ADVERBS OF INTENSITY

They are adverbs that modify adjectives or other adverbs. They normally go before the
adjective or adverb which they modify.

STRONG MEDIUM WEAK

extremely rather slightly
completely pretty a bit
totally quite not at all
absolutely fairly
really
very

In general: quite is a little stronger than fairly; rather is stronger than quite; pretty is similar
to rather, but more informal.

Compare:

Fairly____________quite__________rather/pretty_____________very

We use quite before a/an, but fairly and pretty after a.

Ex: It was quite an interesting film/ It was a pretty interesting film
We can use rather before or after a/an.
Ex: It was rather an interesting film/ It was a rather interesting film.

Quite and rather can also modify verbs. They go before a full verb, but after an auxiliary
verb.
Ex: She quite enjoyed the film.
I rather like driving at night.
He’s quite enjoying himself.

Only rather can be used before comparatives.

Ex: rather colder rather more expensive

Adverbs of degree tell us the strength or intensity of something that happens. Mainly they
answer the question that asks How much ...? or How little...? An adverb of degree is used to
discourse the degree or intensity of an action, an adjective, or another adverb. Many adverbs
are gradable, that is, we can intensify them. Adverbs of degree are important modifiers. As you
will soon see, they are generally placed before the word they are modifying. Some common
examples of adverbs of degree follow:

Adverbs of degree include; adequately, highly, tremendously, entirely, greatly, partially, hugely,
extremely, moderately, practically, very, immensely, almost, profoundly, strongly, perfectly,
totally, virtually etc.

For example:
 The man drove gravely. = The man drove really gravely. - In this sentence really
shows us just how gravely he drove.
 They enjoyed the film. = They enjoyed the film incalculably. - In this
sentence incalculably shows us how much they enjoyed the film.
These intensifiers are not gradable though, you cannot say The man drove extremely very gravely.

1. Adverbs of degree usually modify verbs.

2. Adverbs of degree tell us the intensity, attentiveness, or even depth of a particular
action.
3. They answer the question “how much” or “to what extend”
4. Usually they are formed by adding the suffix ly to adjectives.
5. Some adverbs of degree can modify adjectives, other adverbs, or clauses.
6. They can come before a main verb, after a main verb, or after an object.

What is an Adverb of Degree

Adverbs of degree tell us about the intensity or degree of an action, an adjective or another
adverb. Adverbs of degree are commonly placed before the adverb, adjective or verb they are
modifying, although there are some exceptions discussed below.

Adverbs of degree are usually placed:

 before the adverb or adjective they are modifying:
e.g. The water was extremely hot.
 before the main verb:
e.g. She was just leaving. He has almost finished.

'Enough' as an Adverb

Enough as an adverb meaning 'to the necessary degree' goes after the adverb
or adjective that it is modifying, and not before it as other adverbs do. Enough can be used as
both an adverb and as a determiner. It can be used both in positive and negative sentences.

Examples:
 Is your milk hot enough to drink?
 She's not old enough to get married.
 I got here early enough to attend the conference.
Enough can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".

Examples:
 I got here early enough.
 Is your milk hot enough?
 She didn't work hard enough.
 This container isn't big enough.
Enough is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.

Examples:
 The dress was big enough for me.
 She's not experienced enough for this job.
 He didn't work hard enough for a promotion.
Enough as a Determiner:

Enough as a determiner meaning 'as much/many as necessary' goes before the noun it
modifies. It is used with countable nouns in the plural and with uncountable nouns.

Examples:
 We have enough fruits.
 They don't have enough food.
 I don't have enough mangoes.

Usage of "VERY"

Very goes before an adverb or adjective to make it stronger.

Examples:
 The house is very expensive.
 The girl was very pretty.
 She runs very fast.
 He worked very quickly.
If a negative form of an adjective or adverb is to be made, one can add "not" to the verb, we
can use an adjective or adverb of opposite meaning, or we can use "not very" with the original
adjective or adverb. The meanings of the phrases are not identical. Generally the phrase using
"not very" is less direct, and thus more courteous, than the other phrases.

Usage of "TOO"

"Too" is always an adverb, but it has two distinct meanings, each with its own usage patterns.

Too Meaning "ALSO"

Too as an adverb meaning "also" goes at the end of the phrase it modifies.

Examples:
 I would like to go jogging too, if you will let me come.
 Is this pastry for me too?
 I'm not going to clean your room too!
Too Meaning "EXCESSIVELY"

Too as an adverb meaning "excessively" goes before the adjective or adverb it modifies. It can
be used in both affirmative and negative sentences.

