Adverbs of degree
Introduction
I'm extremely unhappy about this. I'd like you to investigate the problem thoroughly and call me back this afternoon.
Definition
Adverbs of degree tell us about the strength or intensity of something.
Uses
We use them with verbs, adjectives and other adverbs to answer this kind of question: 'How much?'; 'How little?' or 'To what extent?'
Some adverbs of degree can only be used with adjectives and adverbs and others only with verbs.
Here are some common examples:
Adverb | Use | Examples |
enough |
To mean 'to a necessary degree' |
Is this room big enough?
I'm not sleeping enough at the moment.
They're now working fast enough to keep up with the deadlines.
|
hardly, barely, scarcely
|
To mean 'almost not at all'
|
It was so hot last night that I hardly slept.
He's speaking very quietly - I can barely hear him.
I could scarcely believe it when she told me - I was so surprised.
|
less |
To mean 'to a smaller degree'. |
We need to spend less.
This option is less expensive.
This team is working less efficiently than the others.
|
least
|
To mean 'to the smallest degree' |
This is what I least like doing.
This option is the least expensive.
|
very |
As an intensifier |
This option is very expensive.
She plays the piano very well.
|
absolutely
|
1. As an intensifier
2. To mean 'completely'
|
Our trip was absolutely amazing.
She dances absolutely beautifully.
I absolutely agree with you. |
so |
As an intensifier |
This option is so expensive.
The time is going so slowly today.
|
too |
As an intensifier - to mean 'more than is necessary or desirable' |
This option is too expensive.
You're speaking too quickly - I can't understand you.
|
quite, rather, pretty
|
As an intensifier [see note below] |
The weather's quite nice at the moment.
He's doing rather well in his new job.
|
Note that some adverbs of degree are also adverbs of manner with different meanings. For example:
Adverb of degree | Adverb of manner - related to the meaning of the adjective |
I've practically finished. [almost] |
This office was designed very practically. [in a practical way]
|
They're not terribly* likely to succeed. [very] |
She sings terribly. [very badly]
|
That's perfectly ridiculous. [absolutely] |
You pronounced that word perfectly.
|
I thoroughly enjoyed the film. [really] |
We need to check the contract thoroughly. [in detail]
|
It's a fairly good result. [quite] |
He judged the competition fairly. [impartially]
|
For more information and to find exact definitions, refer to a good dictionary because the meanings of adverbs of degree aren't always clear. Here are some more examples:
almost entirely | extremely
| moderately partially | rather somewhat
|
* informal
Construction
The word order varies. These are the most common structures but please refer to example sentences in a good dictionary if in doubt:
| Position of adverb | Examples |
With verbs
|
Before the main verb most of the time
With stative verbs that express opinions, we can place the adverb before or after the verb
With some adverbs that mean 'very much', the adverb comes after the verb
Adverbs which are intensifiers go before the verb
Note that when we use absolutely to mean 'completely' it can be before or after the verb
|
I absolutely love chocolate. I just want to ask you a few questions. He hardly recognised her. She doesn't quite understand. We've almost finished.
I completely agree. I agree completely.
We strongly believe we should expand. We believe strongly that we should expand.
I somewhat doubt it. I doubt it somewhat.
I enjoyed it immensely. Salaries vary enormously in this company.
I really want to join this team. I absolutely hate working late on Fridays.
I absolutely agree. I agree absolutely.
|
With adjectives |
Before the adjective
|
He's extremely rich. She's rather nice. Lunch is nearly ready. The situation is utterly ridiculous.
|
With adverbs of manner, time and frequency |
Before the adverb
|
They always arrive really late. We go there quite often. He's progressing moderately well. The project is going fairly smoothly.
|
Note that an exception is enough which is placed after verbs, adjectives and other adverbs:
Some people don't walk enough.
This car isn't big enough for us.
She isn't working quickly enough.
[See also enough as a quantifier.]
Very, so, too
Very and so have similar meanings.
She's very happy in her new job.
She's so happy in her new job.
But so is much more informal and conversational. It is also often used in this kind of sentence:
I'm so tired that I'll probably fall asleep in the meeting this afternoon.
Our office is so small that we can't fit another computer in here.
He works so slowly that he never finishes anything on time.
Too is different. It suggests an excess - more than is needed or desired.
This computer screen is too small - I need a bigger one.
He takes life too seriously; he should relax more.
It is often used in this kind of sentence:
It's too dark to see in here - can you switch the light on?
This desk is too big to fit in my office.
He's too young and inexperienced for this job.
They're speaking too loudly for an open office; I can't concentrate.
Too also has another meaning as an adverb of degree. In conversation, it can mean 'very' or 'completely':
I'm not too happy about this; I hope you can find a solution.
He's not too sure what to do about it.
Very, absolutely
These are intensifiers with the same meaning. We use very with base adjectives and absolutely with extreme adjectives. For example:
Base adjective | Extreme adjective |
very cold | absolutely freezing |
very hot | absolutely boiling |
very good | absolutely wonderful, amazing, brilliant, fabulous etc. |
very interesting | absolutely fascinating |
very hungry | absolutely starving, famished |
very attractive | absolutely beautiful, gorgeous etc. |
very big | absolutely huge, enormous, gigantic etc. |
Note that
1. With both kinds of adjectives, we can use really, which is more conversational than very:
I saw a really good film last night.
It's really cold at the moment.
2. We do not usually use intensifiers with non-gradable adjectives. For example, 'empty', 'dead', 'correct', 'wrong' or 'impossible'. There are no degrees - someone is either dead or not; something is correct or it is not. However, in informal conversation, we sometimes use absolutely with these:
We couldn't get into the restaurant last night - it was absolutely full.
You're absolutely right; I couldn't agree more.
Are you absolutely sure about that?
3. We also use absolutely with extreme verbs:
I absolutely love chocolate.
He absolutely adores her.
They absolutely refuse to work late.
Quite, pretty, rather, fairly
These are all similar. With base and gradable adjectives, quite can suggest either 'a little' or 'a lot' depending on which word in a sentence is stressed. The others are more likely to be unstressed and used in a positive way.
This car is quite big. [but not exceptionally or surprisingly so]
This car is quite big. [maybe bigger than expected]
I quite enjoyed the party. [it was ok, not great]
I quite enjoyed the party. [a lot, maybe more than I expected to]
She can type quite fast. [fast enough]
She can type quite fast. [very fast]
With extreme and some non-gradable adjectives, quite is used to mean 'completely' or 'absolutely'.
Are you quite certain?
The meal was quite delicious.
Note that
1. In American English, pretty is much more commonly used. Quite and rather are more rare.
2. We use use quite and rather with some verbs that express feelings but not fairly or pretty:
I quite/rather like it. 
I fairly/pretty like it. 
3. When we use these with an adjective and a singular noun, the word order varies:
We had quite a good time.
We had rather a good time.
We had a fairly good time.
We had a pretty good time.
Examples
It's so annoying to have a cold.
We got through the agenda rather quickly today - let's have an early lunch.
I can highly recommend this hotel.
That's simply wonderful news - congratulations!
