Adverbs of degree tell us the strength or intensity of an action or Adjective or Adverb.
A few common adverbs of degree that do not end in ly are words like almost, just, quite, enough, very, so, rather, pretty and too.
How do you use them in your English sentences?
"almost" can be used before action verbs
The truck almost crashed into the lamppost. (before the action verb "crashed")
("almost" can be replaced with "nearly")
"just" can be used before action verbs
We have just started to write our compositions. (before the action verb "started")
"quite" can be used before adjectives and adverbs
Sharon is quite good at Mathematics. (before the adjective "good")
The new clerk works quite efficiently. (before the adverb "efficiently")
"enough" must come after adjectives and adverbs to be used as an adverb of degree
The food was delicious enough for all the guests. (after the adjective "delicious")
The students did not work hard enough. Many of them failed the test. (after the adverb "hard")
Note that "enough" used before nouns is not an adverb of degree.
He doesn't have enough money. (same as He doesn't have sufficient money.)
"enough" comes before the noun "money" and is NOT an adverb of degree, but an adjective of quantity or a determiner.
"very" can be used before adjectives and adverbs
She is a very kind person. (before the adjective "kind")
She donates very generously. (before the adverb "generously")
Henry completed the test very quickly because it was easy. (before the adverb "quickly")
"so" can be used before adjectives and adverbs
The baby was so cute and adorable. (before the adjectives "cute" and "adorable")
They ran so fast to catch up with their friends. (before the adverb "fast")
"rather" can be used before adjectives and adverbs
The new student is rather ill-mannered. (before the adjective "ill-mannered")
Florence is a rather friendly girl. (before the adjective "friendly")
Sharon can run rather fast. That is why her friends call her "Miss Cheetah"! (before the adverb "fast")
They did their work rather quickly and managed to get their job done earlier. (before the adverb "quickly")
Note that the word "pretty" can be used as an adverb of degree like this:
Her English is pretty good. (before the adjective "good")
(same as Her English is rather good.)
She is pretty good at English.
(same as She is rather good at English.)
"too" can be used as an adverb of degree before adjectives and adverbs
The coffee was too hot! ( before the adjective "hot")
Michelle is only 15 years old. She is too young to get married. (before the adjective "young")
"Chew your food thoroughly and don't swallow it too quickly!" Mrs Lee advised her little girl. (before the adverb "quickly")
They did their job too carelessly and got reprimanded by their boss.
(before the adverb "carelessly")
Click on "adverbs articles" for other kinds of adverbs.
A few common adverbs of degree that do not end in ly are words like almost, just, quite, enough, very, so, rather, pretty and too.
How do you use them in your English sentences?
"almost" can be used before action verbs
The truck almost crashed into the lamppost. (before the action verb "crashed")
("almost" can be replaced with "nearly")
"just" can be used before action verbs
We have just started to write our compositions. (before the action verb "started")
"quite" can be used before adjectives and adverbs
Sharon is quite good at Mathematics. (before the adjective "good")
The new clerk works quite efficiently. (before the adverb "efficiently")
"enough" must come after adjectives and adverbs to be used as an adverb of degree
The food was delicious enough for all the guests. (after the adjective "delicious")
The students did not work hard enough. Many of them failed the test. (after the adverb "hard")
Note that "enough" used before nouns is not an adverb of degree.
He doesn't have enough money. (same as He doesn't have sufficient money.)
"enough" comes before the noun "money" and is NOT an adverb of degree, but an adjective of quantity or a determiner.
"very" can be used before adjectives and adverbs
She is a very kind person. (before the adjective "kind")
She donates very generously. (before the adverb "generously")
Henry completed the test very quickly because it was easy. (before the adverb "quickly")
"so" can be used before adjectives and adverbs
The baby was so cute and adorable. (before the adjectives "cute" and "adorable")
They ran so fast to catch up with their friends. (before the adverb "fast")
"rather" can be used before adjectives and adverbs
The new student is rather ill-mannered. (before the adjective "ill-mannered")
Florence is a rather friendly girl. (before the adjective "friendly")
Sharon can run rather fast. That is why her friends call her "Miss Cheetah"! (before the adverb "fast")
They did their work rather quickly and managed to get their job done earlier. (before the adverb "quickly")
Note that the word "pretty" can be used as an adverb of degree like this:
Her English is pretty good. (before the adjective "good")
(same as Her English is rather good.)
She is pretty good at English.
(same as She is rather good at English.)
"too" can be used as an adverb of degree before adjectives and adverbs
The coffee was too hot! ( before the adjective "hot")
Michelle is only 15 years old. She is too young to get married. (before the adjective "young")
"Chew your food thoroughly and don't swallow it too quickly!" Mrs Lee advised her little girl. (before the adverb "quickly")
They did their job too carelessly and got reprimanded by their boss.
(before the adverb "carelessly")
Click on "adverbs articles" for other kinds of adverbs.
