Grammar-Quizzes › Adverbials › Adverbs › Adverbs for Degree
Adverbs for Degree
Express intensity — how much?
A Degree Adverb Modifies
| MOIDIFIES A VERB |
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A degree adverb may be used to modify the intensity of an action. It expresses "how much". |
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| MODIFIES AN ADVERB |
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A degree adverb may be used to modify the intensity of an adverb. It expresses "to what degree". |
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| AN ADJECTIVE |
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A degree adverb may express a high degree of a quality for an adjective. The degree adverb such may express a high degree in an adjective phrase. What expresses a similar meaning in an interjection. |
He is such a talkative man. (NOT: a such talkative man) |
He is such a charismatic speaker. What a speaker! |
His speech received such a high rating. What a rating! |
| A PREPOSITION |
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A degree adverb may modify the preciseness, intensity or focus expressed by the preposition at the head of the prepositional phrase. The adverb is placed before the preposition (PP). |
He talked precisely in the middle of my speech. |
He talked nearly into the middle of the night. |
We could hear him way over here. |
Logically, degree modifiers are not used with absolute words; for example, "He's rather dead." Test this by using rather before: absolute, entirely, eternal, fatal, final, finite, identical, immortal, infinite, mortal, opposite, perfect, right, straight, opposite or unique.
clear (v) – informal for completely
eloquently (adv) - skillfully, expresses ideas and opinions well
Also see How / What expressions.
(Swan 568)
Adverbs for Manner
With Secondary Meanings for Degree
Manner vs. Degree—variation in meaning
| MANNER ADVERB |
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An adverb of manner usually has one meaning. |
He speaks English easily. easily – in an easy manner, without problems |
He speaks English well. good – in an good manner, competently |
He was trained specially for this research. specially– in a particular or unique manner. |
He explained the subject terribly. terribly – in a bad manner |
His opponent was looking at him suspiciously. suspiciously – in a manner causing mistrust |
The judges treated him fairly. fairly – in a manner that is equal or just |
| DEGREE ADVERB |
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A degree adverb may have a secondary meaning. |
He is easily the best speaker. easily – clearly |
He was well recommended to us. well – highly, top level |
He was especially good at presenting research. especially – particularly, extremely |
He was terribly sorry. terribly – very, very |
After the debate, he was suspiciously quiet. suspiciously – unusually |
He communicated fairly fluently. fairly – adequately, sufficiently |
| INTENSITY |
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Some degree adverbs indicate intensity from very much to very little (or none). |
He is extremely excited about his work. |
He is somewhat excited about his work. |
He is hardly excited about his work. |
| COMPLETENESS |
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Some degree adverbs indicate completeness—from very complete to partially complete. |
He is completely done with his work. |
He is almost done with his work. |
He is partly done with his work. |
| UNIQUE MEANINGS |
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Some degree adverbs take on new meanings, different from their meanings when used as adjectives. |
He is wonderfully excited about his work. creatively |
We are deeply saddened to hear about his death. profoundly |
The house is easily accessible. without difficulty |
He is highly regarded. top level |
It is virtually trouble-free. practically |
He's awfully mad. very |
| EXPRESSIONS |
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Other degree adverbs are used in expressions. (These are learned over time.) |
He is plain / dead wrong. completely "dead right" but not "plain right" |
You are mighty kind. extremely (nice, tall, smart, pleased – positive) |
He is damn rude. extremely (very informal) |
It's downright unfair. completely, totally |
He's real / really / pretty smart. very |
He's a jolly good fellow. / He'll jolly well do. very |
Degree Adverbs
A Partial List
Degree Adverbs with -ly Suffix
absolutely very |
amazingly surprisingly |
awfully very |
barely negative |
completely totally, all parts |
considerably |
dreadfully very |
easily clearly, without difficulties |
enormously |
entirely |
especially ¹ |
exceedingly |
excessively |
extensively very |
extremely very |
fairly |
fantastically |
fully |
greatly |
hardly not much |
highly very |
hugely |
immensely |
incredibly very |
infinitely extremely |
intensely very |
largely ¹ mostly |
literally ² |
moderately |
nearly |
noticeably |
particularly ¹ |
partly |
perfectly completely |
positively |
practically almost; nearly |
profoundly |
purely |
really |
reasonably acceptably |
relatively |
remarkably |
seriously alarming degree |
simply |
slightly |
strikingly |
strongly surely |
sufficiently |
supremely |
surprisingly unexpected degree |
suspiciously |
terribly very |
totally |
tremendously very |
truly |
unbelievably |
utterly |
virtually ¹ |
wonderfully |
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¹ is also a focusing adverb.
