Discussing celebrations with gradable and extreme adjectives

Discussing celebrations with gradable and extreme adjectives

Use as many of the adjectives below as you can to describe festivals/ celebrations/ ceremonies, if possible making descriptions that you agree on.

• annoying or irritating/ infuriating
• bad/ awful, dreadful, disastrous or terrible
• big or large/ gigantic, huge, massive or enormous
• bored/ stupefied
• boring/ mind-numbing or stupefying
• busy/ rushed off my feet
• cool or cold/ freezing or frozen
• crowded/ packed or cram-packed
• depressing or sad/ heart-breaking
• different or distinctive/ unique
• difficult, hard or tricky/ impossible
• disappointed/ devastated
• disappointing/ devastating
• drunk, merry, or tipsy/ wasted, wrecked, or blotto
• excited/ thrilled
• exciting/ thrilling
• expensive or pricey/ exorbitant
• frightened or scared/ terrified or petrified
• frightening or scary/ terrifying or petrifying
• full/ stuffed
• funny/ hilarious
• good/ great, brilliant, fantastic, fabulous, terrific or splendid
• hot or warm/ baking, boiling or roasting
• important or necessary/ crucial, vital or essential
• impressed/ awed
• impressive/ awe inspiring
• little or small/ tiny, miniscule or minute
• loud or noisy/ ear-splitting
• memorable/ unforgettable
• moving/ heart-wrenching
• nice or pleasant/ charming, lovely or delightful
• old/ ancient
• rich or wealthy/ loaded or filthy rich
• silly/ idiotic or ridiculous
• special/ exceptional
• surprised/ amazed, astonished or stunned
• surprising/ amazing, astonishing, stunning or unbelievable
• tasty/ delicious, mouth-watering or lip-smacking
• tired/ exhausted
• tiring/ exhausting
• unpleasant/ revolting
• yucky/ revolting, sickening or repulsive

What are the differences between the two kinds of adjective on each line above? What kinds of adverbs can each kind go with (to make them stronger or weaker)?

Match these adverbs to the kinds of adjective above.

• absolutely/ totally
• extremely/ incredibly
• very
• fairly
• a little/ not very/ not so
• not… at all/ totally un…

Choose a topic below and try to agree on descriptions using words above:

Discussion questions

Ask your partner a question from below and see if you have the same opinions, the same experiences, etc:

• How annoying is Gay Pride to conservatives?
• How bad is it if you forget to do lucky things on the right days?
• How big are wedding anniversary celebrations/ most Valentine’s Day presents/ engagement celebrations?
• How boring are most graduation ceremonies/ is the Queen’s speech/ are the president’s speeches?
• How busy is it during/ before/ after the New Year period?
• How cold or hot is it on Xmas Day/ when people most often watch fireworks?
• How crowded are most street festivals/ shops before Christmas?
• How different are summer festivals in different places/ are Chinese New Year and New Year in your country?
• How difficult is it for people to fast?
• How disappointed are people if you forget their birthday/ anniversary?
• How drunk do most people get at wedding receptions/ on St Patrick’s Day/ during New Year?
• How exciting are most children’s birthday parties?
• How expensive are most weddings?
• How frightened do young children get during setsubun bean throwing/ Halloween/ The Day of the Dead/ Black Santa/ Krampusnacht?
• How full are people after Christmas dinner/ after Thanksgiving dinner/ after birthday parties/ on Shrove Tuesday?
• How funny is April Fool’s Day?
• How good are most people about keeping their New Year’s resolutions/ fasting (at Ramadan)/ giving things up (for Lent)/ losing weight after…?
• How important is the day that people come of age/ Buddha’s birthday/ the head of state’s birthday/ May Day?
• How impressive are most parades/ fireworks displays?
• How interesting are most parades/ (street) processions?
• How loud are street festivals/ traditional musicians?
• How memorable are most people’s fifteenth birthday parties?
• How moving are war memorial ceremonies?
• How old are most local festivals?
• How sad are people about spending birthdays/ Xmas/ New Year on their own?
• How scared are pets during fireworks displays?
• How scary are most Halloween costumes and decorations?
• How special are 18^th/ 20^th/ 60^th/ 77^th/ 80^th/ 100^th birthday parties?
• How surprising are most birthday presents?
• How tasty is the food during winter festivals?
• How tiring is it to take part in parades/ prepare for a children’s birthday party?
• How unpleasant are tricks that people do on April Fool’s/ stag nights/ hen nights?

Ask about any questions above which you don’t understand, are not sure that you answered correctly, etc.