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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Was my question too difficult?
Is there a rule about not using very with certain words such as
He is very perfect.
He is the very best.
That was very horrible.
How do I know which words are acceptable and which are not?
He is very perfect.
He is the very best.
That was very horrible.
How do I know which words are acceptable and which are not?
Top answer
The guideline is that some adjectives and adverbs are non-gradable: they cannot be less or more so, but just so or not so. Perfect is one example-- I am either perfect or imperfect ; supposedly, I cannot be a little bit perfect or very perfect . Your grammar book should contain a representative list of descriptive modifiers that are generally considered non-gradable: words such as perfect, unique, impossible, dead -- and also adjectives like Japanese, mechanical, metallic , etc.
- The guideline is that some adjectives and adverbs are non-gradable: they cannot be less or more so, but just so or not so.
- Perfect is one example-- I am either perfect or imperfect ; supposedly, I cannot be a little bit perfect or very perfect .
- Your grammar book should contain a representative list of descriptive modifiers that are generally considered non-gradable: words such as perfect, unique, impossible, dead -- and also adjectives like Japanese, mechanical, metallic , etc.
- For others, it is up to you to imagine whether the quality can be graded as 'more' or 'less'.
- Having said that, the non-gradability of many words is debatable-- few native speakers pay close attention to this guideline; in addition, there are some intensifiers which modify even non-gradables: The entree was absolutely perfect!
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2 Answers
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The guideline is that some adjectives and adverbs are non-gradable: they cannot be less or more so, but just so or not so. Perfect is one example-- I am either perfect or imperfect; supposedly, I cannot be a little bit perfect or very perfect.
Your grammar book should contain a representative list of descriptive modifiers that are generally considered
Your grammar book should contain a representative list of descriptive modifiers that are generally considered
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Hi,
Like Mister M said, such words are non-gradable but I believe that doesn't mean you may not generate similar effects by using such words as "far too" and "truly" eventhough using them sometimes may sound redundant and may not create the effects in the same degree, or even close to it.
Like Mister M said, such words are non-gradable but I believe that doesn't mean you may not generate similar effects by using such words as "far too" and "truly" eventhough using them sometimes may sound redundant and may not create the effects in the same degree, or even close to it.
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