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A big talkerAdverbs for Degree

Expressing Intensity — How much?

 

 

 

 

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.

moveover modifies word to right
He excessively talks all the time.

moveover   modifies word to right
He talks extremely fast.

moveovermodifies word to right
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

Meanings

 

 

Secondary Meanings
MANNER DEGREE

An adverb of manner may have one meaning. 

An adverb of degree may have a secondary meaning.  Each section below (verb, adverb, adjective) will list variations in meaning.

They behaved terribly.   terribly – in a bad manner

I'm terribly sorry.   terribly – very, very

He was behaving suspiciously.  suspiciously – in a manner causing mistrust

He was suspiciously quiet.    suspiciously – unusually

They spoke English easily.   easily – in an easy manner, without problems

He is easily the best speaker.   easily – clearly

He treats us fairly.   fairly – in a manner that is equal or just

He communicates fairly fluently.    fairly – adequately, well enough

He speaks English well.   good – in an good manner, competently
 

He was well recommended to us.   well – highly, top level

 

 

Variation in Meaning and Usage
INTENSITY COMPLETENESS OTHER MEANINGS EXPRESSIONS

Some degree adverbs indicate intensity from very much to very little (or none).

Some degree adverbs indicate completeness from very complete to partially complete (or not at all).

Other degree adverbs have unique meanings.

Other degree adverbs are used in "frozen phrases" or expressions. (These are learned over time.)

He is extremely excited about his work.

He is completely done with his work.

He is wonderfully excited about his work.  creatively

He is plain/dead wrong.

He is somewhat excited about his work.

He is almost done with his work.

We are profoundly sad to hear about his death. very deeply

You are mighty kind.

He is hardly excited about his work.

He is partly done with his work.

The house is easily accessible. without difficulty

He is damn rude.

 

 

He is highly regardedtop level

It's downright unfair.

 

 

It is virtually trouble-free. practically

He's a jolly good fellow.
 

 

 

Degree Adverbs List

absolutely  very

amazingly  surprisingly

awfully very

barely negative

completely totally, all parts

considerably

dreadfully   very

easily  clearly, without difficulties

enormously

entirely

exceedingly

excessively

extensively very

extremely very

fairly

fantastically

fully

greatly

hardly not much

highly  very

hugely

immensely

incredibly  very

infinitely very, very

intensely  very

largely  mostly

moderately

nearly

noticeably

partly

perfectly completely

positively

practically completely

profoundly

purely

really

reasonably acceptably

relatively

remarkably

simply

slightly

strikingly

strongly  seriously, surely

sufficiently

supremely

suspiciously

terribly   very

totally

tremendously  very

truly

unbelievably

utterly

virtually practically

wonderfully

 

without -ly

about

almost

altogether

downright

however

indeed

jolly

just

least

less

mighty

more

most

not

quite

rather

so

somewhat 

still

too

very

very much

way far 

well

as… as

too… to...

so…that

enough

 

 

(CaGEL 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.

moveovermodifies verb after it
He totally loves giving speeches.
      adverb - verb              object   

moveovermodifies verb
He will totally love giving speeches.
      aux -  adverb - verb          object   

moveovermodifies verb before it
He loves giving speeches very much.
        verb           object              adverb

 

 

 

 

 

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Word Use for "Degree"
SENTENCE DEGREE SYNONYMS 

He __________  loves public speaking.   verb

VERY, VERY

absolutely, completely, enormously, excessively, fully, greatly, highly, hugely, immensely, infinitely intensely, profoundly, totally, tremendously, utterly

 

VERY

moderately, noticeably, positively,  really, simply , truly, very much

 

NOT

hardly, barely, not (doesn't)

 

 

Word Use for "Completeness"
SENTENCE DEGREE SYNONYMS 

We __________  agree.   verb

COMPLETELY

completely, strongly, perfectly, totally, entirely, largely, positively, simply

 

PARTLY

almost, nearly, partly, kind of, somewhat, hardly,

 

NOT

hardly, barely, not (don't)

 

 

 

 

 

Adverbs for Degree

Modifying an Adverb

 

 

Placement — Modifying Adverbs
BEFORE THE ADVERB BEFORE AND AFTER

 Place the adverb before the adverb.

Place longer expressions after the adverb.  See so, too, enough below.

moveovermodifies word to right
The politician speaks rather persuasively.

 

persuasively (adv.) – in a manner that makes other people believe something or do what you ask

moveovermodifies word to right
This politician speaks as persuasively as Churchill.  (unequal comparison)
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) there is no one like him before; unprecedented 

 

Word Use for "Degree"
SENTENCE DEGREE SYNONYMS 

   adverb

 

 

 

 

EXCESSIVELY

awfully, dreadfully, exceedingly, incredibly, terribly, too, excessively

VERY

extremely, really, remarkably, surprisingly, truly, downright, mighty, quite, rather, so, very, wonderfully

SOMEWHAT

moderately, relatively, simply, somewhat

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. 

 

 

 

 

ChurchillAdverbs for Degree

Modifying Adjectives

 

 

 

Placement – Modifying Adjectives
BEFORE BEFORE AND AFTER

 Place the adverb before the adjective.

Place longer expressions after the adjective.  See so, too, enough below.

moveover modifies word to right
The speech was absolutely amazing.

moveoverarrow to right
His speech was as amazing as Churchill's.  (comparison)
His speech was so amazing that everyone cheered.
His speech was too fantastic to believe
His speech was        moderate enough to believe.
 

 

 

Word Use for "Degree"  — How much?
SENTENCE DEGREE SYNONYMS 

   adjective

 

 

 

 

EXTREMELY

awfully, dreadfully, enormously, exceedingly, extremely, incredibly, terribly, tremendously, too, excessively

VERY

amazingly, really, remarkably, surprisingly, truly, downright, mighty, quite, rather, so, very, wonderfully

SOMEWHAT

moderately, relatively, simply, somewhat, sufficiently

NOT VERY

barely, fairly, slightly, un (not), hardly

 

 

 

 

Word Use for "Completeness"— How complete?
SENTENCE DEGREE SYNONYMS 

   adjective

 

 

 

COMPLETELY

completely, practically, almost, nearly

PARTLY  

partly, partially, kind of, about, somewhat, relatively,

NOT

hardly, barely, not (un)

 

 

An Ambiguous Modifier Placement
AMBIGUOUS MODIFIER (UNCLEAR) POSSIBLE MEANINGS

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.

moveovercan modify verb or pronoun
He believes absolutely everything you tell him.  Which word does absolutely modify?

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!

 

 

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)

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

 

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)

Related practice: Too/ Enough - Stating Minimum and Maximum Requirements

 

 

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.

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.

 

 

 

 

 

Obama playing basketballobama dancingObama speechPractice

Using Adverbs in Sentences

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

# YOUR RESPONSE CHECK
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Practice 2

Word Use

 

1. Decide on and select the options that can complete the sentence. (Choices will vary with native speakers depending on local speech patterns.)

2. An option that does not sound natural will appear with an asterisk *.  An option that is questionably possible is marked with (?)

 

# FEEDBACK YOUR RESPONSE
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Practice 3

The Pros and Cons of Internships

 

 

Add to and edit the sentence.

1. Edit the sentence adding the degree adverb.

2. Compare your edit with the feedback.

 

# YOUR RESPONSE FEEDBACK
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