² literally (1) the primary or strict meaning of a word; (2) word for word; (3) without exaggeration, actually; (4) in effect, very nearly; virtually
about |
almost |
altogether |
clear ³ |
downright |
however |
indeed |
jolly |
just |
least |
less |
mighty |
more |
most |
not |
over ³ |
quite |
rather |
right ³ |
smack (dab)³ |
so |
so much |
somewhat |
still |
straight ³ |
too |
very |
very much |
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way far |
way over ³ |
well |
as… as |
too… to... |
so…(that) |
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enough |
a bit – a bit exaggerated |
a little – a little ridiculous |
a tad – over-rated |
³ See degree adverbs before prepositions and quantifying expressions
Pop-Q – A little bit
(Huddleston 583–4)
Adverbs for Degree
Modifying a Verb
Placement
| BEFORE THE VERB | BETWEEN AUXILIARY AND MAIN VERB | AFTER THE VERB |
|---|---|---|
Place the degree adverb before the verb. |
This usual placement is after the auxiliary verbs and before the main verb. |
Longer expression tend to be placed after the verb. |
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| SENTENCE | DEGREE | SYNONYMS |
|---|---|---|
He ____ enjoys public speaking. verb
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VERY, VERY MUCH (intensely) |
absolutely, completely, enormously, excessively, fully, greatly, highly, hugely, immensely, infinitely intensely, profoundly, totally, tremendously, utterly |
VERY MUCH |
moderately, noticeably, positively, really, simply , truly, very much |
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NOT MUCH |
hardly, barely, not (doesn't) |
| SENTENCE | DEGREE | SYNONYMS |
|---|---|---|
We ____ agree. verb
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COMPLETELY |
completely, strongly, perfectly, totally, entirely, largely, positively, simply |
PARTLY |
for the most part, almost, nearly, partly, kind of, somewhat, hardly, |
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NOT |
hardly, barely, not (don't) |
Adverbs for Degree
Modifying a Preposition
Placement — Modifying Prepositions
| BEFORE THE PREPOSITION |
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A degree adverb may modify the precise, approximate or distant location of something. The degree adverb is placed before the preposition (PP). |
The politician sneezed precisely here. (here = locational preposition) The politician ran directly into another candidate. His aide was directly / squarely ahead. |
| BEFORE THE PREPOSITION |
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Other adverbs and adverb expressions are also placed before the preposition or prepositional phrase. |
The politician sneezed right here. The politician ran smack into another candidate. His aide was straight ahead.
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Word Use for "Degree"
| SENTENCE | DEGREE | SYNONYMS |
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PRECISELY |
right, straight, squarely, smack |
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APPROXIMATELY |
nearly, almost, about |
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ACROSS SOME DISTANCE |
over, way over, clear, |
See this page Modifiers to Prepositions.
Adverbs for Degree
Modifying an Adverb
Placement — Modifying Adverbs
| BEFORE THE ADVERB |
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Place the adverb before the adverb. |
persuasively (adv.) – in a manner that makes other people believe something or do what you ask |
| BEFORE AND AFTER |
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Place longer expressions after the adverb. See so, too, enough below. |
This politician speaks so persuasively that everyone follows him. *This politician speaks too persuasively to believe. This politician speaks persuasively enough to believe. |
Excessive: (1) we don't believe him, or (2) we have never heard any one like him before; unprecedented.
