06 Adverbs of degree

Question 1

It's very cold. 
I'm so tired.
You're absolutely right.
We're a bit busy today.
These are rather expensive.
It wasn't at all interesting.

Answer 1

We can use an adverb of degree before some adjectives and adverbs.

Adjective

Question 2

I come here quite often.
We hardly ever go out.
I saw her fairly recently.
He agreed somewhat reluctantly.

Answer 2

We can use an adverb of degree before some adjectives and adverbs.

Adverbs.

Question 3

Full degree: completely, totally, absolutely, entirely, quite…

Answer 3

Here are some common adverbs of degree.

Question 4

Large degree: very, extremely, really, awfully, terribly

Answer 4

Here are some common adverbs of degree.

Question 5

Medium degree: rather, fairly, quite, pretty, somewhat

Answer 5

Here are some common adverbs of degree.

Question 6

Small degree: a little, a bit, slightly

Answer 6

Here are some common adverbs of degree.

Question 7

Negative: hardly, scarcely, at all

Answer 7

Here are some common adverbs of degree.

Question 8

Others: so, as; too; more, most, less, least

Answer 8

Here are some common adverbs of degree.

Question 9

The bottle is only half full.

The forecast was eighty percent accurate.

Answer 9

We can also use a fraction or percentage.

Question 10

This tin opener is completely useless.

Answer 10

(useless = absolutely no use)

Question 11

We are absolutely delighted at the news.

Answer 11

(delighted = very pleased)

Question 12

It’s very unsatisfactory.

Answer 12

NOT It’s very useless.

Question 13

We were extremely pleased.

Answer 13

NOT We were extremely delighted.

Question 14

Some words that do not normally take “very” or “extremely” are:

Answer 14

Some words that do not normally take “very” or “extremely” are: amazed, amazing, appalled, appalling, awful, complete, delighted, dreadful, essential, false, fascinated, horrible, ideal, impossible, incredible, magnificent, marvellous, perfect, terrible, terrific, useless.

Question 15

It’s very cold indeed today.

Answer 15

After a phrase with very we can put indeed for extra emphasis.

Question 16

These photos aren’t very good.

Answer 16

We often use very with a negative.

Question 17

The carriage was somewhat crowded.

I felt a bit sick

Answer 17

Somewhat, a little, a bit and slightly have an unfavourable sense.

Question 18

I felt a bit better/somewhat more cheerful.

Answer 18

But we can use them with comparatives in a favourable sense.

Question 19

It wasn’t interesting at all.

Answer 19

“At all” can also go in end position.

Question 20

No, they don’t own an aeroplane. They aren’t that rich.

Answer 20

In informal English we can use that instead of so in a negative sentence.

Question 21

This coat is much too big for me.

This coat is rather too big for me.

Answer 21

We can use much, far or rather to modify too.

Question 22

Are you warm enough?

Steve didn’t react quickly enough.

Answer 22

Enough comes after the adjective or adverb it modifies.

Question 23

It’s too small (for me).

It isn’t big enough (for me).

Answer 23

Compare too and enough.

Question 24

I’m not rich enough.

I haven’t enough money.

Answer 24

Compare enough as adverb and as quantifier.

Question 25

This new sofa is much nicer than the old one.

Answer 25

NOT very nicer

Question 26

Come on. Try a bit harder.

The alternative route was no quicker.

Answer 26

Before a comparative we can use: (very) much, a lot; rather, somewhat; a little, a bit, slightly; three times etc.

Question 27

It was just about the nicest holiday I could have imagined.
We offer easily the best value.
We offer by far the best value.
We offer the best value by far.

Answer 27

Modifying a superlative

The adverb can sometimes come after the phrase with a superlative.

Question 28

that very tall girl.
my fairly low score.
a rather nice restaurant.

Answer 28

“So/such”, “quite” and “too”.

We can use most adverbs of degree with an attributive adjective.

Question 29

She’s such a tall girl.

It’s quite an old book.

Answer 29

But after a/an we do not normally use so or quite.

NOT a so tall girl.
(A quite old book is less usual).

Question 30

You’ve cut too short a piece.

I know just as quick a way.

Answer 30

NOT a too short piece

NOT a just as quick way

Question 31

I don’t like to criticize so famous an artist.

I don’t like to criticize such a famous artist.

Answer 31

We can use “so” in the same way, although the pattern with “such” is more usual.

Question 32

We had a rather long wait.

We had rather a long wait.

Answer 32

We can use rather in both patterns.

Question 33

That man is such an idiot.
It’s rather a pity you won’t be here.
Sorry. The flat is a bit of a mess.

Answer 33

We can use “such” and “rather” + “a/an” + “noun” without an adjective.

Question 34

We had quite a wait.

That was quite a party

Answer 34

“Quite” in this pattern means something large or special.