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A big talkerAdverbs 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.

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He talks excessively.

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He talks extremely fast.

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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.

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He totally agrees with you.
      adverb - verb              object   

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

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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  

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The politician speaks rather persuasively.

 


 

 

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  

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The movie's special effects were absolutely amazing.

 

every – adj.-determiner)
 

 

 

absolutely

mostly*

rather

completely

nearly

simply

entirely

particularly

so

extremely

perfectly

somewhat

especially

pretty

totally

fairly

quite

utterly

 

 

Note – Ambiguous Modifier

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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.
 

 

 

 

 

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" PhrasesSo & 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)


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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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  regard = admire

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