Adverbs of Degree
Adverbs of degree are mostly used before adjectives, adverbs, and verbs to intensify the term after them.
What Are Adverbs of Degree?
Adverbs of degree show the intensity or degree of something. They answer the questions 'how much' or 'to what extent.' These adverbs usually modify other verbs, adjectives, or adverbs and make them stronger or weaker.
Adverbs of Degree: Placement
Adverbs of degree are usually placed:
- before the main verb
The game is
- before the adjective or adverb
He ran
She is
Adverbs of Degree: Types
Intensifiers and mitigators are three kinds of adverbs of degree:
- Intensifiers
- Moderators
- Mitigators
Intensifiers
Intensifiers are adverbs that make the meaning of another word stronger.
Intensifiers: Common Examples
Intensifiers: Types
Intensifiers are further categorized into two groups:
- Intensifier + gradable adjective (those that can have measurable levels of degree or intensity)
- Intensifier + ungradable adjective (describe an extreme or absolute state)
Gradable adjectives show a point on a scale. For example, cheap and expensive are adjectives on the scale of 'how much something costs.' Ungradable adjectives represent the two extreme limits of that scale, like priceless.
Look at some examples:
Intensifier + gradable adjective | Intensifier + ungradable adjective |
---|---|
very hot | absolutely boiling |
extremely excited | completely priceless |
really sad | absolutely tiny |
very thirsty | totally starving |
That new jacket looks absolutely
We can make gradable adjectives stronger with very, but not with the adverb absolutely.
That new jacket looks
Moderators
Moderators are relative based on the speaker's opinion. In other words, they are neither an intensifier nor a mitigator. For example:
- quite
- pretty
- fairly
- this
- that
This and That as Moderators
'This' and 'that' both can be used as intensifiers, but, when we use 'this' we are usually talking about a current or recent situation.
I need a box
He didn't expect to wait
However, when we use 'that' we are talking about a past situation. It can also mean we had some expectations in mind, but that expectation was not met.
I know you like her, but she's not that nice.
I just had lunch at McCarran's. It wasn't
Mitigators
Mitigators are the opposite of intensifiers. We use mitigators to make words and expressions weaker and make the emphasis on these words and expressions not as strong.
The position of the adverb is before the adjective or adverb.
Mitigators: Common Examples
Here are some examples that weaken the adjectives or adverbs:
- rather
- quite
- pretty
- a bit
- fairly
- slightly
- somewhat
I'm
That last question was
Special Case: Using 'Enough'
'Enough' as an adverb of degree goes after the adjective or adverb that it is modifying, not before it as other adverbs do.
It is used in positive and negative sentences.
Is your tea hot
You didn't work hard
Tip!
'Enough' can also be used as a determiner. In that case, it will be placed before the noun it modifies.
It is used with plural countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.
We have
There aren't
'Very' vs. 'Too'
'Very' just emphasizes the meaning of an adjective, adverb, or phrase, while 'too' expresses that there is a problem and the adjectives or adverbs are more than is acceptable or possible.
Maria is
Maria is
This box is
This box is
Review
Adverbs of degree are used to express how much or how intensified something is. They are placed:
- before the main verb
- before the adjective or adverb
- before or after the modal verb
- after the auxiliary verbs 'have' and 'be'