very delicious?

2014. 11. 11. 13:16English/문법

"The food was very delicious" is incorrect.


Some adjectives are called "non-gradable". 

They are not normally used with "very" or "a bit", for instance.

These adjectives already have an idea of "perfection" about them. 

Delicious is one (others: ideal, terrified, huge, freezing, fascinated, etc.).

An adverb used in front of these adjectives is "absolutely".


Therefore, The food was absolutely delicious is correct.


*gradable : 형용사가 단계어인(비교급・최상급으로 쓰거나 veryless 등과 함께 쓸 수 있는)

*non-gradable : 형용사가 비교급과 최상급으로 [veryless 같은 말과 함께] 쓸 수 없는

생각해보니 delicious는 비교급이나 최상급이 없다. 이미 아주 맛있는 이란 의미이므로...

very perfect란 말은 쓰지 않는것처럼.

*non-gradable adjective 앞엔 gradable adverb를 쓸 수 없다.

*gradable adverbs

 very / incredibly / extremely / rather / slightly / a bit / awfully / terribly

 *non-gradable  adverbs

 totally / utterly / absolutely / a quite / completely / really

*really can be used with both gradable and non-gradable




'English > 문법' 카테고리의 다른 글

Make out - 7가지 뜻  (0) 2014.06.15
Expressing your opinion  (0) 2014.06.15
used to  (0) 2014.05.29
to 부정사의 부사적 용법 - 결과적 용법  (0) 2014.05.25
know of 와 know about  (0) 2014.05.25