Speak better English with Harry - Episode 339
list of evaluative adjectives
Harry
Evaluative adjectives in English
Hi there, this is Harry and welcome back to the podcast where I try to help you to get a better understanding of the English language. To help you to improve your conversational English. To help you to improve your business English. To help you to improve your chances of getting that job that you really desire.
I help you with your grammar, pronunciation, phrasal verbs, expressions, vocabulary, everything that you could possibly think of.
What are we going to cover in this particular podcast episode?
We’re going to talk to you about adjectives, and in particular, evaluative adjectives in English.
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INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Evaluative means adjectives to evaluate something. Or to measure something. We’re going to look at it in two aspects, positive evaluations and negative evaluations.
Positive Evaluative Adjectives in English
first-rate
Meaning: something that is really really good; at the very very top
We can also use top class.
Example:
The hotel I went to last week, was first-rate. It was a four-star hotel, but really the services were first-rate. The room was wonderful and there was an area where I could sit and work.
The service in that restaurant was first-rate.
spectacular
Meaning: extremely impressive, something eye-catching because it is so beautiful
Example:
There was a spectacular view from the rooftop. I know they advertise this as giving you the best view of the city.
Often people call things a spectacle and a spectacle is something grand and something amazing to look at.
- spectacular view
- spectacular performance
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stunning
Meaning: something that has a wow factor; extremely impressive or attractive
Example:
This outfit is absolutely stunning. Where did you get that? It really suits you.
They’ve decorated the show house really well. It’s stunning. Wonderful kitchen and all the modern conditions that you want.
It could be a stunning view.
When you stand at the top of Niagara Falls and you look down, it was a stunning view at any time I’ve been there.
It could be a stunning performance.
It was just a stunning performance, really something special that I’ve been waiting for and looking forward to for some considerable time.
clever
Meaning: something nice, something attractive, something interesting, something intelligent
This can be an individual, they can be very clever.
We describe our children as clever. We can describe an idea as very clever.
A new invention can be clever.
Example:
One of those gadgets that they have introduced onto the dashboard of the car. You press a button and you think, ‘Oh, that’s really clever.’
Evaluative adjectives in English
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witty
Meaning: something clever and funny, usually a remark or comment
Example:
He always says the right thing at the right time. He is so witty. He can play with words in a way that nobody else can.
The book can be witty.
I was surprised by how hilarious this book was. Very witty and sarcastic.
The minister is very witty. He knows when to say things that will give people a little bit of a laugh.
Negative evaluative adjectives in English
amateurish
Meaning: really really poor
Example:
That movie was a low budget movie, it was very amateurish. There were lots of mistakes. I really really didn’t enjoy it.
The slides are not in the right order. There are typos on the slides. They haven’t increased the font size. I didn’t think much of that presentation, I thought it was very amateurish.
Evaluative adjectives in English
predictable
Meaning: something average, boring; there’s no surprise
Example:
This actor always plays the same roles. It was so predictable, I couldn’t finish the movie.
fake
Meaning: not real; not worth looking at
Example:
It may look like a Van Gogh painting but it’s just a very amateurish attempt to copy him. Somebody might like it because of the colours, but it is definitely fake.
The fans thought his performance was fake and not consistent with his image.
Evaluative adjectives in English
unconvincing
Meaning: something that doesn’t persuade you
Example:
The jury members found the arguments presented by the prosecution unconvincing.
Their victory last Saturday was well-deserved though the performance, in general, was unconvincing.
wooden
Meaning: awkward and lacking emotions
Example:
Reviewers generally blasted the movie, saying the actor’s performance was wooden.
The performance of some people, particularly actors, or actresses can be described as wooden by the critics when they review the film or the play because there was no real life in it.
Unfortunately, the critics of the movie were not convinced by the performance of the leading actress. They found her performance to be very wooden.
Here is my list of evaluative adjectives in English:
- first-rate
- spectacular
- stunning
- clever
- witty
- amateurish
- predictable
- fake
- unconvincing
- wooden
I hope you enjoyed that. And as always, if you want to contact me, then you can do so on www.englishlessonviaskype.com. Always happy to hear from you. Always happy to get your contributions on something that you’d like me to include in future episodes. Thanks for listening. Join me again soon.
More information
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
Ways to say ‘I’m shocked’ in English
12 English idioms about relationships
You can always study English advanced level at Learning English with the BBC.
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