Word Use for "Degree"
| SENTENCE | DEGREE | SYNONYMS |
|---|---|---|
EXCESSIVELY |
awfully, dreadfully, exceedingly, incredibly, terribly, too, excessively |
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VERY |
extremely, really, remarkably, surprisingly, truly, downright, mighty, quite, rather, so, very, wonderfully |
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SOMEWHAT |
moderately, relatively, simply, somewhat |
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NOT VERY |
fairly, slightly, un (not) |
Negatives
| INTENSIVE ADVERB | NEGATIVE VERB | NEGATIVE ADVERB |
|---|---|---|
Gives a compliment. |
Suggests a problem. |
Notes a problem. |
He speaks very well. |
He doesn't speak very well. |
He speaks badly. |
They work very well together. |
They don't work very well together. |
They work poorly together. |
Adverbs for Degree
Modifying Adjectives
Placement – Modifying Adjectives
| BEFORE |
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Place the adverb before the adjective. |
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| BEFORE AND AFTER |
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Place longer expressions after the adjective. See so, too, enough below. |
His speech was so amazing that everyone cheered. His speech was too fantastic to believe. His speech was moderate enough to believe. |
| SENTENCE | DEGREE | SYNONYMS |
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EXTREMELY |
awfully, dreadfully, enormously, exceedingly, extremely, incredibly, terribly, tremendously, too, excessively |
VERY |
amazingly, really, remarkably, surprisingly, truly, downright, mighty, quite, rather, so, very, wonderfully |
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SOMEWHAT |
moderately, relatively, simply, sufficiently, a little bit |
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NOT VERY |
barely, fairly, slightly, un (not), hardly |
Word Use for "Completeness"— How complete?
| SENTENCE | DEGREE | SYNONYMS |
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COMPLETELY |
completely, thoroughly, practically, almost, nearly |
PARTLY |
partly, partially, kind of, about, somewhat, relatively, |
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NOT |
hardly, barely, not (un) |
An Ambiguous Modifier Placement
| AMBIGUOUS MODIFIER (UNCLEAR) | POSSIBLE MEANINGS |
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Sometimes a modifier can modify one of two words, but its not clear which one. |
In one interpretation it could modify the verb. In another it could modify the object. If context does not clarify the meaning, then re-order the words. |
The modifier could modify word before or after it. The meaning changes only slightly. |
1) He absolutely believes everything you tell him. absolutely modifies believes (V) 2) He believes absolutely everything you tell him. absolutely modifies everything (adj-det.) |
ambiguous (Adj) – something that is unclear, confusing, or not certain, especially because it can be understood in more than one way
Special Adverbs
So/Very, Too, Enough
Using too, very and enough
| SO / VERY | TOO | ENOUGH |
|---|---|---|
Intensive |
Excessive (negative - a problem) |
Adequate (positive - no problem) |
He speaks so / very slowly. (Adv) |
He speaks too slowly. (Adv) not good! |
He speaks slowly enough. (Adv) good! |
He is so / very careful. (Adj) |
He is too careful. (Adj) not good! |
He is careful enough. (Adj) good! |
Related pages: Too / Enough + Infin, So & Such – that , "So" Phrases
Expressions
| SO…THAT | TOO…TO | ENOUGH…TO |
|---|---|---|
So may include a that clause placed after the adjective or adverb. |
Too may include a for or to clause that is placed after the adjective or adverb. |
Enough may include a for or to clause that is placed after the adjective or adverb. |
He speaks so fast that I can't understand him. (Adv) |
He speaks too fast for me to understand. |
He speaks slowly enough for me to understand. (Adv) |
He is so interesting that we love to listen to him. (Adv) |
He speaks too fast to understand. |
He is smart enough to do the job. (Adj) |
Negatives
| NOT SO / VERY | NOT TOO | NOT ENOUGH |
|---|---|---|
He doesn't work very hard. (problem) |
He doesn't work too hard. (no problem) |
He doesn't work hard enough. (problem) |
He isn't so smart. (a problem) |
He isn't too smart. (maybe a problem) |
He isn't smart enough. (a problem) |
Absolute and Non-gradable Words
Words not modifiable by degree adverbs
Gradable Absolutes
| CONCEPT |
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Some words, especially adjectives, express concepts that are not gradable, that is to say, a word expresses a meaning that does not or does not easily accept a degree adverb. |
| NO DEGREE ADVERBS (NOT GRADABLE) |
The system is alphabetical. (phonological, federal, medical, first, marine, left, chief, etc.) |
| LIMITED DEGREE ADVERBS (SOMEWHAT GRADABLE) |