Examples:
 This tea is too hot.
 Isn't she too old?
 I am not too tall!
Too is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.

Examples:
 You're too young to have grandchildren!
 I am not too tired to go out tonight.
 Don't you work too hard to have any free time?
Too can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".

Examples:
 The dress was too big for her.
 He's not too young for this job.
 Sally's not too slow for our team.

List of Adverb of Degree

Adverbs of degree can modify verbs, adverbs or adjectives, and to which something
happens. This is an alphabetical list of common degree adverbs.

Degree adverbs without -ly suffix

about just pretty* well

almost least quite as… as
altogether less rather too… to...
downright little so so…(that)
enough lots somewhat somewhat
far mighty still too
however more too very
how most very well
indeed much very much
jolly not way far

Degree adverbs with -ly suffix

amazingly
absolutely very awfully very barely negative
surprisingly
 completely totally, easily clearly, without
considerably dreadfully very
all parts difficulties
enormously entirely especially exceedingly
excessively extensively very extremely very fairly
fantastically fully greatly hardly not much
highly very hugely immensely incredibly very
infinitely extremely intensely very largely mostly literally
moderately nearly noticeably particularly
practically almost;
partly perfectly completely positively
nearly
profoundly purely really reasonably acceptably
seriously alarming
relatively remarkably simply
degree
slightly strikingly strongly surely sufficiently
surprisingly
supremely suspiciously terribly very
unexpected degree
totally tremendously very truly thoroughly
utterly virtually wonderfully unbelievably

Examples of Adverb of Degree

Adverbs of degree allow you to be very specific when writing, no matter what the
purpose. In the following examples, the adverbs of degree have
been italicized for ease of identification.
 They were almost finished.
 She doesn't quite know what she'll do after university.
 This cake is absolutely wonderful.
 They are completely exhausted from the trip.
 The temperature was barely above freezing.
 I disagree completely with John Taylor.
 He told me a rather long and complicated story.
 Our driveway is completely frozen.
 He hardly noticed what she was saying.
 We felt incredibly lucky after winning tickets to the World Series.
 I very much wanted to take it with me.
 Are you saying that simply because I am here?
 I don't think it's worth going just for a day.
 My teacher is terribly grumpy today
 I am too tired to go out tonight.
 Mr. Jeffry strongly criticised the Bank of England.
 John is so interesting to talk to.
 That argument doesn't convince me totally.
 He almost crashed into a lorry.
 Science is changing so rapidly.
 Really, I didn't know that!
 Seaford is rather a pleasant town.
 My father gave me quite a large sum of money.
 I think he's absolutely wonderful.
 Nadia want to do so many different styles.
 I waited until my daughter was old enough to read.
 The prices in that shop are too high.
 We've got enough money to buy that car now.
 There was such a noise we couldn't hear.
 They said such nice things about you.
 I've been paying too much compensation.
 Reena didn't work quickly enough.
 Adverb of Degree Exercises
Fill in the blanks with appropriate adverbs of degree.
1. Today is ____________________ colder than yesterday. (very, much, much or very
much)
2. She finished the day ____________________ exhausted. ( a bit / totally )
3. It was a ____________________ simple invention. ( quite / remarkably )
4. Gerard lives a ____________________ stressful life. ( quite / very )
5. Ecuador is a ____________________ great country. ( really / very )
6. My boyfriend is ____________________ older than me. (very, much)
7. The Serrano Towers in Valencia are ____________________ high. ( absolutely / pretty
)
8. The situation is____________________ serious. ( very, much, very much)
9. Taylor Swift isn't a good singer. He’s ____________________ fantastic. ( absolutely /
very )
10. The concert was ____________________ wonderful. ( absolutely / extremely )
11. Maria is a ____________________ skilled computer technician. ( completely / highly )
12. That boy of yours is ____________________ lazy. ( absolutely / extremely )
13. It was ____________________ freezing this morning. ( a bit / absolutely )
14. Victor, in my opinion, is ____________________ mad. ( completely / highly )
15. Rodin's sculptures are ____________________ well-known. ( absolutely / very)
16. I have been to ____________________ too many countries recently.(very, rather,
quite)
17. Angelina Jolie looked ____________________ gorgeous at the Golden Globe Awards
ceremony. ( absolutely / totally )
18. Samantha is ____________________ nice. ( absolutely / really )
19. Sean cooks ____________________ well. ( absolutely / fairly )
20. High-definition televisions are much _____ expensive for the average American
consumer. (too, very, enough)