Adverbs of degree

Adverbs of degree tell us about the intensity of something. Adverbs of degree

are usually placed before the adjective, adverb, or verb that they modify,
although there are some exceptions. The words "too", "enough", "very", and
"extremely" are examples of adverbs of degree.

Adverb of Modifying Example

degree
extremely adjective The water was extremely cold.
quite adjective The movie is quite interesting.
just verb He was just leaving.
almost verb She has almost finished.
very adverb She is running very fast.
too adverb You are walking too slowly.
enough adverb You are running fast enough.

ENOUGH can be used as both an adverb and as a determiner.

Enough as an adverb

Enough as an adverb meaning 'to the necessary degree' goes after the adjective
or adverb that it is modifying, and not before it as other adverbs do. It can be
used both in positive and negative sentences.

Examples

 Is your coffee hot enough?

 This box isn't big enough.
 He didn't work hard enough.
 I got here early enough.

Enough is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.

Examples

 He didn't work hard enough to pass the exam.

 Is your coffee hot enough to drink?
 She's not old enough to get married.
  I got here early enough to sign up.

Enough can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".

Examples

 The dress was big enough for me. (for someone)

 She's not experienced enough for this job. (for something)
 Is the coffee hot enough for you? (for someone)
 He didn't work hard enough for a promotion. (for something)

Enough as a determiner

Enough as a determiner meaning 'as much/many as necessary' goes before the

noun it modifies. It is used with countable nouns in the plural and with
uncountable nouns.

Examples

 We have enough bread. (uncountable)

 You have enough children. (plural countable)
 They don't have enough food. (uncountable)
 I don't have enough apples. (plural countable)

TOO, How to use it:

"Too" is always an adverb, but it has two distinct meanings, each with its own
usage patterns.

Too meaning "also"

Too as an adverb meaning "also" goes at the end of the phrase it modifies.

Examples

 I would like to go swimming too, if you will let me come.

 Can I go to the zoo too?
 Is this gift for me too?
 I'm not going to clean your room too!
Too meaning "excessively"

Too as an adverb meaning "excessively" goes before the adjective or adverb it

modifies. It can be used in both affirmative and negative sentences.

Examples

 This coffee is too hot.

 He works too hard.
 Isn't she too young?
 I am not too short!

Too is often followed by "to" + the infinitive.

Examples

 The coffee was too hot to drink.

 You're too young to have grandchildren!
 I am not too tired to go out tonight.
 Don't you work too hard to have any free time?

Too can also be followed by "for someone" or "for something".

Examples

 The coffee was too hot for me. (someone)

 The dress was too small for her. (someone)
 He's not too old for this job. (something)
 Sally's not too slow for our team. (something)

VERY; Ho to use it:

Very goes before an adverb or adjective to make it stronger.

Examples

 The girl was very beautiful.

 The house is very expensive.
 He worked very quickly.
 She runs very fast.
If we want to make a negative form of an adjective or adverb, we can add
"not" to the verb, we can use an adjective or adverb of opposite meaning, or
we can use "not very" with the original adjective or adverb. The meanings of
the phrases are not identical. Usually the phrase using "not very" is less direct,
and thus more polite, than the other phrases.

Examples
Opposite
Original Opposite meaning Opposite meaning
meaning with
phrase with "not very" with an opposite word
"not"
The girl was The girl was not The girl was not
The girl was ugly.
beautiful. beautiful. very beautiful.
He worked He did not work He did not work
He worked slowly.
quickly. quickly. very quickly.
Difference in meaning between "very" and "too"

There is a big difference in meaning between "too" and "very". "Very"

expresses a fact while "too" suggests there is a problem.

Examples

 He speaks very quickly.

 He speaks too quickly for me to understand.
 It is very hot outside.
 It is too hot outside to go for a walk.

Other adverbs used like "very"

Some common adverbs are used in the same way as "very" to heighten the
degree of adjectives and adverbs.
 Expressing very Expressing strong feelings Expressing
strong feelings somewhat doubtful
feelings
extremely, terribly, especially, particularly, pretty, rather, fairly,
amazingly, uncommonly, unusually, not especially, not
wonderfully, insanely remarkably, quite particularly
The movie was The movie was particularly The movie was fairly
amazingly interesting. interesting. interesting.
She sang wonderfully She sang unusually well. She sang pretty well.
well.
The lecture was The lecture was quite The lecture was
terribly boring. boring. rather boring.
Inversion with negative adverbs

Normally the subject goes before the verb, however, some negative adverbs
can cause an inversion when placed at the beginning of the clause. The order
is reversed and the verb goes before the subject. This inversion is only used in
writing, not in speaking.

Adverb Normal word order Inversion

Never I have never seen such courage. Never have I seen such courage.
Rarely She rarely left the house. Rarely did she leave the house.
She did not only the cooking but Not only did she do the cooking,
Not only
the cleaning as well. but the cleaning as well.
I scarcely closed the door before Scarcely did I close the door before
Scarcely
he started talking. he started talking.
We seldom cross the river after Seldom do we cross the river
Seldom
sunset. sunset.

 Adverbs of degree

ENOUGH TOO VERY

Enough means a Too means more than Very means something is

satisfactory amount or enough, an excessive done to a high degree, it is
degree amount or degree usually factual

comes after adjectives Comes before adjectives Comes before adjectives

and adverbs, or other adverbs
and before nouns

This jacket isn't big Our apartment is too small He finishes his

enough for me. for us work very quickly

We have enough
money to buy our own
apartment
EXERCISE: WRITE (CHAT) TOO, VERY OR ENOUGH:
1. The hot and sour pork was  _____ spicy for me to eat.

