Very Surprisingly Very Negative

3º ESO GRAMMAR: ADVERBS OF DEGREE
Degree Adverb Uses
MODIFIYING AN
MODIFIYING A VERB MODIFIYING AN ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Modifies the intensity of the action Modifies the intensity of Modifies quality or character.
telling us 'how much'. the adverb.
He talks extremely fast. He is extremely talkative.

He rather loves eating chocolate. He expresses himself He is unexpectedly attractive.
rather well.
He hardly stops to breathe. He thinks very quickly. His popularity ratings are very
high.
Degree Adverbs with -ly Suffix – Remember: it is not necessary to memorize all these
adverbs, but it is really useful to know the most common of them!
absolutely very amazingly awfully very barely negative
surprisingly
completely totally, all considerably dreadfully very easily clearly, without

parts difficulties
enormously entirely exceedingly excessively
extensively very extremely very fairly fantastically
fully greatly hardly not much highly very
hugely immensely incredibly very infinitely very, very
intensely very largely mostly moderately nearly
noticeably partly perfectly completely positively
practically completely profoundly purely really
reasonably acceptably relatively remarkably simply
slightly strikingly strongly seriously, sufficiently

surely
supremely suspiciously terribly very totally
tremendously very truly unbelievably utterly
virtually practically wonderfully
1
FAIRLY, QUITE, RATHER, PRETTY
1. Fairly
Fairly is an adverb of degree. It generally modifies adjectives and adverbs.
 He can speak English fairly well.
Fairly does not suggest a very high degree.
 ‘How was the film?’ ‘Fairly good.’ (Not the best one I have seen this year.)
Quite
Quite suggests a higher degree than fairly.
 ‘How was the film?’ ‘Quite good.’ (You ought to watch it.)
Quite can modify adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns.
 She speaks English quite well.

 He is quite tall.
 He is quite a good student.
 I quite enjoyed myself at the party.
Rather
Rather is stronger than quite. It suggests ideas such as ‘more than is usual’, ‘more than was
expected’ or ‘more than was wanted’.
 I think I should close the window. It is rather cold.

 Do you see that rather tall boy standing over there?
 She’s rather a talented dancer.
 ‘How was the film?’ ‘Rather good.’ (I was surprised.)
Rather can modify adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns.
 It was rather a success.

 I rather think we are going to lose.
Pretty
Pretty is similar to rather.
 She is a pretty good girl.

 ‘How are things?’ ‘Pretty good.’
Pretty can modify adjectives and adverbs. It can’t modify nouns or verbs.
2
REVISION NOTES: ADVERBS OF DEGREE (Taken from the British Council)
Gradable / Non-gradable adjectives: Adjectives can be either gradable or non-gradable.
Gradable: Gradable adjectives are adjectives like ‘cold’ ‘hot’ and ‘frightened’. You can be very
cold or a bit cold. Gradable adjectives show that something can have different degrees.
Non-gradable: Non-gradable adjectives are adjectives like ‘married’ or ‘wooden’. You can’t be
very married or a bit married. Non-gradable adjectives do not have different degrees.
Adjectives like ‘terrifying’, ‘freezing’ ‘amazing’ are also non-gradable adjectives. They already
contain the idea of ‘very’ in their definitions – ‘freezing’ means ‘very cold’ etc.
Using adverbs of degree : When we use adverbs of degree to modify adjectives we usually
have to use different adverbs for gradable and non-gradable adjectives.
 NOT I’m completely hot.

 NOT It was very fantastic!
With gradable adjectives:
 It’s a bit cold in here. Shall I turn the fire on?

 He’s very interested in history. Why don’t you buy him a history book?
 This exercise is really difficult. I don’t know any of the answers.
 I’m extremely tired. I’m going to bed.
The adverbs a bit, very, really, extremely and quite can all be used with gradable adjectives.
With non-gradable adjectives:
 It’s absolutely freezing in here. Shall I turn the fire on?

 He’s completely fascinated by history. Why don’t you buy him a history book?
 This exercise is absolutely impossible.
 That film is really terrifying. Don’t go and see it on your own.
The adverbs absolutely and completely can be used with non-gradable adjectives.
Notice that really can be used with both gradable AND non-gradable adjectives.
NOTE: There are other adverbs of degree that we haven’t covered in this section. The ones
included here are some of the most common.
3
CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER:
1. Sean lives a……………………………………………stressful life.
a) quite
b) very
2. Joanne isn’t just an ordinary singer. She’s……………………………………….fantastic.
a) absolutely
b) very
3. The concert was…………………………………..wonderful.
a) extremely
b) absolutely
4. Spain is a……………………………..great country.
a) very
b) really
5. She had worked all day and by the evening she was…………………………..exhausted.
a) totally
b) a bit
6. That young man is………………………………lazy. He hardly ever does anything.
a) absolutely
b) extremely
7. The Shard high-rise building in London is…………………………………………high.
a) absolutely
b) pretty
8. Samantha is a……………………………………..skilled computer technician.
a) completely
b) highly
4
9. Rodin’s sculptures are…………………………………well-known
a) absolutely
b) very
10. John is, in my opinion, …………………………….mad.
a) very
b) completely
11. Scarlett Johansson looked………………………………gorgeous at the Oscars ceremony.
a) totally
b) absolutely
12. Mary is……………………………..nice.
a) really
b) absolutely
13. Jerry cooks……………………………………well.
a) absolutely
b) fairly
14. Almería is a………………………………….interesting place.
a) quite
b) rather
15. The mop was…………………………………a simple invention.
a) fairly
b) quite

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3º ESO GRAMMAR: ADVERBS OF DEGREE

Degree Adverb Uses

He talks extremely fast. He is extremely talkative.

completely totally, all considerably dreadfully very easily clearly, without

enormously entirely exceedingly excessively

extensively very extremely very fairly fantastically

fully greatly hardly not much highly very

hugely immensely incredibly very infinitely very, very

intensely very largely mostly moderately nearly

noticeably partly perfectly completely positively

practically completely profoundly purely really

reasonably acceptably relatively remarkably simply

slightly strikingly strongly seriously, sufficiently

supremely suspiciously terribly very totally

tremendously very truly unbelievably utterly

virtually practically wonderfully

Fairly is an adverb of degree. It generally modifies adjectives and adverbs.

 He can speak English fairly well.

Fairly does not suggest a very high degree.

Quite suggests a higher degree than fairly.

Quite can modify adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns.

 She speaks English quite well.

 I think I should close the window. It is rather cold.

Rather can modify adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns.

 It was rather a success.

Pretty is similar to rather.

 She is a pretty good girl.

Gradable / Non-gradable adjectives: Adjectives can be either gradable or non-gradable.

 NOT I’m completely hot.

With gradable adjectives:

 It’s a bit cold in here. Shall I turn the fire on?

With non-gradable adjectives:

 It’s absolutely freezing in here. Shall I turn the fire on?

1. Sean lives a……………………………………………stressful life.

2. Joanne isn’t just an ordinary singer. She’s……………………………………….fantastic.

3. The concert was…………………………………..wonderful.

4. Spain is a……………………………..great country.

6. That young man is………………………………lazy. He hardly ever does anything.

7. The Shard high-rise building in London is…………………………………………high.

8. Samantha is a……………………………………..skilled computer technician.

10. John is, in my opinion, …………………………….mad.

11. Scarlett Johansson looked………………………………gorgeous at the Oscars ceremony.

12. Mary is……………………………..nice.

13. Jerry cooks……………………………………well.

14. Almería is a………………………………….interesting place.

15. The mop was…………………………………a simple invention.

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