Home

What are absolute adjectives?

Average: 4.4 (9 votes)
Wed, 04/08/2009 - 00:49 — Chris McCarthy

Take a look at these very short sentences:

"He's tall."

"He's dead."

They both contain adjectives: tall and dead.

Tall can be used in comparative sentences:

"He's taller than me."

Dead can NOT be used in comparative sentences:

"He's deader than me."

You are either 'dead' or not; you can not be 'dead-er' or 'more dead' than someone.

Dead is therefore an example of an absolute adjective - adjectives that can not take a comparative or superlative ('dead-est') form.

Using an absolute adjective in a comparative sentences makes your English sound strange so watch out!

Another example of an absolute adjective is 'unique' because it means 'one of a kind' and, therefore, it can not be 'more unique' than something. It's either 'unique' or it isn't.

How about these words, are they absolute adjectives or not?

Link: Prepositions in phrasal verbs

  • Perfect is...



  • Complete is...



  • Red is....



  • Essential is...



  • Healthy is...



  • Pregnant is...







Bookmark/Search this post with:
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Yahoo

Comments

Wed, 04/08/2009 - 06:41 — daffodils

hi!

i got all correct in this quiz....................thanks!

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 01:41 — panesandra@yahoo.com

u are a dilligent .....

u are a dilligent .....

Wed, 04/08/2009 - 10:31 — EnglishLearner

How interesting!

I wronged complete and essential plus red!

I normally use "more complete" and "more essential" ...but it seems to be not correct. Regarding red there are different kind of red more or less intense!It's not on-off!

What does "watch out" mean?

EL

Wed, 04/08/2009 - 10:42 — Chris McCarthy

Hi EL, You're right - 'red'

Hi EL,

You're right - 'red' comes in many shades and is therefore not an absolute.
'Watch out' means 'be careful / take care.'

Chris

Wed, 04/08/2009 - 18:38 — kaw809

'watch out' means 'be

'watch out' means 'be careful or cautious'. I think so.

Sat, 04/18/2009 - 08:41 — soufsoul

the meaning of wath out

Watch out means be carefull Nerd

Wed, 04/08/2009 - 16:55 — Yura

I will watch out.

Thank you very much I've never heard about absolute adjectives. But I made mistakes. These are red (I can not understand how it may be redder) and perfect. I will watch out.

Sun, 04/12/2009 - 21:54 — Noga

Q

me too. I want to know how can Red become Redder? or Reddest?? an example please Timeout

thanks a lot.

note: there is a mistake in writing this sentence (Using a absolute adjective in comparative sentences) I think the correct is (Using an .....) am I right? Worried
________________________________________

Be happy and pleased with yourself Smile

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 07:47 — Ragamob4

I am glad that I got all the

I am glad that I got all the answer right, I really like this web site a lot.

Wed, 04/15/2009 - 11:56 — shanthy

THANKS

i have got a new lesson in adjectives

Thu, 04/16/2009 - 06:43 — ghazal noman

ghazala it realy a wonderful

ghazala
it realy a wonderful experience for me again

Fri, 04/17/2009 - 15:04 — alohamoh

thanks

thanks chris it is a new information for me , but i surprised with the word red Surprise

Sun, 04/19/2009 - 05:55 — charylee

It's interesting and useful

It's interesting and useful

Mon, 04/20/2009 - 12:34 — Sozanove

Is essential an absolute

Is essential an absolute adjective?how?
and how red is not?

Mon, 04/20/2009 - 14:53 — Chris McCarthy

absolute adjectives

Essential means 'absolutely necessary' - making it an absolute.
Red comes in many shades - 'light red', 'dark red' and so on.

Mon, 04/20/2009 - 14:31 — atuness.chirwa

what are absolute objectives

I got two but i want to know how red is and absolute objective

Tue, 04/21/2009 - 06:52 — Chris McCarthy

RE:Red

I think you misread. Red is NOT an absolute adjective.

Chris

Wed, 04/29/2009 - 17:14 — nehir

Yes, Red again!!!

But I understood why red is not an absolute adjective after reading all comments here. thanks.Smile

Mon, 05/04/2009 - 19:10 — Sirvetix

i'm perfect.that's all

i'm perfect.that's all Cool

Wed, 05/06/2009 - 05:56 — Ej Cabatana

Good job!

Congrats for those who got perfect. Good job!

Mon, 06/01/2009 - 04:07 — iamfayeenurse

wow.. love it..

wow.. love it.. geezzz...♥♥

Tue, 09/15/2009 - 16:09 — Natalysmart

Nataly I didn't make any

Nataly
I didn't make any mistakes, but I had never heard about absolute adjectives before, thank you

Mon, 10/26/2009 - 03:15 — geofatma

I had never heard about absolute adjectives.

i think it's a helpful lesson and it deserves interest.