5.2. COUNTERS 261- Very
This quantifier only works when followed by a positive verbal adjective:”This is very cheap isn’t it?”This quantifier can be emphatically intensified by sticking a in,
to form :”That was really, really fun.”- Sometimes
The kanji form should already give it away, but when activities are per-
formed from time to time, is used:”My (younger) sister and I go to the movies from time to time.”- Not at all
Like , this quantifier is usually followed by a negative verb or verbal
adjective:”(I) don’t mind at all.”However, it derives its negative meaning only from these verbals –
there is no rule that says this word cannot be used with affirmative ver-
bals instead, in which case it translates to ”completely”. Like the
+( ) words, the meaning of itself is merely this ”complete”-ness,
connoting ”not at all” only because it is paired with a verbal negative.
- Considerably, rather
Like , this quantifier only works when followed by positive verbals:”This is rather expensive, isn’t it?”