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This is everyday grammar.
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I'm Alice Bryant.
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On a recent program, I introduced extreme adjectives, words that have the meaning extremely plus adjectives.
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For example, huge means extremely large and excellent means extremely good.
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Today.
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Let's talk about two rules to follow with these adjectives.
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The first is that we avoid putting most of them in comparative or superlative form.
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Take the adjective.
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Huge native speakers do not say this box is more huge than that box.
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The adjective excellent is another example.
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We do not say that is the most excellent program on television.
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But over the years, spoken English has influenced grammar rules, so you might hear some extreme adjectives in comparative or superlative form.
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Now, on to the second rule, many adverbs express how much of equality something has.
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These include a bit kind of very, fairly, extremely and others, but with extreme adjectives, we often avoid these adverbs.
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It might sound strange to say this her food is fairly delicious, yet we do sometimes use other adverbs with extreme adjectives for stronger emphasis.
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Generally, they express the meaning of totality.
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Some examples include totally, completely and absolutely listen to a few examples.
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I am totally exhausted the rug looks completely filthy.
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It's important to note again that there are exceptions to these rules.
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You can read about them in our longer written program, and that's everyday grammar.