Strong adjectives like exhausted already imply an extreme level and cannot be modified in the same way as gradable adjectives. Modifiers like very, incredibly, and extremely can be used with gradable adjectives to indicate level but not with strong adjectives. Absolutely can only be used to modify strong adjectives, while really can modify both strong and gradable adjectives.

1. Gradable and StrongAdjectivesNEFi 2B

2. STRONG ADJECTIVESTheyalreadyincludethe idea of ‘very’, forexample, exhaustedmeans ‘verytired’We can use very, incredibly, extremelyand fairlywithgradableadjectives, butnotwithstrongadjectives: verytirednotveryexhausted; incrediblydifficultnotincrediblyimpossibleIncredibly and extremely are strongerthanvery. Fairlyislessstrongthanvery.

3. STRONG ADJECTIVESWe can use absolutelywithstrongadjectives, butnotwithgradableadjectives: absolutelyterrified, notabsolutelyfrightened, etcWe can use reallywithbothgradable and strongadjectives: reallytired, reallyexhausted, etc