2. I am just  _____ tired to keep on working.

3. Is this box light _____   for you to carry ?

4. Thank you _____ much for your nice words.

5. Do you have _____   money for emergencies ?

6. How much calcium is _____   to prevent bone loss ?

7. Don't worry about your mother, she'll be home  _____ soon.

8. I'm  _____ interested in everyone's opinion, so I'll appreciate your

view.

9. We don't get enough sleep because we have _____ much homework

to do.

10. High-definition televisions are much  _____ expensive for the

average American consumer.

EXERCISE: WRITE (CHAT) TOO, VERY OR ENOUGH:

1. The hot and sour pork was  too spicy for me to eat.

2. I am just  too tired to keep on working.

3. Is this box light enough   for you to carry ?

4. Thank you very much for your nice words.

5. Do you have enough   money for emergencies ?

6. How much calcium is enough   to prevent bone loss ?

7. Don't worry about your mother, she'll be home  very soon.

8. I'm  very interested in everyone's opinion, so I'll appreciate your

view.

9. We don't get enough sleep because we have too much homework to

do.
10. High-definition televisions are much  too expensive for the average
American consumer.

Adverbs of Degree Quiz

1. An adverb of degree tells us about the intensity or _______ of an

action, an adjective or another adverb.

 purpose
 extent
 meaning

2. "Danny's new hairstyle looks really good." Which is the adverb of

degree?

 looks
 really
 good

3. Which is correct? "Call me when the food's _______ ready."

 enough
 nearly
 awfully

4. Poor people rent the _______ expensive places.

 most
 quite
 least

5. It was _______ hot to play tennis, so we went swimming instead.

 so
 too
 very
6. We missed the train. We got there _______ after it left.

 just
 almost
 hardly

7. Are you sure you've studied _______ to pass the exam?

 enough
 nearly
 quite

8. "That is simply not true!" Which means the same as "simply" in this
case?

 just
 somewhat
 purely

9. "Liverpool are virtually unbeatable this year." Which means the same
as "virtually" in this case?

 barely
 absolutely
 almost

10. Molly's grandchildren _______ ever visit her these days.

 fairly
 nearly
 hardly

ANSWERS:
1. extent
2. really
3. nearly
4. least
5. too
6. just
7. enough
8. just
9. almost
10. hardly
Adverbs of Degree
Choose the adverb of degree in each sentence.

1. She rescued the dog extremely fast.

a) fast
b) rescued
c) extremely

2. Mea-anne's teacher noticed a very huge improvement with the way she
answers the tasks.

a) huge
b) very
c) noticed

3. My grade in Math for the first quarter was slightly higher than my grade
for the second quarter.

a) higher
b) quarter
c) slightly

4. Annalyn was quick enough to capture the solar eclipse.

a) quick
b) capture
c) enough

5. Bryan was almost done eating dinner when his mother took the cake
from the refrigerator.

a) done
b) almost
c) eating
Adverbs of Frequency: Exercises

Exercise 1

Underline the adverb of degree in each sentence below:

1. That exam was long, boring and incredibly difficult.

2. I’m pretty sure I did it properly.

3. Occasionally she cooks us an absolutely fantastic meal.

4. Do you think this dress is formal enough?

5. I thought Peter was stupid, but actually he is highly intelligent.

Exercise 2

Answer these questions about adverbs of degree:

1. Adverbs of degree can modify:

a. nouns

b. nouns and verbs

c. adjectives and adverbs

d. adjectives, adverbs and verbs

2. The adverb ‘absolutely’ can be used with:

a. gradable adjectives

b. verbs

c. nouns

d. ungradable adjectives

3. Adverbs of degree most often occur:

a. before a noun

b. before an adjective or adverb

 c. after an adjective or adverb

d. after a verb

4. Put these 4 adverbs in order of degree, beginning with the weakest and ending with the
strongest:

terribly               totally              pretty               slightly

5. Which of the following adverbs of degree can be preceded by ‘not’:<

‘not _____________’

slightly              somewhat        almost             particularly

Exercise 3

Choose the best adverb to complete each sentence:

1. I thought that film was _______________ good.

a. totally. b. enough c. pretty

2. I can see ______________ with these new glasses.

a. perfectly b. totally c. fairly

3. I _______________ like dancing in the rain.

a. very b. pretty c. really

4. I thought that book was _________ interesting.

a. slightly b. utterly c. very

5. Sorry, but I think you are ______________ wrong!

a. rather b. totally c. extremely

Exercise 4

1. In which sentence can you correctly add the word ‘not’?

a. She is rather happy.

b. She is fairly happy.

c. She is extremely happy.

 d. She is very happy.

2. Which of these adverbs goes after the adjective?

a. enough b. pretty c. too

Match the following adverbs and adjectives to form the best collocation:
3. absolutely        a. funny
4. highly               b. different
5. terribly             c. brilliant
6. somewhat       d. educated

————————————————————————————————————–

Answers:

Exercise 1 Exercise 2
1. d
1. That exam was long, boring 2. d
and incredibly difficult.
3. b
2. I’m pretty sure I did it properly.
4. slightly pretty               terribly           
3. Occasionally she cooks us
totally
an absolutely fantastic meal.
5. particularly
4. Do you think this dress is
formal enough?

5. I thought Peter was stupid, but

actually he is highly

Exercise 3 Exercise 4
1. pretty 1. She is not very happy.

2. perfectly 2. (e.g. I am not warm enough.)

3. really 3. absolutely brilliant

4. very 4. highly educated

5. totally 5. terribly funny

6. somewhat different