Language Upgrade Lesson 1. Extreme Adjectives

We all know that out students need a little help when it comes to improving on their language. an extensive vocabulary is what makes someone proficient in a language, in my opinion.

The first steps to doing this can be taken very early in a language learners quest to be understood. It's also something that turns into a bit of a battle the closer students get to their B1 and B2 exams.

I created this worksheet because I was bored of hearing my students refering to something as a good idea over and over and over again. I decided that I needed to do try to help my PET students get to grips with some extreme adjectives and with the hope they might start in incorporate them into, not only thier writing but their speaking as well. This was the first step.I ask questions focused on the use of these adjectives at the start of each class by way of reinforcement. I've been doing this over the last couple of weeks and it seems some of my students are using these adjectives almost naturally.

A gradable adjective is one which can vary in size. Eg. The dog was quite big. Or maybe your bedroom is usually extremely clean.

Extreme adjectives, on the other hand, can’t be graded. It can’t be very freezing outside in winter it can be freezing or absolutely freezing. Using extreme adjectives adds interest to both written and spoken language.

The full printable is available here. Look for extreme adjectives.

1.       Match the extreme adjectives in box 1 with the normal adjectives in box 2.

EXTREME ADJECTIVES

Gigantic/Enormous BIG

Filthy_____

Boiling______

Freezing______

Hideous______

Gorgeous/Stunning______

Amazing/Fantastic______

Spotless______

Furious_______

Starving______

Stuffed_______

Terrible______

Tiny_______

 Normal/Gradable

Full

Ugly

Beautiful

Good

Bad

Cold

Hot

Angry

Clean

Dirty

Hungry

Big

Small

  

2.       Circle the correct answer.

a.       The dining room was very/absolutely big.

b.      After I cook the kitchen is usually a bit/absolutely filthy.

c.       Seville is absolutely/very boiling in the summer

d.      When I get home from school I’m usually quite/absolutely hungry.

e.      The view from my balcony on holiday was absolutely/a bit stunning

3.       Write some sentences using both gradable and extreme adjectives.

Eg. My brother is quite good at football but I’m absolutely amazing.

a.       Enormous________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b.      Furious__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c.       Stuffed__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

d.      Starving_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

e.      Tiny____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

f.        Boiling__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

g.       Hideous________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

h.      Gorgeous________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

i.         Amazing_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

j.        Filthy___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.       Finally I’d like you to write a short piece about your last holiday. Make sure you use at least 5 extreme adjectives and 3 gradable adjectives.

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