AIM: To introduce the concept of extreme adjectives and practise using them.
INTRODUCTION: Many adjectives can be modified using other words to strengthen or weaken their meaning. These examples come from the back pain case. These are called base adjectives.
- It feels pretty bad all the time.
- It was a bit hard to get to a swimming pool.
- That’s a very good idea.
Other adjectives cannot be modified with these words because they already have an extreme meaning. However, they can be emphasised using other words. These are called extreme adjectives.
- He was completely soaked and absolutely freezing after the accident.
He was very soaked and quite freezing after the accident.
Some words can modify both base and extreme adjectives, e.g., really.
- base: They’re very angry. They’re really angry.
They’re absolutely angry.
- extreme: They’re absolutely furious. They’re really furious.
They’re very furious.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose the extreme adjective from the box that best completes each sentence.
Please answer every question before continuing.
Knowing pairs of base and extreme adjectives can help you describe conditions/situations more specifically. Note that there may be more than one extreme adjective that corresponds to a base adjective, but they may not have exactly the same meaning or be suitable in the same contexts.
| Base | | Extreme |
| wet | -> | soaked, soaking, drenched |
| cold | -> | freezing, frozen, glacial |
| angry | -> | furious, infuriated, enraged |
