gradability

gradability (graderbarhet): a concept associated with adjectives (and some adverbs). A gradable adjective can be compared, or it can occur with intensifiers indicating that whatever quality the adjective refers to can be viewed in relative terms, as a scale. E.g. good (better, best), very good, too close, extremely sophisticated.   Non-gradable adjectives refer to qualities and properties which are seen as absolute (e.g. dead - people/animals are either alive or dead; perfect - 'more' or 'less' perfect does not make sense, since perfection implies the highest degree already).