

Explicación (en español)

En el nivel C1 Advanced, la precisión léxica es fundamental. Para sonar como un consultor experto, no basta con usar adjetivos básicos como good, bad o big. Debemos distinguir entre gradable adjectives (adjetivos graduables) y non-gradable/extreme adjectives (adjetivos no graduables o extremos). Los adjetivos graduables representan cualidades que pueden existir en diferentes niveles (ej. cold - frío), mientras que los adjetivos extremos representan el límite máximo de esa cualidad (ej. freezing - gélido).

La regla de oro es la concordancia entre el adjetivo y el modificador. Los adjetivos graduables se usan con intensificadores de grado (very, extremely, slightly). Sin embargo, los adjetivos extremos no pueden llevar very. En su lugar, requieren modificadores específicos como absolutely, completely, utterly o totally. Por ejemplo, no decimos "very freezing", sino "absolutely freezing".

Un error muy común entre los hispanohablantes es intentar traducir literalmente estructuras como "muy increíble" (very amazing) o "muy excelente" (very excellent). En inglés, al ser adjetivos extremos, estas combinaciones suenan poco naturales o gramaticalmente incorrectas. En español, solemos usar "muy" para casi todo, pero en inglés avanzado, este error delata un nivel inferior al C1.

Para dominar este tema en el contexto de Strategy & Decision-Making, debemos aprender a emparejar correctamente el intensificador con el adjetivo. Si el adjetivo ya contiene el concepto de "muy" en su significado (como enormous que significa "muy grande"), el uso de very es redundante. Usar absolutely con un adjetivo extremo añade el énfasis necesario para comunicar autoridad y precisión en una reunión de negocios.

Form — estructura

Examples

1. The consultant provided an absolutely vital piece of advice during the meeting. (El consultor proporcionó un consejo absolutamente vital durante la reunión).
2. The market fluctuations were extremely unpredictable last quarter. (Las fluctuaciones del mercado fueron extremadamente impredecibles el trimestre pasado).
3. It was an utterly disastrous decision that led to a massive loss. (Fue una decisión totalmente desastrosa que condujo a una pérdida masiva).
4. The new merger proposal is absolutely enormous in scope. (La nueva propuesta de fusión es de un alcance absolutamente enorme).
5. We found the initial results to be slightly disappointing. (Encontramos que los resultados iniciales fueron ligeramente decepcionantes).
6. The CEO's vision for the company is completely revolutionary. (La visión del CEO para la empresa es completamente revolucionaria).
7. The workload during the audit was extremely heavy. (La carga de trabajo durante la auditoría fue extremadamente pesada).
8. The competitor's move was absolutely unexpected. (El movimiento del competidor fue absolutamente inesperado).

Contrast

1. ✗ The results were very amazing. / ✓ The results were absolutely amazing. (Explicación: 'Amazing' es un adjetivo extremo; no se usa con 'very').
2. ✗ It was a totally huge mistake. / ✓ It was a completely huge mistake (or simply: It was huge). (Explicación: 'Huge' ya implica 'very big'; aunque se acepta en lenguaje coloquial, en C1 se prefiere evitar la redundancia o usar 'absolutely').
3. ✗ The strategy was absolutely good. / ✓ The strategy was extremely good. (Explicación: 'Good' es un adjetivo graduable, por lo que requiere 'extremely' o 'very', no 'absolutely').
4. ✗ We are very exhausted after the negotiation. / ✓ We are absolutely exhausted after the negotiation. (Explicación: 'Exhausted' es el estado extremo de 'tired'; requiere un intensificador de grado absoluto).

Mini-quiz — 10 preguntas

1. Choose the correct option: The merger was _ successful, exceeding all our initial projections. a) very b) absolutely c) slightly

2. Rewrite the sentence using the word in brackets to make it more professional: The budget deficit was very bad. (disastrous)

3. Complete the sentence with a suitable modifier (very / absolutely): The consultant's analysis was _____ brilliant.

4. Identify the error in this sentence: "The company is facing an extremely vital challenge this year." a) No error. b) 'Extremely' should be 'absolutely'. c) 'Vital' should be 'very vital'.

5. Choose the correct option: The feedback from the stakeholders was _ disappointing. a) absolutely b) slightly c) totally

6. Transformation: Rewrite using an extreme adjective instead of the underlined words. The task was very difficult. (challenging - Note: use an extreme synonym like 'arduous' or keep 'challenging' as gradable) The task was ______.

7. Fill in the gap with 'completely' or 'very': The board was _____ satisfied with the new direction of the firm.

8. Multiple choice: Which sentence is grammatically correct for a C1 level? a) It was a very essential requirement. b) It was an absolutely essential requirement. c) It was an essential requirement.

9. Complete the sentence: The sudden drop in sales was _____ shocking to the management team. a) very b) absolutely c) slightly

10. Transformation: Rewrite the sentence to use an extreme adjective. The room was very cold during the negotiation. (freezing) The room was ______.

Respuestas: 1. b) absolutely 2. The budget deficit was absolutely disastrous. 3. absolutely 4. b) 'Extremely' should be 'absolutely' (or 'vital' is often treated as non-gradable). 5. b) slightly 6. The task was absolutely challenging / The task was arduous. 7. completely 8. b) It was an absolutely essential requirement. 9. b) absolutely 10. The room was absolutely freezing.