He's dead. (frozen, complete, perfect, total, excellent, essential, absolute, dead, entirely, eternal, fatal, final, finite, identical, immortal, infinite, mortal, opposite) |
| ADVERBS USED WITH ADDTIONAL MEANING |
She is unique. ("the only one, having no equal")
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| MEANING ALREADY INCLUDED |
He exaggerated the situation. Don't exhaust yourself trying to do that. He talks excessively. |
| GRADABILITY |
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The meaning expressed by the adjective or verb determines whether or not it is gradable with a degree adverb. In most cases the modifier is unnecessary, can be left out. |
| NO DEGREE ADVERBS (NOT GRADABLE) |
*The system is rather alphabetical. (so, rather, very, etc.) *This system is more alphabetical than the other. *This system is the most alphabetical system I have ever seen. |
| LIMITED DEGREE ADVERBS (SOMEWHAT GRADABLE) |
*He's rather dead. (so, rather, very, etc.) He's nearly dead. He's almost dead. |
| ADDITIONAL MEANING |
She's more unique than the other singer. ("exceptional") A more unique singer has not been seen here. ("distinctive") She's rather unique. ("unusual") The most unique singer was the first contestant. She has a very unique style. ("exceptional") |
| MEANING ALREADY INCLUDED |
~He overexaggerated the situation. ("overstated") ~Don't overexhaust yourself trying to do that. ("overexerted, overtired") ~He talks rather excessively. |
* not used / ~ requires a special context
over (Adv) — excessive
Pop-Q "Rather Unique"
(Huddleston 6 §2.2)
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
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*He earns too much money. How can money (a good thing) be excessive? |
*She is too beautiful. (negative meaning) How can beauty (a good thing) be excessive? |
~When he returned my lost iPhone to me, I literally could have kissed his feet. This is an additional meaning of "literally". Pop-Q "Literally" |
| SOLUTION |
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He earns so much money. He earns too much money to pay middle-class tax rates. Qualify how the money (a good thing) can be excessive. |
She is so beautiful. She is too beautiful for words. She is beautiful. Qualify how her beauty (a good thing) can be excessive. |
When he returned my lost iPhone to me, I nearly kissed his feet. Primarily, literally means (1) word for word; however, it can also mean figuratively, virtually, nearly, in effect. See dictionary literally. |
* not used / ~ requires a special context
Resources
- Burchfield, R. W., and H. W. Fowler. "literally." Fowler's Modern English Usage, Oxford UP, 2004.
- Garner, Bryan A. "literally." Garner's Modern American Usage, 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 2009.
- Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
- "literally." Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage. Merriam-Webster, 1994.
Image
"UFV - Student Research Day." By ufv, Flickr, 10 Apr. 2014. Licensed under CC BY 2.0. Accessed on 12 Apr. 2018.
Practice 1
Succeeding by Degree
Complete the sentence with a degree adverb.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 2
Emphasizing Your Viewpoint
Decide which degree adverbs can complete the sentence.
- Select one or more options. (Usage varies depending on local speech patterns.)
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or "check 11-16" button.
Practice 3
The Pros and Cons of Internships
Read the Context
Finding jobs continues to be difficult for young people graduating from college. The job market has been slow to improve. Those people who do find jobs have to be clever to get into a company for an interview. Many are happy to take non-paying internships in order to get work experience. After the internship, an intern hopes to be hired or at least be recommended for another job.
The intern's presence in the office can be helpful. In a good internship, an intern is treated with respect, does a wide variety of tasks, and learns job skills. In a bad internship, an intern is treated rudely, asked to do ordinary tasks, and receives little compensation. After the internship is over, the intern may or may not be in a better position to find a paying job.
pros and cons (expr.) – the good and bad aspects; pro "for" , con "against"
get hired (get passive) – to successfully manage to be offered a regular, paying job
intern (N) – a person who works for a company in exchange for the learning experience (sometimes paid and sometimes not paid).
internship (N) – a job that lasts for a short time, that someone, especially a student, does in order to gain experience
be compensated (V) – paid, rewarded
Decide on the best location to add the given degree adverb(s) to the sentence.
- Edit the sentence in the text box.
- Compare your edit with the feedback by clicking the "check" button.