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🎚️ Compendium
Grammar
EN
English — Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree such as very, really, quite, rather, fairly, pretty, too, enough and absolutely say how strong a quality is. Most go before the adjective (very big), but enough comes after it (warm enough).
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How it works
✓ Rule
A degree adverb sits right before the word it modifies: it's very big, she's really tired, that's too expensive. Use very/really/absolutely to strengthen, and quite/rather/fairly/pretty for a middle degree, as in it's quite cold and the film was pretty good.
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Examples
| Modifier + example | Strength / use |
|---|---|
| very big | Strong; neutral intensifier with gradable adjectives. |
| really good | Strong and informal; common in speech. |
| quite tall | Medium degree; a bit less than very. |
| rather cold | Medium degree, often with a negative or surprising tone. |
| fairly easy | Moderate; weaker than quite or very. |
| pretty tired | Informal; roughly equal to quite/fairly. |
| too hot / warm enough | too = more than wanted (before adjective); enough = sufficient (after adjective). |
| absolutely huge | Used with non-gradable/extreme adjectives, not with very (not very huge). |
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Good to know
⚠ Note
Match the modifier to the adjective type. Gradable adjectives (big, cold, good) take very/quite: very big. Non-gradable/extreme adjectives (huge, freezing, perfect) take absolutely/really, not very — say absolutely huge, not very huge.