Adverbs for Degree

Expressing Intensity

Adverbs of degree modify verbs, adverbs and adjectives and express how much, how intensely, or to what extent.
Certain adverbs can only modify particular word forms. Others adverbs require particular sentence placement.

Degree Adverb Uses

MODIFIYING A VERB	MODIFIYING AN ADVERB	MODIFIYING AN ADJECTIVE
Modifies the intensity of the action telling us 'how much'.	Modifies the intensity of the adverb.	Modifies quality or character.
He talks excessively.	He talks extremely fast.	He is extremely talkative.
He rather loves his audiences.	He expresses himself rather well.	He is unexpectedly attractive.
He hardly stops to breathe.	He reasons very quickly.	His popularity ratings are very high.

Adverbs for Degree

Modifying a Verb

Degree Adverb Placement — Modifying Verbs

BEFORE THE VERB	BETWEEN AUXILIARY AND MAIN VERB	AFTER THE VERB
This common placement emphasizes the modifier.	This usual placement is after the auxiliary verbs and before the main verb.	This placement is less commonly used. The adverb goes after the object.
He totally agrees with you. adverb - verb object	He will totally agree with you. aux - adverb - verb object	He agrees with you very much. verb object adverb
He loves surfing.	He will love surfing.	He loves surfing very much.

BEFORE THE VERB

BETWEEN AUXILIARY AND MAIN VERB

AFTER THE VERB

This common placement emphasizes the modifier.

This usual placement is after the auxiliary verbs and before the main verb.

This placement is less commonly used. The adverb goes after the object.

He totally agrees with you.
adverb - verb object

He will totally agree with you.
aux - adverb - verb object

He agrees with you very much.
verb object adverb

Degree Adverbs that Modify Verbs

absolutely	highly (expression –highly regard)	surely
almost (place before verb)	mostly	somewhat (place before verb)
barely / hardly (negative - use with any)	nearly	totally
completely	perfectly	utterly
entirely	scarcely (negative - use with any)	very much (commonly in final position)
greatly* / largely*	simply	pretty much

*greatly / largely / for the most part – mostly
Also see: Much / More

Adverbs for Degree

Modifying an Adverb

Placement — Modifying Adverbs

BEFORE AN ADVERB
The politician speaks rather persuasively.	He says everything he believes confidently.

A degree adverb is placed immediately before the adverb it modifies:

awfully (very)	pretty	really (truly)
extremely	quite	somewhat
fairly	rather	so / so very

Compare Negative Phrasing

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 an Adjective

Placement – Modifying Adjectives

BEFORE AN ADJECTIVE
The movie's special effects were absolutely amazing.	He believes everything you tell him. every – adj.-determiner)

absolutely	mostly*	rather
completely	nearly	simply
entirely	particularly	so
extremely	perfectly	somewhat
especially	pretty	totally
fairly	quite	utterly

Note – Ambiguous Modifier

He believes absolutely everything you tell him. Which word does absolutely modify?

Example in which modifer 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. absolutelymodifies everything (adj-det.)

ambiguous (adj) – something that is unclear, confusing, or not certain, especially because it can be understood in more than one way

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
The work was rather difficulty to do. difficulty (n.)	The work was rather difficult to do. difficult (adj.) Rather can modify an adjective. Use the adjective form not the noun form.

ERROR

FIX

The work was rather difficulty to do. difficulty (n.)

The work was rather difficult to do. difficult (adj.)

Rather can modify an adjective. Use the adjective form not the noun form.

Special Adverbs

So, Such, Too, Very, Enough

Using so and such as intensive modifiers

SO	SUCH
Use before an adjective or adverb.	Use before an adjective + a noun phrase.
The special effects were so amazing. (adj)	The movie had such amazing special effects. (noncount noun)
The special effects went off so amazingly. (adv)	It was such an amazing movie. (count noun)
The movie was so much better than the last one. (adj)	*It was such a much better movie than the last one.

Also see "So" Phrases | So & Such – that: cause & effect clauses

Using too, very and enough

TOO	SO / VERY	ENOUGH
Excessive (negative - a problem)	Intensive	Adequate (positive - no problem)
He speaks too slowly. (adv) not good!	He speaks so / very slowly. (adv)	He speaks slowly enough. (adv) good!
He is too careful. (adj) not good!	He is so / very careful .(adj)	He is careful enough. (adj) good!

NEGATIVE
He doesn't work too hard. (no problem)	He doesn't work very hard. (problem)	He doesn't work hard enough. (problem)
He isn't too smart. (maybe a problem)	He isn't very smart. (a problem)	He isn't smart enough. (a problem)

Common Mistakes

ERROR	FIX
He earns too much money. How can money (a good thing) be excessive?	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 too beautiful. (negative meaning) How can beauty (a good thing) 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.

ERROR

FIX

He earns too much money.

How can money (a good thing) be excessive?

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 too beautiful. (negative meaning)

How can beauty (a good thing) 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.

Practice

Using Adverbs in Sentences

Select the adverb that best completes the sentence.
Then, click the button on the right to check your answer.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	CHECK
1.	President Obama communicates well.
2.	He speaks confidently.
3.	His basket ball skills are .
4.	He can get around the basketball court .
5.	At the Inaugural Ball, he surprised us by dancing well.
6.	President Obama has difficult job.
7.	The members of Congress, he said, together.
8.	A "divided country" makes the job much more difficult.
9.	President Obama is regarded by other senators. regard = admire
10.	The opposition agrees with him .

Grammar-Quizzes.com

PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Adverbs

Adverbs for Degree

Expressing Intensity

Degree Adverb Uses

Adverbs for Degree

Modifying a Verb

Degree Adverb Placement — Modifying Verbs

Degree Adverbs that Modify Verbs

Adverbs for Degree

Modifying an Adverb

Placement — Modifying Adverbs

A degree adverb is placed immediately before the adverb it modifies:

Compare Negative Phrasing

Adverbs for Degree

Modifying an Adjective

Placement – Modifying Adjectives

Note – Ambiguous Modifier

Common Mistakes

Special Adverbs

So, Such, Too, Very, Enough

Using so and such as intensive modifiers

Using too, very and enough

Common Mistakes

Practice

Using Adverbs in Sentences