USES OF ADVERBS OF DEGREE
1. Modifying an adjective or adverb
a. We can use an adverb of degree before some adjectives and adverbs.
+ Adjective:
- It's very cold. I'm so tired.
- You're absolutely right.
- These are rather expensive.
- We're a bit busy today.
- It wasn't at all interesting.
+ Adverb: I come here quite often. I saw her fairly recently.
- We hardly ever go out. He agreed somewhat reluctantly.
Here are some common adverbs of degree.
Full degree: completely, totally, absolutely, entirely, quite
Large degree: very, extremely, really, awfully, terribly
Medium degree: rather, fairly, quite, pretty, somewhat
Small degree: a little, a bit, slightly
Negative: hardly, scarcely, at all
Others: so, as; too; more, most, less, least
We can also use a fraction or percentage.
- The bottle is only half full.
- The forecast was eighty per cent accurate.
NOTE
a. We use completely, totally, absolutely etc with words expressing a full or large degree.
- This tin opener is completely useless. (useless = absolutely no use)
- We are absolutely delighted at the news. (delighted = very pleased)
We do not normally use very or extremely with these words.
- It's very unsatisfactory. NOT It's very useless.
- We were extremely pleased. NOT We were extremely delighted:
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.

- The people seem to have no hope whatsoever.
h. In informal English we can use that instead of so in a negative sentence.
- No, they don't own an aeroplane. They aren't that rich.
i. We can use much, far or rather to modify too.
- This coat is much too big for me.
j. We can use twice, three times etc to express degree, to say how many times greater something is.
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- I earn double/twice what I used to/twice as much as I used to.
- You're looking ten times better than you did yesterday.
g. Enough comes after the adjective or adverb it modifies.
- Are you warm enough?
- Steve didn't react quickly enough.
Compare too and enough.
- It's too small (for me)./It isn't big enough (for me).
NOTE
Compare enough as adverb and as quantifier.
- I'm not rich enough./I haven't enough money.
2. Modifying a comparative adjective or adverb

- This new sofa is much nicer than the old one. NOT very nicer
- Come on. Try a bit harder.
- The alternative route was no quicker.
Before a comparative we can use (very) much, a lot; rather, somewhat; a little, a bit, slightly; three times etc.
3. Modifying a superlative
- It was just about the nicest holiday I could have imagined.
- We offer easily the best value / by far the best value.
NOTE
The adverb can sometimes come after the phrase with a superlative.
- We offer the best value by far.
4. So/such, quite and too

21. A well is ......... needed in that village.
22. This computer is ......... fast.
23. She's still ......... young.
24. We're ......... grateful to you.
II. Use suitable words to complete this story. Don't use the same word more than twice.
JUSTLY PUNISHED
There were
1
too many people on the bus for comfort and passengers were standing in the aisle. A young
woman carrying a baby was
2
........... grateful when an old man offered her his seat. The baby was
3
..............
asleep and she could now rest him on her lap.
She thanked the old man
4
.............and was just going to sit down when a rude young man sat in the empty
seat. Everyone was
5
.......... embarrassed, and the young mother was
6
............. surprised to say anything. All the
passengers
7
..............disapproved of the man's action. They were
8
............ angry with him, but he paid no
attention.
9

5
never) There can't be anyone who forgets anything.
(
6
regularly) Over 150,000 items a year are dealt with by London Transport's Lost Property Office.
(
7
normally) People don't carry stuffed gorillas, but someone recently left one on a train.
(
8
most often) The things people lose are umbrellas and keys.
(
9
sometimes) But there are items that are not very common.
(
10
ever) Can you imagine losing a bed and not claiming it?
(
11
often) Prams and pushchairs are lost.
(
12
frequently) But it is unbelievable that people forget false teeth and even glass eyes when they get off a train!
(
13
often) Yet they do!
ANSWER KEY
I.
1. awfully 2. terribly 3. greatly 4. extremely 5. terribly 6. wide 7. deeply 8. extremely 9. really 10. richly
11. painfully 12. awfully 13. terribly 14. awfully 15. terribly 16. extremely 17. extremely 18. fast 19. bitterly

10. Can you ever imagine ... (or ... and not ever claiming it ?)
11. Prams and pushchairs are often lost.lOften, prams and pushchairs ...
12. ... people frequently forget false teeth ...
13. Yet they often do! Yet often they do!
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