Adverbs of Degree: Types, Rules and Examples in English

Overview

An adverb of degree modifies an adjective, another adverb, or a verb by indicating how strongly or to what extent a quality or action applies. It answers the question how much or to what extent. When someone says a proposal is extremely detailed, a task was barely completed, or she almost missed the deadline, the italicised word is an adverb of degree.

Adverbs of degree divide into two broad types. Intensifiers strengthen the force of the word they modify: very, extremely, highly, incredibly, absolutely, and completely all push meaning toward a higher degree. Downtoners reduce or weaken that force: fairly, quite, rather, slightly, barely, hardly, and almost pull meaning downward or toward a limit.

Both types interact with the words they modify in ways that require attention to grammar, not just vocabulary. Not every intensifier works with every adjective, and some adverbs of degree are restricted in position or collocation.

Intensifiers

Intensifiers strengthen the meaning of the adjective, adverb, or verb they modify. They signal that the quality or action is present to a high or exceptional degree.

Common intensifiers include very, extremely, highly, incredibly, remarkably, exceptionally, particularly, deeply, strongly, thoroughly, completely, absolutely, entirely, totally, utterly, and quite in its strong sense.

Intensifiers With Gradable and Non-Gradable Adjectives

Gradable adjectives describe qualities that exist on a scale: hot, cold, difficult, tired, happy, important. Non-gradable adjectives describe qualities that are absolute or categorical: perfect, impossible, unique, dead, identical, empty, exhausted.

Standard intensifiers such as very and extremely are used with gradable adjectives. Non-gradable adjectives take absolute intensifiers such as absolutely, completely, utterly, and totally, which reinforce the extreme nature of the adjective rather than moving it along a scale.

Using very with a non-gradable adjective is one of the most consistent errors at this level. Very perfect, very impossible, and very unique are non-standard because these adjectives already express an absolute state that cannot be increased by degrees.

Downtoners

Downtoners reduce or moderate the force of the word they modify. They signal that the quality or action is present to a lesser, partial, or limited degree.

Common downtoners include fairly, quite, rather, somewhat, slightly, a little, barely, hardly, scarcely, almost, nearly, just, and only.

The Shifting Meaning of Quite

Quite is one of the most nuanced adverbs of degree in English because its meaning shifts depending on whether the adjective it modifies is gradable or non-gradable. This also differs between British and American English.

With gradable adjectives in British English, quite typically functions as a downtoner meaning fairly or to a reasonable degree but not fully. With non-gradable adjectives, quite shifts to mean completely or absolutely.

In American English, quite more consistently carries a stronger sense closer to very or considerably. Learners reading or listening across both varieties should be aware that the same sentence may carry different weight depending on the speaker's background.

Hardly and Barely

Hardly and barely carry a near-negative meaning. They signal that the action or quality is present to only the smallest possible degree. Because they function like negatives, they do not combine with not in standard usage.

Hardly is also used in the fixed expressions hardly ever and hardly any, equivalent in meaning to almost never and almost none.

Position of Adverbs of Degree

Before Adjectives and Adverbs

When an adverb of degree modifies an adjective or another adverb, it is placed directly before the word it modifies.

Before or After the Verb

When an adverb of degree modifies a verb, its position varies. Some adverbs, such as completely, totally, almost, nearly, barely, and hardly, typically precede the main verb or appear after the first auxiliary. Others, such as a lot, a great deal, and a little, more naturally follow the verb.

Very does not modify verbs directly in standard usage. To intensify a verb, very much or a stronger verb choice is used instead.

Comparing Intensifiers and Downtoners

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Using Very With a Non-Gradable Adjective

Very is for gradable adjectives. Non-gradable adjectives that already express an absolute quality take absolutely, completely, utterly, or totally instead.

Mistake 2: Using Hardly or Barely With a Negative Verb

Hardly and barely already express a near-negative meaning. Combining them with not or a contracted negative auxiliary creates a double negative.

Mistake 3: Using Very to Modify a Verb Directly

Very modifies adjectives and adverbs, not verbs. Using it before a main verb produces a non-standard construction.

Mistake 4: Confusing Quite as a Downtoner and Quite as an Intensifier

The meaning of quite changes depending on the type of adjective it precedes. Using it without awareness of whether the adjective is gradable or non-gradable produces a mismatch in degree.

Mistake 5: Misplacing the Adverb of Degree

An adverb of degree must be placed immediately before the adjective, adverb, or verb it modifies. Moving it away from that word creates ambiguity.

Mistake 6: Using a Strong Intensifier With an Incompatible Adjective

Some combinations of intensifier and adjective sound unnatural because the intensifier is too strong for the adjective, or because the adjective and intensifier do not collocate naturally.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Intensifier or Downtoner

Label each bold adverb of degree as an intensifier (I) or a downtoner (D).

1. The findings were extremely significant and have since been widely cited in the field.
2. She was barely awake when the first session of the day was called to order.
3. The proposal was quite detailed, though it left several key questions unanswered.
4. He was absolutely certain that the figures had been verified before submission.
5. The adjustment was slightly larger than anticipated but remained within the agreed range.
6. The committee was highly impressed by the quality of the research presented.

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Adverb

Choose the correct adverb from the options in brackets.

1. The result was (very / absolutely) perfect and required no further modification at all.
2. She (very / very much) appreciated the support she received from the wider team.
3. The margin between the two results was (slightly / utterly) different on closer examination.
4. He (barely / not barely) managed to submit the report before the system closed for the night.
5. The task was (completely / very) impossible to complete within the original time frame given.
6. The presentation was (fairly / absolutely) clear, though one or two points needed elaboration.

Exercise 3: Correct the Error

Each sentence contains one adverb of degree error. Rewrite it correctly.

1. The solution was very perfect and satisfied every requirement listed in the brief.
2. She couldn't barely concentrate after a full day of back-to-back interviews and meetings.
3. The team very appreciated the recognition they received at the end of the review cycle.
4. There wasn't hardly any disagreement among the panel members during the final session.
5. The update was extremely complete and addressed every issue raised in the original report.
6. He placed the adverb incorrectly extremely in his written response to the exercise task.

Exercise 4: Complete With a Suitable Adverb of Degree

Fill in each blank with a suitable adverb of degree from the box. More than one answer may be possible for some items.

absolutely, very, fairly, barely, highly, slightly, quite, almost

1. The room was ___ full by the time the second session of the day began.
2. She found the first exercise ___ straightforward but the second one more demanding.
3. The revised version was ___ better than the original but still needed further work.
4. The panel was ___ certain that the candidate met all the required criteria for the role.
5. He had ___ enough time to read through the document before the meeting started.
6. The research was ___ regarded within the academic community and attracted wide attention.

Summary

Use very and extremely only with gradable adjectives, absolutely and completely with non-gradable ones, and always place the adverb immediately before the word it modifies.