ADVERBS OF DEGREE

□ Adverbs of degree tell us about the intensity or degree of an action, an adjective or another adverb. Adverbs of degree are usually placed before the adjective, adverb, or verb they are modifying. There are some exceptions, see below.

Contents UNIT 6

Adverb of degree Modifying Example

extremely

quite

just

almost

very

too

Enough*

* "ENOUGH“→ Enough can be used as both an adverb and as a determiner.

adjective

adjective

The water was extremely cold.

The film is quite interesting.verb He was just leaving.

verb She has almost finished.

adverb She is running very fast.

adverb You are walking too slowly.

adverb You are running fast enough.

• An adverb that modifies another adverb or an adjectiove is called an intensifier.

ADVERBS OF DEGREEContents UNIT 6

1. AS AN ADVERB□ Enough as an adverb meaning 'to the necessary degree'

(a) goes after the adjective or adverb that it is modifying, and not before it as other adverbs do. It can be used both in positive and negative sentences.

EXAMPLES:• Is your coffee hot enough? • This box isn't big enough. • He didn't work hard enough. • I got here early enough.

(b) Enough is often followed by "to" + the infinitive. EXAMPLES:• He didn't work hard enough to pass the exam. • Is your coffee hot enough to drink? • She's not old enough to get married. • I got here early enough to sign up.

2. ENOUGH AS A DETERMINER □ Enough as a determiner meaning 'as much/many as necessary' goes before the noun it modifies. It is used with countable nouns in the plural and with uncountable nouns.

EXAMPLES: • We have enough bread. • You have enough chairs. • They don't have enough food. • I don't have enough tables.

ADVERBS OF DEGREEContents UNIT 6

Course Book, Pg. 50, ex. A to Cex. A . Adverbs from strongest to weakest

slightly

a bit

somewhat

Weak Moderate

fairly

increansingly

moderately

quite

rather

reasonably

Strong

very

enterely

exceptionally

extremely

highly

totally

ADVERBS OF DEGREEContents UNIT 6

ex. B . Complete the dialogue with a suitable adverb. → Remember that there aren’t any “rules” about it, it’s a question of learning the typical combinations.

Possible answers:1. ‘What were your results like last yera?’‘ / / good. We increased profits by over 5%.’exceptionally extremely very

2. ‘How was the launch of your new product?’‘ / / / / successful. We’ve been with orders ever since.’exceptionally extremely highly totally very

3. ‘Do your really think we should try to enter that new market?’It’s / / / / / / risky but on balance I think we

should go ahead.’

fairly moderately quite rather somewhat a bit slightly

4. ‘What did you think of the presentation?’‘It was / useless. Most of the audience lost interest after five minutes.’enterely totally

5. ‘Are you confident about those sales projections?’‘ / / / confident, although it’s going to be tough.’fairly moderately quite reasonably

ADVERBS OF DEGREEContents UNIT 6

ex. C. Write short dialogues using some of the phrases below (open activity):

farly accurate deeply disappointedincredibly well-prepared slightly damagedabsolutely awful totally unrealisticseverely criticised superbly presentedbadly misjudged thoroughly enjoyed

SAMPLE DIALOGUE:

Student A: What did you think of the presentation?

Student B: Fascinating. And the speaker was incredebly well-prepared

Student C: Oh, yeah! And all the equipment worked first time and the handouts were very useful.

ADVERBS OF DEGREEContents UNIT 6

These earings are extremely high quality

More information: http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/adverbs-degree

ADVERBS OF DEGREEContents UNIT 6

See you soon