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  • This is everyday grammar.

  • I'm Alice Bryant.

  • On a recent program, I introduced extreme adjectives, words that have the meaning extremely plus adjectives.

  • For example, huge means extremely large and excellent means extremely good.

  • Today.

  • Let's talk about two rules to follow with these adjectives.

  • The first is that we avoid putting most of them in comparative or superlative form.

  • Take the adjective.

  • Huge native speakers do not say this box is more huge than that box.

  • The adjective excellent is another example.

  • We do not say that is the most excellent program on television.

  • But over the years, spoken English has influenced grammar rules, so you might hear some extreme adjectives in comparative or superlative form.

  • Now, on to the second rule, many adverbs express how much of equality something has.

  • These include a bit kind of very, fairly, extremely and others, but with extreme adjectives, we often avoid these adverbs.

  • 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.

  • Generally, they express the meaning of totality.

  • Some examples include totally, completely and absolutely listen to a few examples.

  • I am totally exhausted the rug looks completely filthy.

  • It's important to note again that there are exceptions to these rules.

  • You can read about them in our longer written program, and that's everyday grammar.

This is everyday grammar.

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