delicious and fantastic

[Verona_82]

Hello,

I'm wondering if 'delicious' and 'fantastic' are considered to be non-gradeable adjectives. We shouldn't say 'very delicious' and 'very fantastic', but can we use their comparatives and superlatives? I got a tremendous number of hits of 'more/the most fantastic' and 'more/the most delicious" when I googled them. Is that acceptable?

I'd be grateful for help.
Thank you.

 

[5jj]

Hello,

I'm wondering if 'delicious' and 'fantastic' are considered to be non-gradeable adjectives. We shouldn't say 'very delicious' and 'very fantastic', but can we use their comparatives and superlatives? I got a tremendous number of hits of 'more/the most fantastic' and 'more/the most delicious" when I googled them. Is that acceptable?

I would not use the comparative and superlative forms of these words, but I am old fashioned. I have noticed a tendency among younger speakers to use intensifiers and comparative and superlative forms with many adjectives that I consider non gradable. I don't think I am very unique ;-) in disliking this.

ps. it's usual to spell 'gradable' without the middle e

 

[Raymott]

Hello,

I'm wondering if 'delicious' and 'fantastic' are considered to be non-gradeable adjectives. We shouldn't say 'very delicious' and 'very fantastic', but can we use their comparatives and superlatives? I got a tremendous number of hits of 'more/the most fantastic' and 'more/the most delicious" when I googled them. Is that acceptable?

I'd be grateful for help.
Thank you.

I wouldn't object to the superlative, "What was the most fantastic thing that's ever happened to you?". But I don't like the comparative, "Which was the more fantastic, A or B?"

'Fantastic' in its original meaning, ie. related to fantasy, is a different story. Lords of the Rings is more fantastic than Lord of the Flies." But I don't think the word is used much this way any more. So, "I think Lord of the Rings is a fantastic book" is a value judgement, not a statement of fact as it might once have been.

 

[SoothingDave]

I might be one of those "younger speakers" cause I would have no problem saying that one thing was more delicious than another.

 

[5jj]

I might be one of those "younger speakers" cause I would have no problem saying that one thing was more delicious than another.

I have to admit that most people are younger than I, these days.