LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

7 Adverbs

7.5 Adverbs of degree

7.5A The two meanings of 'quite' [> LEG 6.5,7.41-42]

Study: 1 Quite, fairly and rather are common adverbs of degree. They can make the word they modify

weaker or stronger and their effect depends on stress and intonation. If we say:

The film is quite/good! and our voice 'goes up', this means 'I enjoyed it on the whole'.

The film is quïtë^ood. and our voice 'goes down', this means 'I didn't really enjoy it'.

We can put quite in front of ordinary adjectives (quite good), adverbs (quite slowly), and a few

verbs (/ quite enjoy). Regardless of stress, the meaning is 'less than'.

2 We can also use quite with 'absolute' adjectives (dead, empty and fuit), and with 'strong'

adjectives like amazing and wonderful. Then it means 'completely'. The voice 'goes up'.

The man was quite dead! The bucket is quite full! The film was quite wonderful!

Write: Answer these questions in full with quite, and say whether quite means 'less than' or 'completely'.

1 What was the film like? (good)

2 How was the exhibition? (amazing)

3 What's Pam like? (wonderful)

4 How was the play? (awful)

5 How was your holiday? (quite enjoy)

6 Do you eat snails? (quite like)

7.5B 'Fairly'[> LEG 7.43]

Study:

Ш

Fairly often goes with 'good' adjectives and adverbs (good, nice, well, etc.). It is generally 'less

complimentary' than quite. We do not use 'enough' [> 16.4B] to mean quite or fairly.

What's Yoko's English like?- It's quite good, ('complimentary') Not *enough good*

What's Yoko's English like?- It's fairly good, ('less complimentary') Not *enough good*

We can't use fairly with some 'absolute' adjectives: Not *fairly dead/fairly wonderful*

Write: Add quite and fairly. Mark as 'complimentary', 'less complimentary' or 'completely'.

1 She sings ÇW^/.fÇWCity. we|I.

2 The dinner is spoilt.

3 I feel sick

4 She's clever

5 I think he's mad

6 You're incredible!....

7.5C 'Rather' [> LEG 7.44]

Study:

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Rather is stronger than quite and fairly and suggests 'inclined to be'.

It often goes with 'bad' adjectives (bad, poor, awful, unpleasant, etc.).

When it goes with 'good' adjectives (good, nice, tasty, etc.) it often means 'surprisingly':

This ice-cream is rather good, (perhaps I didn't expect it to be)