AULAFYCurso abierto de inglés C1
HomeCourseChronic Illness & Quality of LifeGrammar Focus
Chronic Illness & Quality of LifeL02
grammar

Grammar Focus

Detailed explanation, examples and controlled practice for the unit grammar point.

60 minC1c1grammarchronic-illness-quality-of-lifegradablenon-gradableintensifiersextreme adjectives

Lesson objectives

  • Recognise and control Gradable vs non-gradable adjectives with extreme modifiers.
  • Notice common errors Spanish-speaking learners make at advanced level.
  • Apply the structure in exam-style sentences related to chronic illness & quality of life.

Explicación (en español)

En inglés, los adjetivos se dividen en dos categorías principales: gradable (graduables) y non-gradable (no graduables o extremos). Los adjetivos gradable son aquellos que representan cualidades que pueden existir en diferentes grados, como cold (frío) o tired (cansado). Para intensificar estos adjetivos, utilizamos modificadores como very, extremely o a bit. Por el contrario, los adjetivos non-gradable (también llamados "extreme adjectives") ya contienen la idea de "muy". Por ejemplo, freezing no es solo "muy frío", sino que ya significa "helado".

El error más común entre los hispanohablantes es intentar usar modificadores de intensidad como very con adjetivos extremos. En español, solemos decir "muy helado" o "muy agotado", pero en inglés, decir "very freezing" es gramaticalmente incorrecto. En su lugar, debemos usar extreme modifiers como absolutely, completely o utterly. La regla de oro es: usa very con adjetivos normales y absolutely con adjetivos extremos.

Otra distinción importante es el uso de totally o completely para enfatizar estados absolutos. En el contexto de la salud y la calidad de vida, esto es crucial. No dices que estás "very exhausted" (muy agotado), sino que estás "absolutely exhausted" (completamente agotado). Si quieres usar un intensificador con un adjetivo extremo, puedes usar really (que funciona con ambos), pero para el examen C1, se espera que demuestres precisión usando absolutely, utterly o completely.

Form — estructura

Adjective Type Example Adjective Suitable Modifiers Example Phrase
Gradable Tired (Cansado) very, extremely, slightly, a bit I am very tired.
Non-gradable Exhausted (Agotado) absolutely, completely, utterly I am absolutely exhausted.
Both Good / Bad really, incredibly It was really good / really bad.

Examples

  1. Living with a chronic condition can be extremely difficult for the whole family. (Vivir con una condición crónica puede ser extremadamente difícil para toda la familia).
  2. After the surgery, she felt absolutely exhausted for several weeks. (Después de la cirugía, ella se sintió absolutamente agotada durante varias semanas).
  3. The pain was unbearable, making it impossible to sleep. (El dolor era insoportable, haciendo que fuera imposible dormir).
  4. It is slightly uncomfortable to wear braces, but you get used to it. (Es ligeramente incómodo usar aparatos, pero te acostumbras).
  5. The patient's recovery was absolutely wonderful after months of treatment. (La recuperación del paciente fue absolutamente maravillosa tras meses de tratamiento).
  6. We were utterly devastated by the news of the diagnosis. (Estábamos totalmente devastados por la noticia del diagnóstico).
  7. The hospital environment can be quite stressful at times. (El entorno hospitalario puede ser bastante estresante a veces).
  8. Finding a cure for such a rare disease is absolutely vital. (Encontrar una cura para una enfermedad tan rara es absolutamente vital).

Contrast

  1. ✗ The weather was very freezing. / ✓ The weather was absolutely freezing. (No se usa very con adjetivos extremos).
  2. ✗ I am extremely exhausted. / ✓ I am completely exhausted. (Exhausted ya es un grado extremo; usa absolutely o simplemente exhausted).
  3. ✗ The results were very amazing. / ✓ The results were absolutely amazing. (No se usa very con adjetivos de grado extremo).
  4. ✗ It was a bit delicious. / ✓ It was really delicious. (Delicious es extremo; a bit se usa para adjetivos graduables).

Mini-quiz — 10 preguntas

Part 1: Choose the correct modifier (a, b, or c).

  1. The patient was ____ exhausted after the long procedure. a) very b) absolutely c) slightly

  2. It was a ____ difficult decision to change the treatment plan. a) extremely b) utterly c) completely

  3. The news was ____ shocking to everyone in the ward. a) very b) absolutely c) a bit

Part 2: Complete the sentence with the correct form (Gradable or Non-gradable).

  1. The pain was so ____ (intense) that he couldn't move. (Use an extreme adjective to replace "very intense")

  2. After the marathon, she felt ____ (tired). (Use an extreme adjective)

  3. The room was ____ (cold). We had to turn on the heating immediately. (Use an extreme adjective)

Part 3: Sentence Transformation. Rewrite the sentences using the word in brackets so that the meaning stays the same. Do not change the word provided.

  1. The food was very tasty. (DELICIOUS) The food was ________.

  2. It is very important to follow the doctor's advice. (VITAL) It is ________ to follow the doctor's advice.

Part 4: Error Correction. Identify if the sentence is Correct (C) or Incorrect (I).

  1. The scenery from the hospital window was very breathtaking. (___)
  2. I was absolutely terrified when I heard the results. (___)

Respuestas: 1. b | 2. a | 3. b | 4. unbearable | 5. exhausted | 6. freezing | 7. absolutely delicious | 8. absolutely vital | 9. I (should be absolutely breathtaking) | 10. C